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Media coverage of academic plagiarism highlights internal tug-of-war over fair game and taboo in news reporting

David Bandurski

CMP Director

Latest Articles

Foreign Voices for Xi’s Global Vision

Oct 17, 2025 | David Bandurski

Continuing its push to portray Xi’s “Four Great Global Initiatives” as a boon for a multipolar world, the CCP’s flagship newspaper features a headline mention of the quartet by an African parliamentarian.

Xi Jinping’s Global Quartet

Oct 16, 2025 | David Bandurski | Belt and Road, BRI, china, Chinese discourse, Chinese economy, Chinese media, Chinese trade, development, GCI, GDI, GGI, Global Civilization Initiative, Global Development Initiative, Global Governance Initiative, human rights

With a crucial party plenum next week and the UN’s 80th anniversary approaching, a Qiushi article positions Xi’s four global initiatives as China’s blueprint for reordering the world.

The Repetition Complex

Oct 12, 2025 | David Bandurski

Eight days, eight articles, eight assurances that China’s economy is thriving and everything is fine. When did confidence require this much convincing?

The Malice Police

Sep 26, 2025 | David Bandurski

China’s latest internet special actions, a campaign against “negative emotions,” lifts the lid on the country’s obsessive and capricious control culture.

How AI Deals with Dark Thoughts

Sep 11, 2025 | Alex Colville

While China invites criticism for AI values that prioritize political controls, it’s hard to deny that Chinese-made chatbots outperform on suicide prevention safeguards. We tested a few models for context.

Hard Times for the Face of the “Wolf Warrior”

Sep 5, 2025 | Alex Colville

Film star Wu Jing is well-known as the rough, tough face of China’s “Wolf Warrior” spirit. So what does it mean if Chinese netizens see his ridiculous side—especially during a week when Beijing staged a massive military parade to showcase the nation’s muscularity?

Summer Break, Power Intact

Aug 29, 2025 | Alex Colville

The surge of headlines for Xi Jinping during his recent visit to Tibet, coming shortly after the annual lull of the official Beidaihe vacation period, was another sign that the Chinese leader continues to dominate.

Central Media and the Local Soft Power Push

Aug 26, 2025 | David Bandurski

Despite Beijing’s push to localize international communication efforts since 2018, flagship outlets like China Daily remain essential to external propaganda.

After the Flood

Aug 11, 2025 | David Bandurski

The tragic death of 31 people in a care home near Beijing during floods last month was given a textbook makeover to preserve the Party’s image. But there were also signs of life under the icy surface of Chinese journalism.

Misreading the News About Nvidia

Aug 5, 2025 | David Bandurski

Media outlets worldwide reported that China’s official People’s Daily newspaper slammed the chipmaker. But there are important complications to this oversimplified take.

Xi Jinping Still Strong in the Headlines

Jul 31, 2025 | David Bandurski

Despite recent speculation about challenges to his authority, China’s leader continues to dominate official party messaging with commanding leads over other top leaders.

How China Sees AI Safety

Jul 30, 2025 | Alex Colville

Though China appears to embrace international “AI safety” concepts, key aspects of its approach remain fundamentally unsafe by the standards of democratic societies worldwide.

Smashing the News

Jul 28, 2025 | David Bandurski

After a company boss destroyed a journalist’s camera earlier this month, state media rushed to the defense, sounding off about the “right to report.” This moral signaling distracts from the systemic violence against journalism that is the real policy of the state.

Toxic Backlash

Jul 22, 2025 | David Bandurski

The expulsion of a Chinese student for appearing in videos posted online by Ukrainian gamer videos sparks a debate about sexism — and shameless exploitation amid the discussion.

Backyard Furnaces of Propaganda

Jul 15, 2025 | David Bandurski

An international communication initiative in the wealthy southern province of Guangdong, bordering Hong Kong, plans to make propaganda resources of local creators as well as foreign expats.

Visualizing Power in China’s Press

Jul 10, 2025 | Alex Colville

Despite speculation about Xi Jinping’s political troubles, our latest analysis reveals his continued dominance in Chinese state media, overshadowing all known potential rivals.

Oil Giant Adds Fuel to Soft Power Push

Jul 7, 2025 | David Bandurski

China National Petroleum Corporation has formed its own international communication center as Beijing’s global messaging strategy penetrates the corporate sector.

China’s Italian Job

Jul 2, 2025 | David Bandurski

Beijing launched a grandiose television series promoting Xi Jinping across dozens of Italian networks. Why did Italy’s media welcome such blatant propaganda?

China’s Go-Local Vision for Global Messaging

Jun 30, 2025 | David Bandurski

Xi Jinping’s multi-stakeholder strategy aims to coordinate government, media, enterprises and social forces to reshape China’s global communication. But lofty hype about the strategy presents its own challenge to progress.

Hainan Opens Middle East Media Center

Jun 27, 2025 | David Bandurski

As the provincial government launches a communication outpost in Dubai, it partners with an outlet CMP previously identified as having close ties to China’s foreign affairs ministry.

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