This article analyzes statements by Xi Jinping asserting that media organizations exist to serve as propaganda instruments of the Chinese Communist Party, detailing ideological training, press licensing, and systematic suppression of press freedom.

2016-03-04

The following is from page 19 of this week’s Newsweek Japan, “Xi’s Regime Aims for Complete Control of the Media.”

China’s President Xi Jinping recently inspected the three major party and state-run media outlets: People’s Daily, Xinhua News Agency, and China Central Television.

At a symposium held afterward, he emphasized that the role of news organizations is to serve as propaganda machines for the Chinese Communist Party.

State-run media, he stated, are “public relations organs” of the Party and the government, tasked with “conveying the Party’s policies and plans and safeguarding the Party’s authority and unity”—this is how Xinhua summarized Xi’s remarks.

The propaganda machine is not limited to state-run media.

According to Xi, spreading the Party’s ideology is the duty of journalists.

For that reason, it is necessary to thoroughly instill a “Marxist view of journalism” in all reporters.

In fact, since the launch of the Xi administration, ideological education has been strictly enforced for all media personnel.

Today, journalists must undergo training in the Marxist view of journalism and pass an examination in order to obtain a press credential.

The strengthening of media control began immediately after Xi took office.

In April 2013, a document distributed to Chinese Communist Party officials and later leaked to Western media, gaining infamy as the so-called Document No. 9, listed seven “erroneous ideological trends, positions, and activities,” including constitutional democracy, universal values, and Western-style concepts of journalism.

The document further warned that allowing press freedom would “create holes through which Western influence would seep.”

To prevent this, it insisted on “resolutely upholding the principle of Party control over the media.”

What Document No. 9 inadvertently acknowledged was that press freedom itself is a threat.

To preserve one-party rule, external influences must be strictly shut out.

Chinese authorities recently announced a ban on online publishing and content distribution by companies with foreign capital.

The regulations cover text, images, maps, games, animation, audio, and video.

At a time when authorities are openly crushing press freedom, there is virtually no space left for journalists with a critical spirit to operate.

In Reporters Without Borders’ 2015 Press Freedom Index, China ranked 176th out of 180 countries.

China’s rating has remained at the bottom level for more than a decade, with no sign of improvement.

Xi appears intent on completely cutting off the breath of journalism.

— Shannon Tiezzi