media

Journalism Movie Hailed as ‘Courageous Start’ Wins Over Audiences 

Timely reports on issues and events from across China. Drawing on a vast range of sources, these succinct articles provide insights into the significance of each issue in a wider context.

NEWS

The Chinese movie is among the latest releases tackling real-life subjects, breaking away from fantasy and romance genres.

Ye Zhanhang

People’s Daily Uses AI Anchor to Answer ‘Two Sessions’ Questions

Though several media outlets have introduced virtual presenters in recent years, not all viewers are convinced.

Yang Caini

China Targets Self-Media Accounts to Rein In Rumors

Authorities announce a two-month campaign to clean the internet of copycat accounts imitating government offices and news outlets.

Li Xin

A Chinese Province Wants Its Officials to Become More Media Savvy

Zhejiang province listed seven “rookie mistakes” officials make in media briefings, criticizing their verbose and often non-straightforward responses.

Women’s Rights Law Suggests Gender Reporting Rules for Media

Experts say the reporting guidelines on women’s issues lack clarity.

Luo Meihan

China Pays Tribute to Queen Elizabeth II

The late British monarch toured China in a landmark visit in 1986.

China’s Weepy Headline Problem

Contributions from individuals with unique perspectives to share. Hear from everyone, from experts and commentators to those whose voices are often marginalized.

VOICES & OPINION

Eager to engage with a younger demographic, legacy media outlets adopted cutesy, emotionally charged language in headlines and on social media. But readers now seem tired of tears.

Xu Yuan

She Spent a Decade Writing Fake Russian History. Wikipedia Just Noticed. 

A Chinese woman created over 200 fictional articles on Chinese Wikipedia, writing millions of words of imagined history that went unnoticed for more than 10 years.

Wu Peiyue

Sixth Tone Turns Six — and We Want to Hear From You

We're asking readers for feedback with a brief survey. It should take no more than ten minutes.

Sixth Tone

Across China, Fading Newsstands Signal the End of an Era

Translations, cross-publications, and collaborative projects from Sixth Tone’s external partners. 

SIXTH TONE ×

The pandemic has only hastened the decline of China’s newsstands. Today, just a few dozen are left.

Cai Zongcheng

Chinese Female Astronaut Wins Praise — and Sexist Press Coverage 

Wang Yaping has made history, but many can’t look past her appearance and the traditional gender roles of women.

Zhang Wanqing

China Bans ‘Beauty Loan’ Ads That Promise ‘Free’ Plastic Surgery

Sky-high interest rates trap young, beauty-obsessed consumers in debt.

Du Xinyu

Vogue China Wants to Put a New Face on Chinese Fashion

The magazine’s new editorial director, Margaret Zhang, has won praise after launching a campaign to promote diversity in China’s fashion industry.

Jiang Yaling

Not Quite a Rainbow: How Chinese Media Tells LGBT Stories

Media coverage of LGBT issues is increasingly positive, but the number of LGBT-focused stories is dropping.

Yang Yi

China Needs Less Prudish, More Prudent Approach to Sexual Content

There can be a fine line between sexual and sexist content, but regulators are all too eager to ban the former, often for reasons that have little to do with gender equality.

Chen Yaya

Sixth Tone Announces New Collaborative Platform

Sixth Tone × will feature edited translations from respected Chinese media outlets.

Turning Old News Into New History

The author, a well-known journalist, shares notes from half a lifetime of collecting historic newspapers.

Zhang Lifen

Mike Pompeo’s Dad Was a Hunanese Bandit and Other Real Fake News

As the world battles an “infodemic” of fake news, a Chinese fact-checker weighs in on how to uphold the truth.

Wei Xing

Chinese War Drama Taken Offline Over Fancy Home, Fancy Hairstyles

“Warrior of Thunder” was pulled from networks following criticism by People’s Daily. Producers defended their show in a now-deleted social media post.

Cai Xuejiao

Shower Stud’s Instant Fame Raises Ethical Questions About ‘News’ Program

Since first airing over a decade ago, “1818 Huangjinyan” has evolved from a humble local news program into a staple of online media — but critics say it’s not being honest about its true purpose.