Special Awards of China News Award Dominated by Xi Jinping Themes, Criticized as "Shameless"

On February 7, dozens of Chinese people gathered in front of the Chinese Consulate in Los Angeles to commemorate the anniversary of the death of Dr. Li Wenliang, the &9;whistleblower&9; of the CCP virus (Covid-19) pandemic, and to show support for citizen journalists Zhang Zhan, Fang Bin, and Chen Qiushi, who have been sentenced or disappeared by the CCP. (Photo by Xu Xiuhui/Dajiyuan)

[People News] The results of the 34th China News Award were announced on November 7. This award, approved by the CCP's Central Propaganda Department, is the highest honor for outstanding news works in China and has been awarded annually since 1991 by the All-China Journalists Association. Notably, three of the four special awards in this year's China News Award were directly related to Xi Jinping.

Online Reactions: "Journalism Is Dead," "Shameless"

According to Radio Free Asia, the top special award this year went to Xinhua News Agency’s report titled Xi Jinping Unanimously Elected as President of China and Chairman of the Central Military Commission. The announcement sparked widespread ridicule online. The X account "Teacher Li Is Not Your Teacher," with 1.7 million followers, bluntly stated, "Journalism is dead." Other users posted sarcastic comments such as, "The headline alone reeks," "Shameless," and "The Party creates the world."

Commentator Lan Shu noted that since Xi Jinping's ascension, the CCP's interests have been centralized around him: "All news reporting controlled by the Central Propaganda Department must comply with the 'absolute authority' guideline during evaluations."

The other special awards in this year's China News Award went to People's Daily's Strengthening the Spiritual Power to Achieve the Great Rejuvenation of the Chinese Nation — In-depth Study of General Secretary Xi Jinping's Important Speech on Cultural Heritage and Development, China Central Radio and Television's Election of New State Leaders, and the PLA News Communication Center's Eastern Theater Command Conducts Combat-Ready Patrols and 'Joint Sword' Exercises Around Taiwan Island. The award event also recognized 75 first-place works, 109 second-place, and 185 third-place awards, with the top first-place award going to China Central Radio and Television's Xi Jinping Holds U.S.-China Summit with President of the United States. Most of these reports are centered around Xi Jinping.

Lan Shu, who knows people with experience in Chinese journalism, explained that under Xi's "absolute authority" system: "Xi may temporarily downplay his profile to unite various party factions, but the propaganda department's focus remains unchanged as Xi controls both propaganda and organizational departments firmly."

Recent years have consistently seen Xi-themed reports winning special awards at the China News Awards. Last year’s 33rd China News Award special prize included Xinhua's Striving for the Happiness of the Chinese People and the Rejuvenation of the Chinese Nation — A Chronicle of Governance by the Party Central Committee with Xi Jinping as the Core Since the 18th Party Congress. The 32nd award featured Xinhua's The Backbone of Humanity — The Party Central Committee with Xi Jinping as the Core Leading the People Towards National Rejuvenation, and the 29th award in 2019 recognized a CCTV news report titled Xi Jinping Holds Talks with Kim Jong Un.

"Anything Related to Xi Jinping Can Win Awards"

Exiled writer Wu Zuolai, who served as president of Literature and Theory Magazine from 2004–2009 and contributed columns and editorials, noted that during the Hu Jintao era, only party media had to feature him on the front pages. Most publications and newspapers were not mandated to do so. However, under Xi Jinping, headlines in both official and most other media outlets have consistently been about him: "In everyone's view, he occupies an extremely prominent and singular position, a phenomenon that emerged after Xi came to power."

Wu, who worked on significant national social science and arts projects from 2005–2006, pointed out that the current focus of China’s academic research is vastly different from when he was involved: "Look at the major national research projects today; the top ones are all related to Xi Jinping or Marxism. Genuine academic work has been marginalized. It’s the same with journalism awards now—if it’s related to Xi Jinping, it can win an award."