The Epoch Times

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The Epoch Times
File:A1 eet-2010-05-03-ny-us.pdf
TypeInternational newspaper
FormatBroadsheet
Founded2000
Political alignmentanti-communist, anti-Chinese Communist Party
Languagemainly Chinese and English
HeadquartersNew York,
 United States
Circulation1.4 million (unaudited)
WebsiteThe Epoch Times

The Epoch Times (traditional Chinese: 大紀元; simplified Chinese: 大纪元; pinyin: Dàjìyuán) is a multi-language, international media organisation. As a newspaper, the Times has been publishing in Chinese since May 2000. It was founded in 1999 by supporters of the Falun Gong spiritual discipline.[1][2][3]

The paper covers general interest issues, China, and human rights.[4][5][6] The newspaper is often critical of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and policies of the Chinese government. In 2004, the newspaper published the "Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party", an in-depth critique of China's ruling regime. The newspaper covers causes and groups opposed to the CCP, including Falun Gong, dissidents, activists, and supporters of the Tibetan government-in-exile. The Epoch Times Website also hosts a "CCP Renunciations" service, encouraging Chinese to quit the CCP and related organizations[7]. The Chinese government blocks mainland Chinese from accessing the Epoch Times website.[8]

Headquartered in New York City, the newspaper has local bureaux and a network of local reporters throughout the world. It is either sold or distributed free-of-charge in roughly 30 countries worldwide, and maintains editions in English, Chinese, nine other languages in print, and 17 on the web.

History

According to the newspaper itself, The Epoch Times was founded in New York in May 2000, following the arrest of a small circle of journalists in China in 2000.[9] As stated on the website, it was “in a suburban Atlanta home basement with a noble cause, a clear sense of purpose and a few home personal computers.” The Times says its founding mission was "to restore freedom of the press in and about China."[9]

On August 12, 2002, The Epoch Times launched its first daily in Washington, D.C.[citation needed] In August 2004, an English language edition of The Epoch Times was launched in Manhattan, as well as Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, San Francisco, and several other cities.[10] It is also distributed in Chicago and San Diego.[11] The paper has associated media services, including the television station New Tang Dynasty TV, the radio station Sound of Hope. The journal is in some places printed by The Epoch Press Inc., another company owned and run by Falun Gong practitioners.[12]

The Times is often connected with the Falun Gong spiritual group. A 2006 report by the U.S. Congressional Research Service listed the newspaper as a Falun Gong affiliated media source,[6] and Professor David Ownby, an expert on Falun Gong, said that after years of ill-treatment by journalists, "they decided to publish a newspaper by themselves to publicize their beliefs..."[13]

Distribution

File:RE Mag Final pg01.pdf
The Epoch Times’ special edition on Real Estate, distributed in Manhattan.

As of The Epoch Times is available in ten languages for its print editions and in 17 languages on the Internet.[14] English editions were distributed in Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, Singapore, the United Kingdom, and the United States. German and French editions were launched in late 2004. There were two language editions published in Tokyo, Japan: the Chinese language edition, launched in January 2001, and the Japanese language edition, launched in 2005.[15] In addition, an Hebrew edition of the Epoch Times is available in Israel since 2005.

Yuezhi Zhao, Assistant Professor of Communication at Simon Fraser University, Canada, wrote in 2003 that The Epoch Times website and The Epoch Times group of newspapers had "grown into one of the largest Chinese-language news websites and newspaper groups outside China in the past two years, with local editions in more than thirty U.S. states, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Indonesia, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and major Western European countries."[16] It claims a circulation of 100,000 in the United States, and more than 1 million worldwide in 2009; it is unaudited in some places.[17]

Coverage and focus

Typically a 16-page broadsheet, the Epoch Times also runs mainstream newswire stories and in some places can resemble a community newspaper.[18] Some local versions take the form of a free weekly newspaper drawing on content from the Epoch Times website, and are distributed worldwide. Zhao said: "While mainstream newspaper typically treat Web versions as an extension of the already-existing print version, the Epoch Times website serves as the master for all its worldwide papers."[16]

Political stance

The Epoch Times originally targeted Chinese readers living abroad and reported on various abuses and inner workings of the Communist Party of China (CCP). The paper's reports on China are highly critical of the Chinese government, particularly in its tone and commentaries towards the Communist Party. The paper is unique in giving significant attention to Falun Gong's campaigns, particularly their attempt to sue former Chinese President Jiang Zemin under civil legislation for genocide, which many mainstream publications have not covered.[19] As reported by the paper itself, Chinese journalists relayed stories overseas of alleged human rights abuses, infringements on civil liberties and corruption in the CCP, among others.[9] In 2005, the San Francisco Chronicle reported that "three new U.S-based, Chinese-language media outlets that provide provocative reporting about the Communist Party, government oppression and social unrest in China [namely the Epoch Times, Sound of Hope, and NTDTV] have ties to the Falun Gong spiritual movement." When interviewed, executives at each outlet said they did not represent the Falun Gong movement as a whole.[4]

The paper also counters what it considers to be CCP propaganda through its own opinion pieces. The paper is vocal in supporting dissidents, pro-independence Taiwanese, and other traditional opponents of the CCP. According to Maria H. Chang of the University of Nevada, the paper was founded based on the socio-political environment in China. She argues that for the organization to survive, Falun Gong has to create organisations that are publicly unaffiliated with it, such as the Epoch Times. Chang states that such strategies are counterproductive in democratic societies, and that "being secretive and deceptive will just play into the image they're a kooky group with something to hide." [20]


Reporting style

Throughout March 2006, the newspaper published a series of articles containing allegations by a number of anonymous individuals claiming to be eyewitnesses to organ harvesting in Sujiatun Hospital and beyond, labelling it "Sujiatun Concentration Camp".[21] The claims made in the article were unable to be substantiated, and criticised by dissident Harry Wu. The wider allegations of organ harvesting from Falun Gong, however, were taken up by two Canadian researchers, David Matas and David Kilgour, who found them credible.[22]

In November 2004, the Chinese version of The Epoch Times published and heavily promoted a series of editorials and a booklet entitled "Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party" (traditional Chinese: 九評共產黨; simplified Chinese: 九评共产党). The editorials purport to give an alternate 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 communism in all of its forms. In it the CCP was criticized as an illegitimate institution who employed underhanded tactics to gain power. The commentaries allege that the CCP "destroyed traditional Chinese culture" and goes so far as to brand the CCP an "evil cult".[23] The Nine Commentaries won the “Asian American Issues - Online” category of the AAJA National Awards at the 2005 Asian American Journalists Association (AAJA) convention held in August 2005.[24][25] The "Commentaries" were subsequently translated into more than 30 other languages.[26]

"Support 8.0 Million Chinese Quit Chinese Communist Party"; Paris, Place d'Italie, February 26, 2006.

The Epoch Times reports that the publication of the "Nine Commentaries" has caused more than 57 million CCP members to renounce their associations as of July 2009.[27] At the English language version of the renunciation website, the cumulative count of people who have renounced the CCP appears as a sidebar to the Internet form which captures English language denunciations of the CCP.[28]

During the 2009 New York City Comptroller elections, the Epoch Times alleged that Taiwan-born Democratic nominee John Liu is part of a "United Front" by the Chinese Communist Party to infiltrate the United States and subvert its government, democracy, and human rights in general.[29] The newspaper alleges that "the CCP works tenaciously and systematically to place its people [...] in key positions in corporations, academia, and government in the United States and other countries."[30] The coverage began when practitioners felt Liu had sided with a violent anti-Falun Gong mob, which was reportedly organised by the Chinese Embassy, and therefore was on equal moral footing with the Communist Party of China.[31] The Epoch Times also published an 8-page "special edition", and also featured on its website a section focused on coverage of Liu's reported ties with CCP officials.[31][32]

Reports of The Epoch Times‘ are sometimes referred to by other media. When Hu Jintao visited Canada in June 2010, the Toronto Star noted that the Times had: "been publishing some hard-hitting stories in advance of Hu’s visit, including a report on how the Chinese embassy in Ottawa was orchestrating demonstrations in support of the president while he was here." The article went on to note how the Times had obtained a recording of a speech given by Liu Shaohua, the first secretary of the education section at the Chinese embassy in Ottawa, while speaking to a crowd of about 40-50 students receiving Chinese state-scholarships to study in Canada. "In the Epoch Times story, Liu is quoted as saying the embassy is covering the cost of hotel, travel and food for what was estimated to be 3,000 people who were expected to welcome Hu," the Star reported.[33]

Canadian media reported that the parliamentary press office made deliberate arrangements in relation to Hu's public appearances so as to limit the Times‘ access to the Chinese President, even though the newspaper is an accredited member of the Canadian Parliamentary Press Gallery, with all the same access rights as the Star, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, or any other media outlets.[33]

In May 2005, Die Neue Epoche, the German edition of The Epoch Times, received a special media prize from the International Society for Human Rights (IGFM) for "extensive and regular reporting about violations of human rights in China."[34] In August 2005, the English version of the paper was awarded the top award in the category "Asian American Issues - Online" by the Asian American Journalists Association (AAJA).[11][35] In September 2005, the Chinese version of the paper was recognized during the National Ethnomedia Week 2005 in Canada as a "strong defender of human rights and free democratic values."[36]

Assessments

The Epoch Times' unwavering stance on the Chinese Communist Party and Falun Gong conflict has earned them both supporters and detractors. In the view of some observers, the newspaper's credibility was damaged by Wang Wenyi,[18] who used her Epoch Times journalist pass to gain access to a White House lawn press briefing where she yelled at Chinese President Hu Jintao over recent allegations of organ harvesting from Falun Gong practitioners in China.[37][38] In turn, The Epoch Times apologized to the U.S. President,[39] whilst denying any direct ties to, or funding from, Falun Gong.[18]

Dr. Liu Kang, professor of Chinese Cultural Studies at Duke University, stated in 2006 that the paper did not adhere to basic journalistic standards of professionalism and objectivity, and is "not viewed as an independent objective news media" by members of the Chinese Diaspora;[18] he also referred to the Wang incident. Liu remarked that the newspaper is seen by the overseas Chinese community as "Falun Gong propaganda".

James Bettinger, a professor of Communications at Stanford University and the director of the John S. Knight Journalism Fellowships, said "Even if the Epoch Times is not associated with Falun Gong, if they consistently write about Falun Gong in the same perspective, or if there are no articles examining Falun Gong, people would perceive it as being not credible."[18] According to David Ownby, speaking to Radio Canada, at least the French version of the journal "so lacking in balanced reporting that it resembles the anti-communist propaganda from Taiwan in the 1950s."[40]

This apparent lack of balance has been lauded by some Chinese dissidents. Jiao Guobiao, an outspoken dissident and former Beijing University journalism professor who was dismissed after criticising the CCP's propaganda department, proposed that even if Falun Gong outlets published only negative information highly critical of the CCP, the weight of their attacks could never begin to counterbalance the positive propaganda the party publishes about itself. "What the mainland Chinese public lacks is negative information about mainland China... Balance does not mean that all media entities have to achieve a God-like balance, but that the media can balance the principles of freedom, equality and legality together... Balance is the result of the collective imbalances of all," he wrote.[41]

Others have given different opinions. Orville Schell, dean of the UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism, said in 2005 that "It's hard to vouch for their quality because it's difficult to corroborate, but it's not something to be dismissed as pure propaganda."[4]

In 2010, The Epoch Times had to defend its reporting in court, when the publisher they had reported on, Crescent Chau, sued for libel.[42] The Justice in charge of the case ruled that the paper had acted in the public interest, and that its articles expressed “legitimate concerns and constitute an opinion which is drawn from a factual premise and not made for the purpose of abusively attacking the reputation of Mr. Chau.”

References

  • Ombudsman, French Services (January 27, 2009). "Review on the investigative report entitled Malaise dans le Chinatown" (PDF). CBC Radio Canada.

Footnotes

  1. ^ Postmedia News, "Tory MP says China using gifts, sex to influence our politicians", Canada.com
  2. ^ China's Campaign Against Falungong, Human Rights Watch
  3. ^ China uses Rule of Law to Crackdown on Falun Gong, Human Rights Watch
  4. ^ a b c Hua, Vanessa (December 18, 2005). "Dissident media linked to Falun Gong / Chinese-language print, broadcast outlets in U.S. are making waves". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 2006-12-09.
  5. ^ Peter Schworm (December 3, 2007). "Chinese-American activists decry China's communism". The Boston Globe.
  6. ^ a b Thomas Lum (August 11, 2006). "China and Falun Gong" (PDF). Congressional Research Service.
  7. ^ "Quitting the CCP". The Epoch Times.
  8. ^ "Reporters sans frontières - China". Rsf.org. Retrieved 2009-12-18.
  9. ^ a b c The Epoch Times, "About Us". Retrieved July 1, 2006.
  10. ^ "The Epoch Times - Advertising with a corporate social responsibility". Ads.epochtimes.eu. Retrieved 2009-12-18.
  11. ^ a b Michael Miner (October 14, 2005). "Down With the Chinese Tyrants! Chicago's latest free weekly has a simple editorial message". Chicago Reader.
  12. ^ Mata Press Service, "Punjabi Publisher fights for press freedom in BC" South Asian Post, March 2009
  13. ^ ibid Radio Canada ombudsman report, Pg10
  14. ^ "Epoch Times has 17 Languages on the Web". En.epochtimes.com. Retrieved 2009-12-18.
  15. ^ "大紀元時報−日本". Epochtimes.jp. Retrieved 2009-12-18.
  16. ^ a b Zhao, Yuezhi, "Falun Gong, Identity, and the Struggle over Meaning Inside and Outside China", pp 209-223 in Contesting Media Power: Alternative Media in a Networked World, edited by Nick Couldry and James Curran (Rowman & Littlefield, 2003)
  17. ^ "Annual Report on American Journalism". State of the News Media. 2009.
  18. ^ a b c d e Eugenia Chien, "Falun Gong-Linked Media Venture Makes Waves, Raises Questions", New America Media, News Analysis, May 16, 2006
  19. ^ "Global Coalition to Bring Jiang to Justice". Grandtrial.org. Retrieved 2009-12-18.
  20. ^ The gospel truth: Falun Gong, Sunday Star Times, March 2, 2008
  21. ^ Worse Than Any Nightmare—Journalist Quits China to Expose Concentration Camp Horrors and Bird Flu Coverup, Epoch Times, March 10, 2006
  22. ^ http://www.organharvestinvestigation.net
  23. ^ The Epoch Times Dec 26, 2004 (2004-12-26). "Part 8: On How the Chinese Communist Party Is an Evil Cult". En.epochtimes.com. Retrieved 2009-12-18.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  24. ^ "Programs : Awards : AAJA NATIONAL AWARDS 1989 - 2006". AAJA. Retrieved 2009-12-18.
  25. ^ "The Epoch Times | "Nine Commentaries" Wins National Journalism Award in U.S". En.epochtimes.com. 2005-08-19. Retrieved 2009-12-18.
  26. ^ "Translations of the Nine Commentaries". Epochtimes.com. 2004-12-13. Retrieved 2009-12-18.
  27. ^ Hurley, Ben (July 24, 2009). Chinese People Saying ‘No’ to Communist Party. The Epoch Times.
  28. ^ Official site of the denunciation
  29. ^ "Chinese Communist Party Subverts Democracies and Rights Abroad". Epoch Times. 2009-09-10. Retrieved 2009-12-18.
  30. ^ "Editor's Note on Coverage of John Liu: Uncovering a hidden threat". September 10, 2009.
  31. ^ a b The New York Observer: Who Hates John Liu?
  32. ^ "John Liu and the United Front". Epoch Times. Retrieved 2009-12-18.
  33. ^ a b Susan Delacourt, "Harper helps Hu keep critics away", Fri Jun 25 2010
  34. ^ "The Epoch Times Wins Prize for Human Rights Reporting". En.epochtimes.com. 2006-05-10. Retrieved 2009-12-18.
  35. ^ "Nine Commentaries" Wins National Journalism Award in U.S." The Epoch Times. August 15, 2005.
  36. ^ "nepm". Nepmcc.ca. Retrieved 2009-12-18.
  37. ^ Kathy Chen (November 15, 2007). "Chinese Dissidents Take On Beijing Via Media Empire". The Wall Street Journal.
  38. ^ "Bush presses China over currency". BBC News. April 21, 2006. Retrieved 2006-05-20.
  39. ^ Karlyn Barker and Lena H. Sun (April 22, 2006). "Falun Gong Activist Defiant After Arrest". Washington Post. Retrieved 2006-05-20.
  40. ^ ibid Radio Canada ombudsman report, Pg10: "According to Professor Ownby, the newspaper La Grande Époque, founded by Falun Gong practitioners, is so lacking in balanced reporting that it resembles the anti-communist propaganda from Taiwan in the 1950s."
  41. ^ Thornton, Patricia M. Manufacturing Dissent in Transnational China pp. 179-204 in "Popular Protest in China," Kevin J. O'Brien (ed.), Harvard University Press 2008
  42. ^ Miller, John Gordon. "Judge rules that Falun Gong newspaper acted in the public interest". Straight Goods, Monday, May 31, 2010

External links

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