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| '''''The Epoch Times''''' (]: 大纪元; ]: 大紀元; ]: Dàjìyuán) is |
'''''The Epoch Times''''' (]: 大纪元; ]: 大紀元; ]: Dàjìyuán) is a politically ] ] ] which is freely distributed in eight languages and in roughly 30 countries. It is noted for devoting space to negative views on the ] and content relating to ]. | ||
| ==History== | ==History== | ||
| ''The Epoch Times'' was founded by a small circle of journalists in ] in ]. The journalists relayed stories overseas of ] abuses, infringements on civil liberties, and |
''The Epoch Times'' was founded by a small circle of journalists in ] in ]. The journalists relayed stories overseas of alleged ] abuses, infringements on civil liberties, and corruption in the Communist Party of China (CCP), among other things. | ||
| Despite crackdowns by authorities inside China, |
Despite crackdowns by authorities inside China, the "Epoch Times" continued to expand operations overseas and has since become one of the more widely distributed Chinese newspapers serving ]. It now has a weekly print distribution of over 1 million copies in 30 countries worldwide. | ||
| In ] ], an ] edition of |
In ] ], an ] edition of the "Epoch Times" was launched in ]. Currently, it is distributed in ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ] and ], as well as in the ] and ]. ] and ] editions were launched in late ], and more recently ], ] and ] editions have started up in print. | ||
| It claims to be the only major Chinese-language newspaper outside of |
It claims to be the one of the only major Chinese-language newspaper outside of mainland China that is not directly or indirectly influenced by the Chinese Communist Party. | ||
| ==Focus== | ==Focus== | ||
| Line 15: | Line 15: | ||
| ''The Epoch Times'' originally targeted Chinese readers living abroad and reported on the alleged persecutions, abuses, and inner workings of the CCP. Its reports on China are highly critical. It has since grown to report on civil rights issues worldwide in a ] view, and now appeals to a somewhat wider audience. The English edition represents itself as a general-interest newspaper that, although it maintains a large amount of China-related content, offers 12 other sections, including travel, science, sports, and regional and international news featuring articles from major wire services. | ''The Epoch Times'' originally targeted Chinese readers living abroad and reported on the alleged persecutions, abuses, and inner workings of the CCP. Its reports on China are highly critical. It has since grown to report on civil rights issues worldwide in a ] view, and now appeals to a somewhat wider audience. The English edition represents itself as a general-interest newspaper that, although it maintains a large amount of China-related content, offers 12 other sections, including travel, science, sports, and regional and international news featuring articles from major wire services. | ||
| The paper is unique in giving attention to ]'s campaigns, particularly their attempt to sue former Chinese Premier ] under |
The paper is unique in giving a large amount of attention to ]'s campaigns, particularly their attempt to sue former Chinese Premier ] under civil legislation. Because of this, the paper has over the years been accused of being primarily a ] mouthpiece of Falun Gong. Certain independent observers have recognized that a large number of Falun Gong practitioners are involved in the paper's founding and current operations. It's possible that Falun Gong promotes this paper because of its large coverage of their cause, not because they ideologically support the paper. | ||
| The paper |
The paper says that its goal to its China coverage is to accurately inform its readers about events in China, particularly those stories that remain censored in China. For example, it was one of the first newspapers to carry in-depth coverage of ], well before the Chinese government publicly admitted that there was an epidemic that went on to cause some 350 deaths. The paper also counters what it considers to be pro-CCP propaganda through its own pieces. | ||
| As the paper has its global headquarters in ], its various editions worldwide all tend to show a marked pro-] undertone, and in particular it is supportive of the global ]; as a result, it rarely reports such unfavourable news as the ], only reporting it after the offenders are punished. | |||
| One partucularly interesting point about the paper is that its Chinese editions tend to carry a large number of articles promoting traditional ] and ] stories, not just Falun Gong doctrines, in a way that reinforces the paper's stance against the CCP. | |||
| ==Criticism== | ==Criticism== | ||
| In the Chinese community, where ''The Epoch Times'' is widely distributed, |
In the Chinese community, where ''The Epoch Times'' is widely distributed, reactions are mixed. Some Chinese commend it for providing alternative views into China and its ] government, in particular on topics which the Chinese Communist Party would presumably ]. Others criticize the paper, pointing out what they see as lax journalistic standards, exaggerated tone, and pro-Falun Gong bias. | ||
| One of the biggest criticisms of ''The Epoch Times'' is its penchant towards airing only news stories that cast mainland China in a negative light and for commentaries that select and interpret facts in questionable ways. It is notable for using exaggerated or aggressive headlines more akin to those found in ] papers. It is also criticized for not making a clear distinction between news and commentary. Due to these criticisms, some people view ''Epoch Times'' as an opinion journal rather than a serious newspaper following established ]. | |||
| ⚫ | ''The Epoch Times'' |
||
| ⚫ | In defense of its editorial policy, ''The Epoch Times'' says that it is necessary to provide alternate views on news, that pro-China articles and pro-China interpretations need not be reported, as they are not subject to censorship by China's state-owned media. They do not see Chinese state-controlled media as legitimate media, but rather as propaganda tools at the hands of the ruling Communist Party. In response to accusations of anti-China bias, the paper says that it's anti-communist, but not anti-Chinese. | ||
| ⚫ | ''The Epoch Times'' is vocal in supporting dissidents, Falun Gong |
||
| ⚫ | ''The Epoch Times'' is very vocal in supporting dissidents, Falun Gong practioners, pro-independence Taiwanese, and other traditionally ideological opponents of the CCP; their opinions can often be seen in the opinion page. The paper rarely publishes letters and opinions that would be considered pro-communist or anti-Falun Gong, which the paper deems unnecessary. Posts in its Chinese lauguage online forum are also subject to 'content review' before being posted. The paper argues that most, if not all, government-censored Chinese news sources already contain opinions in agreement with Chinese governmental policies. | ||
| ⚫ | The Epoch Times has recently run into trouble with press laws in places outside of mainland China with large Chinese populations, ], and ], with the paper's printers facing closure. The newspaper |
||
| ⚫ | The Epoch Times has recently run into trouble with press laws in places outside of mainland China with large Chinese populations, such as ], ], and ], with the paper's printers facing closure. The newspaper says these actions violate freedom of information, and the respective governments are pressured by the CCP to do so. | ||
| ==Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party== | ==Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party== | ||
| In ] ], the Chinese version of ''The Epoch Times'' published and heavily promoted a series of editorials entitled "Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party" ( |
In ] ], the Chinese version of ''The Epoch Times'' published and heavily promoted a series of editorials entitled "Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party" ("Jiuping" in Chinese). The editorials give an alternate, if conservative, exposé of the CCP through its history, from its ascent to power under ] to its present-day form, as well as a condemnation of the moral and social philosophy of ] in all of its forms. Portions of the history given by the Commentaries are difficult to support using traditionally respected history texts of ] China, which supporters of the Commentaries attribute to the CCP's need for control and tendency to try to cover up its more damaging actions. According to them, this results in a wealth of information that is often hard to come by and difficult to report on. It is unclear how ''Epoch Times'' obtains some of these information. The prevailing tone of the editorials is staunchly anti-communist with no consideration given to other viewpoints. This attitude is attributed to the assumption that the intended Chinese audience who already knows the other side of the story need not be reminded of it. | ||
| ⚫ | The "Commentaries" were subsequently rendered into other languages. Readers of the English version often find the Commentaries to be rather one-sided and its language over-blown and unbelievable, making the Commentaries difficult to take seriously. Much of this may be the result of a more literal translation from the original Chinese text. The editorial often uses unusual phrases to describe the CCP, calling it 'an Anti-Universe Force', 'an evil spirit from the West', and 'an evil cult' itself. The tone is said to be geared towards the communication style to which mainland Chinese readers, mostly who grew up during the ], would be accustomed to, but many readers of mainland Chinese heritage are said to have found the Commentaries very extreme in its language against the CCP. It is also said that such readers have usually been exposed to years of government propaganda, rarely gaining access to alternative information about their government, although that is not corrobated by actual readers from mainland China, as the Epoch Times is not widely circulated in China itself. While praised by some Chinese dissidents as 'the book that is disintergrating the CCP', its contents are controversial and disputed by others who call it historical revisionism. | ||
| ⚫ | ''The Epoch Times'' claims that the publication of the "Commentaries" and its subsequent call to CCP members to "erase the beastly brand" (this being a corruption of a passage from the Biblical ]) has caused over 4 million CCP members to resign. Submissions include anonymous and unverifiable online signatures and public declarations (for people inside Mainland China unable to access the online website due to censorship, see: ]). The count actually includes any renunciations of past or current association with any CCP-affiliated organization. The ''Epoch Times'' reports of severe unrest in China as a direct result of the publication of the "Commentaries". | ||
| ⚫ | The "Commentaries" were subsequently rendered into other languages. The tone is said to be geared towards the communication style to which mainland Chinese readers would be accustomed, |
||
| ''The Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party'' recently won the “Asian American Issues - Online” ''National Journalism Award'' at the 2005 ] (AAJA) convention held in ] ]. | |||
| No major news outlet has verified the paper's claims concerning the effects of the "Commentaries". It is speculated that the paper exaggerates the effects of the "Commentaries" to a certain degree, as no major CCP official in either the central or regional governments had ever resigned because of the "Commentaries". | |||
| ⚫ | ''The Epoch Times'' claims that the publication of the "Commentaries" and its subsequent call to CCP members to "erase the beastly brand" has caused over 4 |
||
| ==External links== | ==External links== | ||
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Revision as of 08:02, 12 September 2005
The Epoch Times (Simplified Chinese: 大纪元; Traditional Chinese: 大紀元; Pinyin: Dàjìyuán) is a politically conservative Chinese newspaper which is freely distributed in eight languages and in roughly 30 countries. It is noted for devoting space to negative views on the Communist Party of China and content relating to Falun Gong.
History
The Epoch Times was founded by a small circle of journalists in China in 2000. The journalists relayed stories overseas of alleged human rights abuses, infringements on civil liberties, and corruption in the Communist Party of China (CCP), among other things.
Despite crackdowns by authorities inside China, the "Epoch Times" continued to expand operations overseas and has since become one of the more widely distributed Chinese newspapers serving overseas Chinese. It now has a weekly print distribution of over 1 million copies in 30 countries worldwide.
In August 2004, an English language edition of the "Epoch Times" was launched in Manhattan. Currently, it is distributed in Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, Chicago, Boston, Washington, DC, Houston, Vancouver, Toronto, Edmonton, Regina and Ottawa, as well as in the United Kingdom and Australia. German and French editions were launched in late 2004, and more recently Russian, Spanish and Japanese editions have started up in print.
It claims to be the one of the only major Chinese-language newspaper outside of mainland China that is not directly or indirectly influenced by the Chinese Communist Party.
Focus
The Epoch Times originally targeted Chinese readers living abroad and reported on the alleged persecutions, abuses, and inner workings of the CCP. Its reports on China are highly critical. It has since grown to report on civil rights issues worldwide in a conservative view, and now appeals to a somewhat wider audience. The English edition represents itself as a general-interest newspaper that, although it maintains a large amount of China-related content, offers 12 other sections, including travel, science, sports, and regional and international news featuring articles from major wire services.
The paper is unique in giving a large amount of attention to Falun Gong's campaigns, particularly their attempt to sue former Chinese Premier Jiang Zemin under civil legislation. Because of this, the paper has over the years been accused of being primarily a propaganda mouthpiece of Falun Gong. Certain independent observers have recognized that a large number of Falun Gong practitioners are involved in the paper's founding and current operations. It's possible that Falun Gong promotes this paper because of its large coverage of their cause, not because they ideologically support the paper.
The paper says that its goal to its China coverage is to accurately inform its readers about events in China, particularly those stories that remain censored in China. For example, it was one of the first newspapers to carry in-depth coverage of SARS, well before the Chinese government publicly admitted that there was an epidemic that went on to cause some 350 deaths. The paper also counters what it considers to be pro-CCP propaganda through its own pieces.
As the paper has its global headquarters in New York City, its various editions worldwide all tend to show a marked pro-U.S. undertone, and in particular it is supportive of the global War on Terrorism; as a result, it rarely reports such unfavourable news as the Abu Ghraib torture and prisoner abuse, only reporting it after the offenders are punished.
One partucularly interesting point about the paper is that its Chinese editions tend to carry a large number of articles promoting traditional Chinese mythology and Biblical stories, not just Falun Gong doctrines, in a way that reinforces the paper's stance against the CCP.
Criticism
In the Chinese community, where The Epoch Times is widely distributed, reactions are mixed. Some Chinese commend it for providing alternative views into China and its Communist government, in particular on topics which the Chinese Communist Party would presumably censor. Others criticize the paper, pointing out what they see as lax journalistic standards, exaggerated tone, and pro-Falun Gong bias.
One of the biggest criticisms of The Epoch Times is its penchant towards airing only news stories that cast mainland China in a negative light and for commentaries that select and interpret facts in questionable ways. It is notable for using exaggerated or aggressive headlines more akin to those found in tabloid papers. It is also criticized for not making a clear distinction between news and commentary. Due to these criticisms, some people view Epoch Times as an opinion journal rather than a serious newspaper following established journalistic standards.
In defense of its editorial policy, The Epoch Times says that it is necessary to provide alternate views on news, that pro-China articles and pro-China interpretations need not be reported, as they are not subject to censorship by China's state-owned media. They do not see Chinese state-controlled media as legitimate media, but rather as propaganda tools at the hands of the ruling Communist Party. In response to accusations of anti-China bias, the paper says that it's anti-communist, but not anti-Chinese.
The Epoch Times is very vocal in supporting dissidents, Falun Gong practioners, pro-independence Taiwanese, and other traditionally ideological opponents of the CCP; their opinions can often be seen in the opinion page. The paper rarely publishes letters and opinions that would be considered pro-communist or anti-Falun Gong, which the paper deems unnecessary. Posts in its Chinese lauguage online forum are also subject to 'content review' before being posted. The paper argues that most, if not all, government-censored Chinese news sources already contain opinions in agreement with Chinese governmental policies.
The Epoch Times has recently run into trouble with press laws in places outside of mainland China with large Chinese populations, such as Hong Kong, Singapore, and Malaysia, with the paper's printers facing closure. The newspaper says these actions violate freedom of information, and the respective governments are pressured by the CCP to do so.
Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party
In November 2004, the Chinese version of The Epoch Times published and heavily promoted a series of editorials entitled "Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party" ("Jiuping" in Chinese). The editorials give an alternate, if conservative, exposé of the CCP through its history, from its ascent to power under Mao Zedong to its present-day form, as well as a condemnation of the moral and social philosophy of Communism in all of its forms. Portions of the history given by the Commentaries are difficult to support using traditionally respected history texts of 20th century China, which supporters of the Commentaries attribute to the CCP's need for control and tendency to try to cover up its more damaging actions. According to them, this results in a wealth of information that is often hard to come by and difficult to report on. It is unclear how Epoch Times obtains some of these information. The prevailing tone of the editorials is staunchly anti-communist with no consideration given to other viewpoints. This attitude is attributed to the assumption that the intended Chinese audience who already knows the other side of the story need not be reminded of it.
The "Commentaries" were subsequently rendered into other languages. Readers of the English version often find the Commentaries to be rather one-sided and its language over-blown and unbelievable, making the Commentaries difficult to take seriously. Much of this may be the result of a more literal translation from the original Chinese text. The editorial often uses unusual phrases to describe the CCP, calling it 'an Anti-Universe Force', 'an evil spirit from the West', and 'an evil cult' itself. The tone is said to be geared towards the communication style to which mainland Chinese readers, mostly who grew up during the Cultural Revolution, would be accustomed to, but many readers of mainland Chinese heritage are said to have found the Commentaries very extreme in its language against the CCP. It is also said that such readers have usually been exposed to years of government propaganda, rarely gaining access to alternative information about their government, although that is not corrobated by actual readers from mainland China, as the Epoch Times is not widely circulated in China itself. While praised by some Chinese dissidents as 'the book that is disintergrating the CCP', its contents are controversial and disputed by others who call it historical revisionism.
The Epoch Times claims that the publication of the "Commentaries" and its subsequent call to CCP members to "erase the beastly brand" (this being a corruption of a passage from the Biblical Book of Revelation) has caused over 4 million CCP members to resign. Submissions include anonymous and unverifiable online signatures and public declarations (for people inside Mainland China unable to access the online website due to censorship, see: Internet censorship in mainland China). The count actually includes any renunciations of past or current association with any CCP-affiliated organization. The Epoch Times reports of severe unrest in China as a direct result of the publication of the "Commentaries".
The Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party recently won the “Asian American Issues - Online” National Journalism Award at the 2005 Asian American Journalists Association (AAJA) convention held in August 2005.
No major news outlet has verified the paper's claims concerning the effects of the "Commentaries". It is speculated that the paper exaggerates the effects of the "Commentaries" to a certain degree, as no major CCP official in either the central or regional governments had ever resigned because of the "Commentaries".
External links
- The Epoch Times Website (English)
- The Epoch Times Website (Chinese)
- The Epoch Times Website (French)
- Text of "Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party"