Xinhua News Agency

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QUESTIONABLE SOURCE

A questionable source exhibits one or more of the following: extreme bias, consistent promotion of propaganda/conspiracies, poor or no sourcing to credible information, a complete lack of transparency, and/or is fake news. Fake News is the deliberate attempt to publish hoaxes and/or disinformation for profit or influence (Learn More). Sources listed in the Questionable Category may be very untrustworthy and should be fact-checked on a per article basis. Please note sources on this list are not considered fake news unless specifically written in the reasoning section for that source. See all Questionable sources.

• Overall, we rate Xinhua Left biased based on editorials that endorse socialism/communism. We also rate them Questionable due to poor sourcing and the publication of one-sided pro-Government propaganda.

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Detailed Report

Questionable Reasoning: Propaganda, Censorship, Poor Sourcing
Bias Rating: LEFT
Factual Reporting: MIXED
Country: China
Press Freedom Rank: TOTAL OPPRESSION
Media Type: News Agency
Traffic/Popularity: High Traffic
MBFC Credibility Rating: LOW CREDIBILITY

History

Founded in 1931, Xinhua News Agency, or New China News Agency, is the official state-owned news agency in the People’s Republic of China.  Xinhua News Agency’s headquarter is located in Beijing. Xinhua News Agency provides daily coverage of business, politics, economics, sport, sci-tech, culture, etc.

Reporters without Borders have reported China as the “World’s leading prison for citizen journalists.” According to their 2022 report, China ranks 177 out of 180 countries in the World Press Freedom Index.

Funded by / Ownership

Xinhua is owned by the People’s Republic of China and is funded by selling its news content, similar to Reuters. They lack transparency as they do not disclose they are an arm of the government.

Analysis / Bias

The content of headlines and articles use minimal loaded words about national news such as “Xi stresses real combat training” or “Xi says senior officials “crucial” in Party, state governance.” Their US coverage also utilizes minimally loaded headlines and least biased but selective pro-Chinese coverage “Analysis: U.S.-DPRK relations to be Trump’s biggest 2018 foreign policy challenge, experts say.” Although they completely lack linked sourcing, they provide credible sources, such as Brookings Institute, Stratfor, and Center for the Study of the Presidency and Congress, through quotes.

According to a Newsweek article, “IS CHINA’S XINHUA THE FUTURE OF JOURNALISM?” By opening more overseas bureaus and expanding its business, Xinhua News Agency is similar to what “China’s state-run factories have done for tawdry baubles and cheap clothes: take something that has become a commodity and foist it onto the world far more cheaply than anyone else can. “It gives them an inherent competitive advantage.”

Further, according to CNBC, in 2017, Xinhua News Agency mocked Indians by releasing a satirical video named the “Seven Sins of India.” The Chinese government has also banned certain words that the media can use in reporting.

Editorially, there is a strong left-wing bias with the endorsement of economic socialism and pro-Government propaganda. Furthermore, Xinhua cannot seem to glorify Xi Jinping enough. In other words, they frequently promote government propaganda and are heavily censored.

Failed Fact Checks

• None found. They report only pro-Chinese government stories.

Overall, we rate Xinhua Left biased based on editorials that endorse socialism/communism. We also rate them Questionable due to poor sourcing and the publication of one-sided pro-Government propaganda. (M. Huitsing 1/6/2018) Updated (10/07/2022)

Source: https://www.xinhuanet.com