Despite their financial muscle and political connection, China’s global media remain little understood. In 2000, CCTV-9, China’s first English news channel, began broadcasting across the country. Two years later, it entered the U.S. market as CCTV-America, and in 2012 it launched its African operations in Nairobi as CCTV-Africa. With a wide range of programs, presenters and increasingly professional production, CCTV’s “going out” strategy aims to boost China’s international image and expand its global audience. But bureaucratic control and political sensitivities impede CCTV’s acceptance by and accession to the global information society. In view of these developments, China’s media reveals dynamics of ongoing activity between state’s control and the opportunity to engage in open dialogue, information exchange and journalistic freedom. Although China has the potential to make impact in the global media sphere, a number of questions remain unanswered. How has China portrayed itself in the Western news media? Has this image had any impact on the country’s soft power? What are the current domestic developments and how today’s media influence Chinese society?

To shed light on China’s global media expansion, the China Policy Institute has invited a number of scholars to contribute their insights to this special issue. The line-up includes:

Wanning Sun (University of Technology, Sydney, Australia)

Stephen D. Reese (University of Texas)

Jing Ning Conover (Rutgers University)

Vivien Marsh (University of Westminster)

Xiaoling Zhang (University of Nottingham)

Ming-Yeh T. Rawnsley (China Policy Institute)

Image credit: CC by Trevor Patt/Flickr