China added yet another channel to its propaganda media distribution network in Africa with paid editorial content in South Africa’s leading financial newspaper Business Day. While paid Chinese editorial inserts are nothing new around the world (China Daily famously pays the New York Times, Washington Post and others to carry them), what’s distinctive here is that we haven’t seen it applied to the ongoing campaign regarding COVID-19 messaging.
China’s Media Distribution Network in Africa
THIRD-PARTY: China has spent years building up media distribution partnerships with news outlets across the continent by providing free access to Xinhua and other content produced by Chinese state-owned media outlets. Sometimes the articles are clearly indicated that they are written by Chinese entities and other times they’re not, making it quite confusing for the reader.