China Sinking Big Bucks Into African News

Critics say propaganda, but Chinese call it good PR
By Mark Russell,  Newser Staff
Posted Aug 17, 2012 1:50 PM CDT
China Sinking Big Bucks Into African News
The opening of the African Union Conference Center in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, a $200 million facility funded by China as a gift, from Jan. 28, 2012.   (AP Photo/Xinhua, Ding Haitao)

China has long been investing big money into Africa, in construction, natural resources, housing, and other projects. Increasingly, though, China is also pouring money into news and media on the continent, bringing two Chinese television news channels, radio, and written articles by Xinhua, China's state-sponsored news service, to places like Kenya, reports the New York Times. "You would have to be blind not to notice the Chinese media’s arrival," said an editor at Kenya's The Daily Nation, which began a partnership with Xinhua last year. "It's a full-on charm offensive."

It's also a $7 billion PR campaign by Beijing aimed at Africa and the developing world, as China tries to create a counterpoint to Western influences. And the country's reach is spreading: CCTV claims 200 million viewers outside of China and is available in six languages, including Arabic. And Xinhua has 23 bureaus across Africa, employing scores of local journalists. But critics point out that China's media have little interest developing freedom of expression, and that the Chinese government helps many governments block broadcasts by dissident media groups. (More China stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X