CGTN America

CGTN America
TypeState media
CountryUnited States
Broadcast areaNationwide
NetworkChina Global Television Network
Headquarters1099 New York Avenue NW, Suite 200
Washington, D.C. 20001
U.S.
Programming
Language(s)English
Ownership
OwnerChina Central Television
History
Launched6 February, 2012; 12 years ago (2012)
Links
Webcastamerica.cgtn.com Edit this at Wikidata
Websiteamerica.cgtn.com Edit this at Wikidata
Availability
Streaming media
Sling TVInternet Protocol television

CGTN America is a channel of China Global Television Network (CGTN), the international division of the state-owned media organization China Central Television (CCTV), the headquarters of which is in Beijing, China. It is one of six international language news channels run by CGTN, under the control of the Propaganda Department of the Chinese Communist Party.[1] CGTN America is headquartered at 1099 New York Avenue NW, Suite 200 in Washington, D.C., and manages bureaus in New York City, Washington, D.C., as well as spanning coverage in North and South America. CGTN America began broadcasting in the United States on 6 February 2012,[2] replacing the former English language CCTV-9 in the region.[3]

CGTN America employs American, Chinese, and other international journalists and produces U.S.-based programs with a focus on Asia for CGTN.[4] It maintains a separate schedule of programs each day from noon to 7 p.m. MST (7 p.m. to 2 a.m. GMT), and like its African counterpart, it simulcasts CGTN International at all other times. CGTN America's director general is Ma Jing, with veteran Asia journalist Jim Laurie as executive consultant.[5]

Observers have noted that the "aim [of CGTN] is to influence public opinion overseas in order to nudge foreign governments into making policies favourable towards China's Communist party" through subtle means.[6] Researchers Thomas Fearon and Usha M. Rodrigues argued that CGTN has a "dichotomous role as a credible media competing for audience attention on the world stage, and a vital government propaganda organ domestically."[7] According to James Palmer at Foreign Policy, the contrasting aims of RT (formerly Russia Today) and CGTN, "mirrors wider strategies: Moscow wants chaos it can exploit, while Beijing wants a stable world order—on its terms".[8]

In 2018, the United States Department of Justice directed CGTN America and Xinhua News Agency to register as foreign agents under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA),[9][6] which CGTN America did on 1 February 2019[10] while Xinhua did not register.[11] In 2020, the United States Department of State designated CGTN and its parent company, CCTV, as well as Xinhua, as foreign missions, requiring them to submit lists of all employees and to seek approval to buy any property.[11][12][13]

  1. ^ "China is spending billions on its foreign-language media". The Economist. 2018-06-14. ISSN 0013-0613. Archived from the original on 20 August 2019. Retrieved 2019-08-22.
  2. ^ Mozur, Paul (2019-02-28). "Live From America's Capital, a TV Station Run by China's Communist Party". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 2020-04-28. Retrieved 2020-05-28.
  3. ^ Wang, Xi (2012-02-06). "About CCTV America". CNTV. Archived from the original on 2012-03-14. Retrieved 2012-02-08.
  4. ^ "CCTV America Initiates New Programming From Washington, D.C." (Press release). CCTV. 2012-02-06. Retrieved 2012-02-08.[permanent dead link]
  5. ^ "Chinese state TV starts American service this week". Associated Press News. 2012-02-08. Retrieved January 18, 2023.
  6. ^ a b Lim, Louisa; Bergin, Julia (2018-12-07). "Inside China's audacious global propaganda campaign". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 2020-03-10. Retrieved 2019-12-12.
  7. ^ Fearon, Thomas; Rodrigues, Usha M. (2019-07-31). "The dichotomy of China Global Television Network's news coverage". Pacific Journalism Review: Te Koakoa. 25 (1&2): 102–121. doi:10.24135/pjr.v25i1.404. hdl:10536/DRO/DU:30128822. ISSN 2324-2035. Archived from the original on 2021-02-02. Retrieved 2021-04-08.
  8. ^ Palmer, James (October 1, 2018). "China's Global Propaganda Is Aimed at Bosses, Not Foreigners". Foreign Policy. Archived from the original on January 8, 2020. Retrieved February 21, 2021.
  9. ^ O'Keeffe, Kate; Viswanatha, Aruna (2018-09-18). "Justice Department Has Ordered Key Chinese State Media Firms to Register as Foreign Agents". The Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Archived from the original on 2019-04-18. Retrieved 2020-04-05.
  10. ^ O'Keeffe, Kate; Viswanatha, Aruna (2019-02-05). "Chinese State Media Giant CGTN Registers as Foreign Agent in U.S.". The Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Archived from the original on 2021-02-27. Retrieved 2021-02-28.
  11. ^ a b Tandon, Shaun (April 8, 2020). "US tightens rules on Chinese state media". Hong Kong Free Press. Agence France-Presse. Archived from the original on April 8, 2020. Retrieved April 9, 2020.
  12. ^ Jakes, Lara; Myers, Steven Lee (2020-02-18). "U.S. Designates China's Official Media as Operatives of the Communist State". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 2020-03-24. Retrieved 2020-05-29.
  13. ^ Wong, Edward (2020-06-22). "U.S. Designates Four More Chinese News Organizations as Foreign Missions". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 2020-06-22. Retrieved 2020-06-23.