China Approves Giant Propaganda Machine To Improve Global Image (bloomberg.com)

China has approved the creation of one of the world's largest propaganda machines as it looks to improve its global image, Bloomberg reported on Tuesday, citing a person familiar with the matter. From the report: The new broadcaster will be called "Voice of China," the person said, mimicking the U.S. government-funded Voice of America that started up during World War II to advance American interests. Bloomberg News had previously reported the new entity would be created through merging China Central Television, China Radio International and China National Radio. The combined group was designed to strengthen the party's ability to shape public opinion and would serve as a key vehicle for China to project its image to the world.

Comments

That's one way to do it

[MiniMike]

I guess this is easier than actually acting better?

Re:That's one way to do it

[jimtheowl]

Too bad there is no longer a global super power to act as a moral compass that could actually exemplify what 'better' means.

Re:That's one way to do it

[Austerity Empowers]

Dictatorship is still dictatorship. They don't get off the hook until they become a functioning democracy and adopt some form of human rights guarantees and dedication to upholding them.

You may or may not like our president, in fact raw statistics would suggest you probably strongly dislike him. But our press is free to, and perhaps has actually enjoyed criticizing him without fear of retribution. He's twisted the screws, but our police force has been able to successfully investigate him and locked a few of his most corrupt cronies a way, and may yet get him. Protestors that roamed the streets and in a few cases were actually doing dangerous and unjustifiable things in the name of "anger", were not driven over by tanks. Our business leaders, who are split on liking and loathing him, have been able to take appropriate actions to protect the interests of their companies. We have no great firewall, even if Russia demonstrates that perhaps we needed one, my money is on us surviving this and coming out stronger and more discerning.

It's not perfect and there are abuses, but until China can demostrate that they are MORE free and LESS abusive than we are, I'm going to continue to consider them a dangerous dictatorship that needs to be put down when convenient.

er

[cascadingstylesheet]

mimicking the U.S. government-funded Voice of America that started up during World War II to advance American interests.

Er, yeah, if by "advance American interests" you mean "combat worldwide totalitarian movements that were grinding humanity under their boots".

China, OTOH, is the massive totalitarian movement grinding humanity under their boots.

Re:er

[ghoul]

Your response shows the investment in VOA has worked

Re:er

[arcade]

Saudis, Guzzetti, Branco, Pinochet, Chiang, Batista, Battalion, Suharto, the Shah, Saddam Hussein, Vang Pao, Somosa, Mobutu .. just a small list of dictators supported by the US.