Headlines and Hashtags

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

David Bandurski

CMP Director

Latest Articles

Hangzhou’s Tower of Influence

Nov 13, 2024 | Ryan Ho Kilpatrick

In a fascinating feature story this week, Shanghai’s The Paper took a look at an apartment building in Zhejiang province’s capital city that has a reputation for hosting more than its fair share of online influencers.

Commending a Compliant Press

Nov 12, 2024 | David Bandurski

Unlike international holidays to celebrate freedom of speech and affirm the crucial role of journalists in open societies, China’s annual Journalist’s Day rewards — and commands — obedience.

Hu Xijin Quietly Returns

Nov 8, 2024 | Alex Colville

One of China’s most patriotic and combative online commentators went silent back in July, when he apparently stepped over the line in commenting on a decision from the leadership. He is back, though not yet with much to say.

Harris in the Fissures of Online Hate

Nov 5, 2024 | Initium Media

For many Chinese Americans, vice-presidential candidate Kamala Harris is an inspirational figure, the perfect daughter of an immigrant family. But in the spaces frequented by Mandarin-speaking audiences on X, WeChat and Douyin, she has faced a torrent of racism and hate.

Cloaking What China Says

Oct 31, 2024 | Alex Colville

This week in a study session of the Politburo, Xi Jinping talked about “innovating internet propaganda.” Part of the answer to how China plans to do this lies in its growing network of cloaked official accounts. We take a deeper look.

Reading Red on Cross-Strait Relations

Oct 23, 2024 | Dalia Parete

China’s efforts to conduct external propaganda on core issues like Taiwan are often built on totally concocted events, and even spurious or unavailable intellectual works. But that, as Dalia Parete and David Bandurski write, may be beside the point.

For State Media, Copycats are No Joke

Oct 21, 2024 | Alex Colville

The recent case of a counterfeit article erroneously sourced to the official mouthpiece of the Chinese Communist Party has the authorities crying foul. But the real culprit is their claim to a monopoly on the truth.

Divorcing China from Wedding Humiliation

Oct 18, 2024 | Dalia Parete

After a recent, egregious incident of “wedding hazing” went viral in China, the controversial tradition has been pushed back into the media spotlight. Outlets nationwide are joining the charge to end this “evil custom.”

Making Deepfakes With Chinese AI

Oct 16, 2024 | Alex Colville

Chinese AI tools are getting more sophisticated, and concerns are rising they will be used to interfere with democracies. So how easy is it to create deepfakes on the Chinese internet?

Married to the Motherland

Oct 4, 2024 | Dalia Parete

The idea of 5,000 couples tying the knot at once in a state-planned ceremony may not sound romantic — but China’s leadership is in love with the idea of encouraging traditional marriage.

Goodness Me

Sep 19, 2024 | David Bandurski

Good Me, one of China’s largest tea store chains, had a hard lesson in public relations this week after internet users decided its punchline video about workplace discipline was not funny, not at all.

Married Out

Sep 12, 2024 | Dalia Parete

The New York Times recently became the latest international news outlet to cover the issue of the rights of female villagers in China. The issue has quietly brewed in China’s domestic media for years — without serious action.

Farewell, Microblog

Sep 5, 2024 | Alex Colville

In Xi’s “New Era” signs now point to the untimely end of the Weibo Era. Is it possible any longer to build a platform strategy around recognized public intellectuals?

Media Friendship, from Beijing to Jakarta

Sep 4, 2024 | David Bandurski

At a recent event for China-Indonesia media cooperation, part of China’s larger push for influence in Southeast Asia, “responsibility” was on the agenda — emphasizing for participants that the role of journalism is to promote good feeling and a smooth bilateral relationship.

China’s AI Hallucination Challenge

Aug 27, 2024 | Alex Colville

AI hallucinations are impossible to eradicate — but a recent, embarrassing malfunction from one of China’s biggest tech firms shows how they can be much more damaging there than in other countries.

A Midwesterner in Foshan

Aug 15, 2024 | Initium Media

US vice-presidential candidate Tim Walz, a former Cantonese learner who was popular with his Chinese students, is affectionate toward China — but he is no “dove” on human rights, Hong Kong, and Tibet issues.

China’s AI Hype Gets a Reality Check

Aug 7, 2024 | Alex Colville

Chinese AI is moving at a fast pace, but it’s important not to give in to hype about exactly what the technology can do — a point state media are now making themselves.

When Meloni Met Xi

Aug 2, 2024 | Dalia Parete

Chinese media coverage of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s recent visit to China has been characterized by a blend of criticism and optimism, strategic framing, and an emphasis on historical ties.

How to Push China’s Narrative Abroad

Jul 23, 2024 | Alex Colville

Exchanges this week between Guyanese media and a provincial-level communication center in Shandong offer a glimpse of China’s broad push for influence abroad. The secret: convince journalists in the Global South that using Western media sources on China means unfair bias.

When Worlds Collide

Jul 12, 2024 | Alex Colville

State media have released a short, AI-generated series on Douyin. It’s the meeting point of several tools the Party has been using to modernize media and propaganda.

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