People's Daily

The People's Daily (Template:Lang-zh) is the official newspaper of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). It provides direct information on the policies and viewpoints of the CCP in multiple languages. It is the largest newspaper in the People's Republic of China (PRC).

History

The paper was established on 15 June 1948 and was first published in Pingshan County, Hebei.<ref name=":RedInk">Template:Cite book</ref>Template:Rp It was formed from the merger of the Jin-Cha-Ji Daily and the newspapers of the Jin-Ji-Lu-Yu base area.<ref name=":RedInk" />Template:Rp On 15 March 1949, its office was moved to Beijing, and the original People's Daily Beijing edition was renamed Beijing Liberation Daily. The newspaper ceased publication on 31 July 1949, with a total of 406 issues published. Since the newspaper was the official newspaper of the North China Central Bureau of the CCP, it was historically known as the North China People's Daily or the People's Daily North China Edition. At the same time, in order to indicate that the newspaper was published in Pingshan County, Hebei, it was also called the People's Daily Pingshan Edition. On 1 August 1949, the People's Daily was officially changed from the official newspaper of the North China Bureau of the CCP to the official newspaper of the CCP Central Committee.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Ever since its founding, the People's Daily has been under direct control of the CCP's top leadership. Deng Tuo and Wu Lengxi served as editor-in-chief from 1948 to 1958 and 1958–1966, respectively, but the paper was in fact controlled by Mao Zedong's personal secretary Hu Qiaomu.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>Template:Better source needed

At the start of the Cultural Revolution, many news media executives were overthrown, and Wu Lengxi replaced Deng Tuo as editor-in-chief. Faced with the ever-changing political situation, the People's Daily was still at a loss as to what to do. On the afternoon of 31 May 1966, Chen Boda led a working group to "carry out a small coup" at the People's Daily, seizing power from Wu Lengxi and the editorial board. Afterwards, the People's Daily and Red Flag were led by a working group headed by Chen Boda, the head of the Central Cultural Revolution Group. On 1 June, the People's Daily printed an editorial called Sweep Away All Cow Demons and Snake Spirits, seeking support for the Cultural Revolution and the moving against "rightist". During this period, the two papers and the People's Liberation Army Daily became part of what was known as the Two Newspapers and One Journal, becoming three most influential media during the Cultural Revolution.<ref name=":02">Template:Cite web</ref>

In the late 1970s, the editor-in-chief of the People’s Daily Hu Jiwei said that the "people’s spirit" should be primary in doing journalism, meaning that the media should report truthfully because it represented the interests of the people. Hu Jiwei argued in 1979 that "party spirit" should be consistent with human nature media should be independent from the Party, saying the media should be "the eyes and ears of CCP" in order to report accurately on the actual situation in the country and listen to the people's voices. His position was endorsed by reformist leader Hu Yaobang. Hu Qiaomu, in contrast, argued for the primacy of the "party spirit" in media and journalism. He continued to argue Hu Jiwei's ideas continued to poison the media after his resignation as editor-in-chief in 1983.<ref name=":03">Template:Cite web</ref>

During the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests and massacre, the People's Daily editorial of 26 April, which condemned "unlawful parades and demonstrations," marked a significant moment in the newspaper's history.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The editorial increased tension between the government and protesters, and top CCP leaders argued about whether to revise it. An article that compiles the most important editorials was released by the People's Daily during the student movement.Template:Citation needed After the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests and massacre, Hu Qiaomu argued the failure to properly control the press "guided matters in the direction of chaos".<ref name=":03" />

An analysis of the wording of all the issues of the People's Daily from 1995 to 2000 was used in the writing of The First Series of Standardized Forms of Words with Non-standardized Variant Forms.<ref name="yixingci">Template:Cite web</ref>Template:Rp In March 2018, People's Daily won the Third National Top 100 Newspapers in China.<ref name="o044">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="f915">Template:Cite web</ref>

Content

The People's Daily is published by the People's Daily Press, a ministerial-level institution. The agency is also responsible for the publication of the nationalist tabloid Global Times.<ref name=":22">Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The newspaper is published worldwide in four editions:<ref name="daily">Template:Cite web</ref>

• Mainland China Edition: Mainly for readers in mainland China
• Hong Kong Edition: Mainly for readers in Hong Kong
• Overseas Edition: Mainly for readers outside mainland China and Hong Kong
• Tibetan version: mainly for Tibetan readers in the Tibet Autonomous Region and Tibetan-populated areas in Sichuan, Yunnan, Qinghai, Gansu and other provinces of China.

The Mainland Edition is the domestic edition, and the name of the edition is not clearly stated. The Mainland Edition initially had four pages, and later developed to 24 pages from Monday to Friday, 12 pages on Saturday and Sunday, and eight pages on holidays. From 2019, it started to have 20 pages on weekdays and 8 pages on weekends and holidays, which have been printed in full color. In addition, the People's Daily Publishing House issues reduced-print bound volumes of the People's Daily, one volume every half month, 24 volumes per year, and the content and layout are basically the same as the original newspaper.<ref name="daily" />

The People's Daily maintains a unit called People's Data that conducts overseas social media data collection and analysis for police, judicial authorities, and CCP organizations.<ref name=":2">Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> People's Data also has data sharing agreements in place with various companies such as DiDi and Temu's parent company Pinduoduo.<ref name=":2" /> In 2022, the People's Daily launched a commercial software service called Renmin Shenjiao (People's Proofreader) that provides outsourced content censorship.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The People's Daily also provides artificial intelligence companies in China with training data that CCP leaders consider permissible.<ref name=":11">Template:Cite news</ref> In 2024, the People's Daily released a large language model-based tool called Easy Write.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Overseas edition

The overseas edition of the People's Daily was first published on 1 July 1985, and was originally published in traditional Chinese characters. After 1 July 1992, it was changed to simplified Chinese characters.Template:Citation needed Haiwainet is the website of the overseas edition of the People's Daily.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In February 2014, the People's Daily Overseas Edition launched the WeChat public account "XiaKeDao".<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In March 2018, BBC News pointed out that Haiwainet was the real body of All American Television, located in Pasadena, California, United States<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and that Haiwainet's American channel and All American Television were "one institution with two names".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> However, Haiwainet denied the allegations and stated that it "had no relationship with All American Television"<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and also had no relationship with the station's executive director Zhang Huijun.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Subsequently, the Seattle-based All American Television Corporation (AAT Television Corporation) also issued a statement saying that it had no relationship with All American Television.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Internet

The People's Daily also maintains a multilingual internet presence and established the People's Daily Online in 1997.<ref name="WSJ-Jike">Template:Cite news</ref> The website of People's Daily includes content in Arabic, French, Russian, Spanish, Japanese and English. In comparison to the original Chinese version, the foreign-language version offers less in-depth discussion of domestic policies and affairs and more editorials about China's foreign policies and motives.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The People's Daily in recent years has been expanding on overseas social media platforms. It has millions of followers on its Facebook page and its accounts on Instagram, Twitter and YouTube. An unusually high proportion of its followers are virtually inactive and are likely to be fake users, according to a study by the Committee to Protect Journalists.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The People's Daily also maintains agreements with foreign newspapers to republish its content.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Editorial style

The newspaper is the official newspaper of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It is often viewed as most representative of the mainstream perspective of China's government and the CCP leadership's priorities.<ref name=":Wang">Template:Cite book</ref>Template:Rp<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>Template:Rp

A large number of articles devoted to a political figure, idea, or geographic focus is often taken as a sign that the mentioned official or subject is rising.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref><ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> Editorials in the People's Daily are regarded both by foreign observers and Chinese readers as authoritative statements of official government policy. Distinction is made between editorials, commentaries, and opinions. Although all must be government-approved, they differ sharply on the amount of official authoritativeness they contain by design, from the top. For example, although an opinion piece is unlikely to contain views opposed to those of the government, it may express a viewpoint, or it may contain a debate that is under consideration and reflect only the opinions of the writer: an editorial trial balloon to assess internal public opinion.<ref name=":1">Template:Cite journal</ref> By contrast, an official editorial, which is rather infrequent, means that the government has reached a final decision on an issue.<ref name=":1" />

Writing practices

The People's Daily employs "writing task groups" (Template:Lang-zh) of various staff to compose editorial pieces to signal the significance of certain pieces or their relationship to the official views of the CCP.<ref name = "BanurskiCMP">Template:Cite web</ref> These groups are published under "signatures" (i.e., pen names: 署名 shǔmíng) that may correspond with the topic and weight of a piece, and what specific government or CCP body is backing it, often with homophonous references to their purpose.<ref name=":0">Template:Cite journal</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Selected notable People's Daily pen names

Pen name	Etymology/symbolism	Usage	Example articles	Ref
Ren Zhongping 任仲平	From 人民日报重要评论 Rénmín Rìbào zhòngyào pínglùn 'important People's Daily commentary'	Used to represent the view of the People's Daily as an organization.	"Hong Kong scores brilliant achievements after return", June 2017 "Keeping original aspiration, CPC creates glorious achievements", September 2019	<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name = "BanurskiCMP"/>
Zhong Sheng 钟声	Homophone of 中声 Zhōng shēng 'voice of China'	Commentary on major international affairs by editors and staff.	"U.S. practice to claim compensation for COVID-19 outbreak a shame for human civilization", May 2020	<ref name=":0" /><ref name = "PD2009"/>
Guo Jiping 国纪平	From 有关国际的重要评论 yǒuguān guójì de zhòngyào pínglùn 'important commentary on international [matters]'	According to China Daily, Guo Jiping is "used for People's Daily editorials meant to outline China's stance and viewpoints on major international issues."<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Guo Jiping articles are rarer and generally longer than Zhong Sheng articles.	"Losing no time in progressing – grasping the historic opportunity for common development", December 2019	<ref name = "PD2009">Template:Cite news</ref>
Guo Ping 国平	Unclear. Guó means 'country' and píng 'peace, calm'. Píng is also the last character in Xi Jinping's name.	Articles that focus on Xi Jinping and his political thought.	"在改革中更好掌握当代中国命运: 六论习近平总书记治国理政新思想新成就" ('Better Grasp Contemporary China's Destiny during Reform: On the New Thought and New Achievements of Xi Jinping in Governing the Country'), February 2016	<ref name="Guancha2015"/>
Zhong Zuwen 仲祖文	From 中共中央组织部文章 Zhōnggòng Zhōngyāng Zǔzhībù wénzhāng 'articles from the Central Party Organization Department'	Pieces from the Organization Department of the Chinese Communist Party, covering topics related to the Party principles and ideology.	"Moral standards for officials' personal life necessary", July 2010	<ref name = "BanurskiCMP"/><ref name="Guancha2015">Template:Cite news</ref>
Zheng Qingyuan 郑青原	Taken from the saying 正本清源 zhèngběn qīngyuán 'clarify matters and get to the bottom of things'.	Used to comment on political reform, particularly in attacking Western-style liberal democracy.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> A writer from the Beijing Morning Post (now part of The Beijing News) speculated that it represented the Politburo in an article that was taken down within a day in China.	"China to promote reform with greater resolve, courage", October 2010	<ref name = "BanurskiCMP"/>
Tang Xiaowen 唐晓文	Similar to 党校文 dǎngxiào wén 'Party School writing'	Central Party School editorials written during the Cultural Revolution by a group under the leadership of Kang Sheng.	"孔子是'全民教育家'吗?" ('Is Confucius really an 'educator for the entire people'?'), September 1973	<ref>Template:Cite newsTemplate:Dead link</ref>
Yue Ping 岳平 (historical)	For special guest commentator 特约评论员 tèyuē pínglùnyuán	Used from March 1978 to December 1985 to republish select articles from the internal Party periodical Theoretical Trends (理论动态) under the direction of Hu Yaobang.	"实践是检验真理的唯一标准" ('Actual Practice is the Sole Criterion for Judging Truth'), May 1978 (originally published in Guangming Daily)	<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Reactions

During the AIDS epidemic, the People's Daily downplayed the epidemic domestically while "presenting AIDS as a relatively innocuous social problem for the country."<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>

A 2013 study of the People's Daily coverage of the 2002–2004 SARS outbreak reported that it "regurgitated triumph and optimism" and framed the outbreak as an "opportunity to showcase China's scientific achievements, and the strength of national spirits, as well as the wise leadership of the party and effective measures to protect the lives of ordinary citizens."<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

In February 2020, the People's Daily published an article stating that the novel coronavirus "did not necessarily originate in China."<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In March 2020, the online insert of the People's Daily, distributed by The Daily Telegraph, published an article stating that Traditional Chinese medicine "helps fight coronavirus."<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In May 2020, the People's Daily stated that the novel coronavirus had "multiple origins."<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In November 2020, the People's Daily published a claim that COVID-19 was "imported" into China.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In January 2021, the People's Daily inaccurately attributed deaths in Norway to the Pfizer–BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In 2020, the United States Department of State designated the People's Daily a foreign mission, thereby requiring it to disclose more information about its operations in the U.S.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In 2021, ProPublica and The New York Times reported that the People's Daily was part of a coordinated state propaganda campaign to deny human rights abuses in Xinjiang.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In 2023, the People's Daily sparked a backlash on Chinese social media for exhorting citizens not to complain about their own poverty or boredom.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2025, the People's Daily published an op-ed piece by LeBron James that he denied writing.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

See also

• Mass media in China
• Xinhua News Agency
• Qiushi
• Rodong Sinmun, North Korean counterpart

Further reading

• Template:Cite journal

External links

• Template:Official website