A guide to navigating Chinese media
In Chinese newsrooms, editors refer to a certain late-night text theyโll often receive, just before going to print, as โthe rooster crowing at midnight.โ These are the messages from higher-ups informing them that a story, usually some sort of breaking news, has to be canned. Thereโs no arguing with the rooster.
Itโs not easy doing journalism in China. But itโs important to know that the media landscape is not just Xinhua, CGTN, China Radio, China Daily, and Peopleโs Daily โ the five outlets recently designated by the U.S. State Department as operatives of the state. In order to discern real news from government talking points, we need to first understand how the Chinese state regulates its media industry, and how certain players find ways around the restrictions.
ย Jin Ding explains in this weekโs The China Project Signal.
โAnthony Tao