The Epoch Times: Difference between revisions - Wikipedia
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}}{{Chinese|s=大纪元|t=大紀元|p=Dàjìyuán|first=t}}
'''''Epoch Times''''' is an anti-communist,<ref>{{cite news|title=The newspaperChinese coversPress mattersBattles ofFor generalHearts interest,And thoughMinds itAbroad|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/02/13/chinese-press-abroad_n_4729474.html|publisher=Huffington maintainsPost}}</ref> amulti-language, focusinternational onnewspaper newsassociated aboutwith China[[Falun andGong]]. humanIt rightswas issuesfounded there,by drawingand fromcurrently aoperated networkby practitioners of sources[[Falun insideGong]].<ref China,name="Congressional plusResearch theService"/> expertiseIt andhas contactswon ofawards Chinesefor expatriatesits livingreporting inof thehuman West.rights<ref name=OurStoryDJM/>[http:<ref name=SPJ/><ref name=freelib/www> and other issues.theepochtimes.com/n3/280126-the-grand-epoch-is-here "The Epochpaper Timescovers –general Ourinterest Story:issues Thewith Granda Epochfocus Ison Here"]China theepochtimes.com</ref>news and human rights.<ref name="Congressional Research Service">{{cite web|author = Thomas Lum|url = http://www.usembassy.it/pdf/other/RL33437.pdf |publisher = Congressional Research Service |title = China and Falun Gong |date = August 11, 2006}} <!-- page CRS-8, list of Falun Gong-affiliated media --></ref><ref name="sfgate">{{Cite news|url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2005/12/18/MNGGAG8MTA1.DTL&hw=falun+gong&sn=002&sc=447 |title=Dissident media linked to Falun Gong / Chinese-language print, broadcast outlets in U.S. are making waves |work=San Francisco Chronicle|date=December 18, 2005 |accessdate=December 9, 2006 | first=Vanessa | last=Hua}}</ref><ref name="Schworm_Boston_Globe_12_03_2007">{{Cite news|author=Peter Schworm |url=http://www.boston.com/news/world/asia/articles/2007/12/03/chinese_american_activists_decry_chinas_communism/ |title=Chinese-American activists decry China's communism |work=The Boston Globe |date=December 3, 2007}}</ref> Its coverage of these issues has earned the paper several awards.<ref name="DJM" AIM/><ref name="SPJ" OurStory>[http:/><ref/www.theepochtimes.com/n3/280126-the-grand-epoch-is-here name="freelib"The /> ''Epoch Times'' is– widelyOur distributedStory: inThe overseasGrand ChineseEpoch communitiesIs Here"] theepochtimes.com</ref name=AIM/> Its other language editions maintain their own staff of reporters.▼
'''''Epoch Times''''' is a multi-language, international media organisation in print and online, headquartered it New York City. It was founded in 2000 by Chinese-Americans who sought to establish an uncensored and independent Chinese-language newspaper serving both the diaspora and mainland Chinese.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Epoch Media Group - The world's fastest growing media group.|url = http://www.epochmediagroup.com|website = Epoch Media Group|accessdate = 2015-11-15|language = en-US}}</ref>
TheAs a newspaper, ''Epoch Times'' has been publishing in Chinese since May 2000,. andHeadquartered wasin foundedNew byYork adherentsCity, ofthe [[Falunnewspaper Gong]]—ahas spirituala groupnetwork bannedof inreporters Chinathroughout the world. It is either sold or distributed free-of-charge in 35 countries, with editions in English, Chinese and nine other languages in print,<ref name="PrintArchive">[http://printarchive.epochtimes.com/a1/en "The Epoch Times – Global Print Archive"] printarchive.epochtimes.com</ref> and 21 languages on the internet.<ref name="languages">[http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/other-languages.html The Epoch Times – Other Languages] theepochtimes.com Retrieved 28 Apr 2013</ref> A typical issue includes sections for world and national news, opinion pieces, sports, entertainment, business, arts and culture, travel, health and automobiles.<ref name=LJR>[http://www.ljr.ca/2011/06/01/the-new-era "The New Era"] Langara Journalism Review, 01 June 2011</ref> Epoch Times websites are blocked in China.<ref name="AIM" />▼
▲The newspaper covers matters of general interest, though it maintains a focus on news about China and human rights issues there, drawing from a network of sources inside China, plus the expertise and contacts of Chinese expatriates living in the West.<ref name=OurStory>[http://www.theepochtimes.com/n3/280126-the-grand-epoch-is-here "The Epoch Times – Our Story: The Grand Epoch Is Here"] theepochtimes.com</ref>.<ref name="Congressional Research Service">{{cite web|author = Thomas Lum|url = http://www.usembassy.it/pdf/other/RL33437.pdf|publisher = Congressional Research Service|title = China and Falun Gong|date = August 11, 2006}} <!-- page CRS-8, list of Falun Gong-affiliated media --></ref><ref name="sfgate">{{Cite news|url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2005/12/18/MNGGAG8MTA1.DTL&hw=falun+gong&sn=002&sc=447 |title=Dissident media linked to Falun Gong / Chinese-language print, broadcast outlets in U.S. are making waves |work=San Francisco Chronicle|date=December 18, 2005 |accessdate=December 9, 2006 | first=Vanessa | last=Hua}}</ref><ref name="Schworm_Boston_Globe_12_03_2007">{{Cite news|author=Peter Schworm |url=http://www.boston.com/news/world/asia/articles/2007/12/03/chinese_american_activists_decry_chinas_communism/ |title=Chinese-American activists decry China's communism |work=The Boston Globe |date=December 3, 2007}}</ref> Its coverage of these issues has earned the paper several awards.<ref name="DJM" /><ref name="SPJ" /><ref name="freelib" /> ''Epoch Times'' is widely distributed in overseas Chinese communities.<ref name=AIM/> Its other language editions maintain their own staff of reporters.
The paper's parent company Epoch Media Group<ref>{{cite web|title=Epoch Media Group|url=http://www.epochmediagroup.com/brands}}</ref> has associated media services, including the television station [[New Tang Dynasty TV]] and the radio station [[Sound of Hope]], all of which are tied to the [[Falun Gong]]. Epoch Times websites are blocked in China.<ref name=AIM/>
▲The newspaper has been publishing in Chinese since May 2000, and was founded by adherents of [[Falun Gong]]—a spiritual group banned in China. It is either sold or distributed free-of-charge in 35 countries, with editions in English, Chinese and nine other languages in print,<ref name="PrintArchive">[http://printarchive.epochtimes.com/a1/en "The Epoch Times – Global Print Archive"] printarchive.epochtimes.com</ref> and 21 languages on the internet.<ref name="languages">[http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/other-languages.html The Epoch Times – Other Languages] theepochtimes.com Retrieved 28 Apr 2013</ref> A typical issue includes sections for world and national news, opinion pieces, sports, entertainment, business, arts and culture, travel, health and automobiles.<ref name=LJR>[http://www.ljr.ca/2011/06/01/the-new-era "The New Era"] Langara Journalism Review, 01 June 2011</ref> Epoch Times websites are blocked in China.<ref name="AIM" />
==History==
''The Epoch Times'' was foundedstarted in 2000 by John Tang and a group of Chinese- Americans, primarilywho inwere response[[Falun toGong]] Chinesepractitioners.<ref censorshipname="Ownby and2008 propagandap.222">{{cite afterbook |last=Ownby |first=David |title=Falun Gong and the initiationFuture of theChina [[persecution|year=2008 |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=Bwqkwx4SWS0C&pg=PA222&lpg=PA222 |page=222 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=9780199716371}}</ref> The founders were responding to censorship inside China and a lack of Falununderstanding Gong]],internationally whichabout beganChinese repression of the previousFalun yearGong.<ref name="Congressional Research Service"/><ref>Ownby 2008, p. 223.</ref> In May 2000, the paper was first published in the Chinese language in New York, with the web launch in August 2000.<ref name=About_Us>[http://www.theepochtimes.com/n3/about-us "The Epoch Times – About Us"] theepochtimes.com accessdate 6 March 2014</ref>
In 2003, ''The Epoch Times''' website and the ''The Epoch Times'' group of newspapers had grown into one of the largest Chinese-language news websites and newspaper groups outside China in the past two years, with local editions in the U.S., Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Indonesia, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and major Western European countries.<ref name=zhao/>
The first English edition launched online in 2003, followed by the New York print edition in 2004.<ref name=About_Us/>
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In 2000, 10 ''Epoch Times'' correspondents were imprisoned in China, but current staff of the Chinese-language edition work in Hong Kong.<ref name=Tenth>{{cite news|url=http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/canada/epoch-times-marks-10-years-in-canada-53136.html |title=Epoch Times Marks 10 Years in Canada|work=Epoch Times|date=March 17, 2011|accessdate=July 25, 2013}}</ref>
In 2011 [[Stephen Harper]], Prime Minister of Canada wrote, "since its launch in Canada in 2000, the ''Epoch Times'' has become a popular source of information on issues and events of interest to the Chinese-Canadian community.... With local editions published in Toronto, Vancouver, Montréal, Ottawa and Calgary/Edmonton, the ''Epoch Times'' is today the largest daily newspaper of its kind in the country."<ref name=epaper>[http://epaper.epochtimes.com/CanadaEast/20110128_529/djycaneast_529_20110128_03.jpg.html "The Epoch Times Daily News"] Epoch Times 28 January 2011</ref>
==Distribution==
As of February 2012, 67 ''Epoch Times'' newspaper editions are published in print in 5 continents.<ref name=WWdistribution/> They are available in 11 languages and have a distribution of 1,315,000 copies in 35 countries.<ref name=About_Us/> Distribution varies from daily to monthly.
The Epoch Times is available in 21 languages<ref name=languages/> on the Internetinternet. In Chinese there are websites for [http://hk.epochtimes.com Hong Kong], [http://www.epochtimes.com.tw Taiwan] and [http://epochtimes.com.au Australia] as well as the main [http://www.epochtimes.com Chinese] website. The Epoch Times website receives 105 million page views per month from 20 million visitors.<ref>[http://ads.epochtimes.com/pages/distribution-pricing-websites-information.htm "The Epoch Times – Online readership"] ads.epochtimes.com</ref>
Reporters cover stories that pertain to their own areas, contributing to a pool of articles for the different editions to share.
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|-
|English
|The English language edition of ''The Epoch Times'' started in September 2003 as a website, and went to print in New York in August 2004. It is now published in the United States, Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Singapore and Malaysia.
|-
|Chinese
|The oldest of ''The Epoch Times'' editions, the Chinese paper has been in operation from May 2000, with the web launch in August 2000. The Chinese ''Epoch Times'' (''Dajiyuan'') is now the single largest Chinese language newspaper in the world, covering 35 countries across North and South America, Europe, Australia, New Zealand and Asia.
|-
|French
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|-
|Ukrainian
|The Ukrainian website of ''Велика Епоха'' (or The Epoch Times) launched in May 2005. In March 2006, the Russian edition (www.EpochTimes.com.ua/ru/) of the Ukrainian site was launched for the Ukrainians who speak Russian.
|-
|Bulgarian
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===New York edition===
''The Epoch Times''{{'}} mainflagship New York edition is typically around 50 pages, divided into four sections.<ref name="epoch-archive.com">[http://epoch-archive.com/a1/en/region.php?dir=us/nyc The Epoch Times Print Archives - New York Edition] Retrieved 30 Apr 2013</ref> Section "A" is primarily devoted to current events, with several pages devoted to China issues and politics. Section A also includes opinion pages, sports, science & technology, business and real estate.
Section "B" is Arts & Culture—covering classical art forms, exhibits and events. Section B also includes Style and an "Essence of China" page devoted to traditional Chinese culture, stories, and art forms. Section "C" focuses on health and fitness featuring mainstream medical science, alternative and Chinese medical treatments. Section "D" is Food, which focuses on cooking and local restaurants.<ref name="epoch-archive.com"/>
===Other English editions===
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===Chinese edition===
According to The Epoch Times, ''The Chinese Epoch Times'' (Dajiyuan) is the largest and most widely distributed Chinese language newspaper in the world, covering 35 countries. Print editions range from 30 to 80 pages. A typical print edition includes sections on local & national news, China, world, health, science, autos, real estate, arts & culture, style, home, food, dining and special sections covering traditional Chinese culture & values.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.epaper.epochtimes.com|title=The Epoch Times E-Paper |accessdate=April 30, 2013}}</ref>
According to the Canadian Circulations Audit Board, theThe ''Epoch Times'' is the first and only Chinese-language daily newspaper in Canada to complete a circulation audit.<ref>[http://www.marketingmag.ca/brands/multicultural-marketing-the-visible-majority-48428 "Multicultural marketing the visible majority"] 12 March 2012 marketingmag.ca</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cardonline.ca/listings/14847.jsf |title=Media Associations - Media Information on Canadian Circulations Audit Board |publisher=Cardonline.ca |date= |accessdate=6 March 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |work=The Epoch Times |url=http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/world/epoch-times-canadas-first-audited-daily-chinese-newspaper-139560.html |title=Epoch Times Canada's First Audited Daily Chinese Newspaper |accessdate=April 30, 2013}}</ref>
===Notable coverage===
During the 2009 [[New York City Comptroller]] elections, ''the Epoch Times'' alleged that [[Taiwan]]-born [[Democratic Party (US)|Democratic]] nominee [[John Liu]] is part of a "United Front" by the [[Communist Party of China|Chinese Communist Party]] to promoteinfiltrate officialthe ChineseUnited States and subvert its government, democracy, and human rights in interestsgeneral.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/content/view/22317/ |title=Chinese Communist Party Subverts Democracies and Rights Abroad |work=Epoch Times |date=September 10, 2009 |accessdate=December 18, 2009}}</ref> The newspaper alleged that "the CCP works tenaciously and systematically to place its people [...] in key positions in corporations, academia, and government in the United States and other countries."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/content/view/22292/|title=Editor's Note on Coverage of John Liu: Uncovering a hidden threat|date=September 10, 2009}}</ref> ''The Epoch Times'' also published an 8-page "special edition", and also featured on its website a section focused on coverage of Liu's allegedreported ties with CCP officials.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/component/option,com_ettopic/topicid,57/ |title=John Liu and the United Front |work=Epoch Times |accessdate=December 18, 2009}}</ref>
The newspaper has covered matters of interest to Asian-American communities, including a detailed investigation of cheating on [[Test of English as a Foreign Language|TOEFL]] exams in the United States, facilitated by businesses in China.<ref>{{Cite book|title = From Twitter to Tahrir Square: Ethics in Social and New Media Communication|url = https://books.google.com/books?id=D2VyBAAAQBAJ|publisher = ABC-CLIO|date = 2014-06-24|isbn = 9781440828423|language = en|first = Bala A.|last = Musa|first2 = Jim|last2 = Willis}}</ref>
During [[Hu Jintao]]'s visit to Canada in June 2010, the ''[[Toronto Star]]'' noted that the ''Epoch Times'' had published several "hard-hitting" critical stories on Hu's visit, such as allegations of the local Chinese embassy's orchestration of welcome parades, as well as an alleged recording of a speech by the first secretary of education Liu Shaohua, in which Liu stated that embassy would provide accommodation and transport for over 3,000 participants in the welcome parade.<ref name=star>Susan Delacourt, [http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/torontog20summit/article/827903--harper-helps-hu-keep-critics-away "Harper helps Hu keep critics away"], thestar.com 25 Jun 2010</ref>
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==Political stance==
''Epoch Times'' has close ties to the [[Falun Gong]], although it has attempted to hide this association from public view. <ref name="Ownby 2008 p.238">{{cite book |last=Ownby |first=David |title=Falun Gong and the Future of China |year=2008 |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=Bwqkwx4SWS0C&pg=PA222&lpg=PA222 |page=238 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=9780199716371}}</ref> David Ownby, director of the Center for East Asian Studies at the [[Université de Montréal]] and the author of ''Falun Gong and the Future of China'', considers ''Epoch Times'' to be the political arm of the Falun Gong movement.<ref name="Ownby 2008 p.223">{{cite book |last=Ownby |first=David |title=Falun Gong and the Future of China |year=2008 |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=Bwqkwx4SWS0C&pg=PA222&lpg=PA222 |page=223 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=9780199716371}}</ref> He was rebuffed from investigating further:
''Epoch Times'' originally targeted readers in China and reported on various abuses and inner workings of the [[Communist Party of China]] (CCP).
The paper counters what it considers to be official Chinese propaganda through its own opinion pieces and reporting. The newspaper covers causes and groups opposed to CCP abuses, including Falun Gong, dissidents, activists, and supporters of the [[Tibetan government-in-exile]]. The paper's reports on China are critical of the PRC government. The paper reports on Falun Gong-related news, including the group's attempt to sue former Chinese leader [[Jiang Zemin]] under civil legislation for [[genocide]], when most other overseas Chinese-language newspapers do not cover such news. In 2005, the ''[[San Francisco Chronicle]]'' reported that "three new U.S-based, Chinese-language media outlets that provide provocative reporting about the Communist Party, government oppression and social unrest in China [namely the ''Epoch Times'', Sound of Hope, and NTDTV] have ties to the Falun Gong spiritual movement." When interviewed, executives at each outlet said they did not represent the Falun Gong movement as a whole.<ref name="sfgate"/>▼
''Epoch Times'' also runs mainstream newswire stories and in some places can resemble a community newspaper.<ref name=waves>Eugenia Chien, [http://news.newamericamedia.org/news/view_article.html?article_id=6ce9872ebb88b3aaa3ff48b6c1ffc19a "Falun Gong-Linked Media Venture Makes Waves, Raises Questions"] ''New America Media'', News Analysis, May 16, 2006</ref> Zhao said, "While mainstream newspaper typically treat Web versions as an extension of the already-existing print version, the Epoch Times website serves as the master for all its worldwide papers."<ref name="zhao">Zhao, Yuezhi, "Falun Gong, Identity, and the Struggle over Meaning Inside and Outside China", pp 209–223 in ''Contesting Media Power: Alternative Media in a Networked World'', edited by Nick Couldry and James Curran (Rowman & Littlefield, 2003)</ref>▼
<blockquote> A former student of mine—a Falun Gong practitioner—is a journalist for the French-language Montreal edition of the Epoch Times, La Grande Epoque. I wrote to him via e-mail, asking if I could interview him about his work and offering to visit the Montreal offices of the newspaper. After several days, I received a terse reply to the effect that he was too busy and that a visit to the newspaper offices would not be possible. In a telephone interview with a North American publisher, I had great difficulty getting straight answers to basic questions about the organization and financing of the newspaper ... I have been unsuccessful in my efforts to find out more about the Web sites, their organization, and their financing—and this in spite of repeated inquiries and in spite of being recognized as someone who is ‘‘friendly’’ to Falun Gong. In 2002, a Falun Gong–affiliated television station, New Tang Dynasty, was set
According to Ming Xia, political science professor at the [[College of Staten Island]], ''Epoch Times'' represents part of Falun Gong's effort to expand to non-practitioners, and "is part of the Falun Gong strategy to embed itself into the large civil society for influence and legitimacy".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.religionnewsblog.com/17386/epoch-times |title=Paper denies representing Falun Gong |publisher=Religionnewsblog.com |date= |accessdate=6 March 2014}}</ref> David Ownby, director of the Center for East Asian Studies at the [[Université de Montréal]] and the author of ''Falun Gong and the Future of China'', wrote "''Epoch Times'' is a newspaper with a mission, that of reporting on issues bearing on human rights throughout the world, which allows for considerable focus on China and Falun Gong."<ref name="DO" />▼
up in New York. It is a nonprofit enterprise, broadcasting via satellite, and one cannot but wonder where the money comes from. More recently still, such undertakings as the Falun Gong–affiliated newspaper, the Epoch Times, clearly require considerable financial backing and worldwide organization. To my knowledge, no newspaper has ever met a deadline by relying on decentralized local practitioners. <ref name="Ownby 2008 p.8">{{cite book |last=Ownby |first=David |title=Falun Gong and the Future of China |year=2008 |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=Bwqkwx4SWS0C&pg=PA222&lpg=PA222 |page=8 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=9780199716371}}</ref> </blockquote>
▲The paper counters what it considers to be official ChineseCCP propaganda through its own opinion pieces and reporting. The newspaper covers causes and groups opposed to CCP abuses, including Falun Gong, dissidents, activists, and supporters of the [[Tibetan government-in-exile]]. The paper's reports on China are critical of the PRC government. The paper reports on Falun Gong-related news, including the group's attempt to sue former Chinese leader [[Jiang Zemin]] under civil legislation for [[genocide]], when most other overseas Chinese-language newspapers do not cover such news. In 2005, the ''[[San Francisco Chronicle]]'' reported that "three new U.S-based, Chinese-language media outlets that provide provocative reporting about the Communist Party, government oppression and social unrest in China [namely the ''Epoch Times'', Sound of Hope, and NTDTV] have ties to the Falun Gong spiritual movement." When interviewed, executives at each outlet said they did not represent the Falun Gong movement as a whole.<ref name="sfgate"/>
While many individuals involved in the production of the newspaper practice Falun Gong, according to Zhao Yuezhi, the media seeks to present itself as "public interest-oriented" and "independent of any political and business groups ... objectively and fairly reporting facts and truth". Its reporting on Chinese affairs often highlights negative news about the Chinese government and coverage of Falun Gong in a sympathetic light. In this view, the paper articulates Falun Gong's views on a range of issues, and may be part of a ''de facto'' media alliance with democracy activists in exile.<ref>{{Cite book|title = Contesting Media Power: Alternative Media in a Networked World|url = https://books.google.com/books?id=yRVtAAAAQBAJ|publisher = Rowman & Littlefield Publishers|date = 2003-09-22|isbn = 9780742575202|language = en|first = Nick|last = Couldry|first2 = James|last2 = Curran}}</ref>
▲The ''Epoch Times'' also runs mainstream newswire stories and in some places can resemble a community newspaper.<ref name=waves>Eugenia Chien, [http://news.newamericamedia.org/news/view_article.html?article_id=6ce9872ebb88b3aaa3ff48b6c1ffc19a "Falun Gong-Linked Media Venture Makes Waves, Raises Questions"] ''New America Media'', News Analysis, May 16, 2006</ref> Zhao said, "While mainstream newspaper typically treat Web versions as an extension of the already-existing print version, the Epoch Times website serves as the master for all its worldwide papers."<ref name="zhao">Zhao, Yuezhi, "Falun Gong, Identity, and the Struggle over Meaning Inside and Outside China", pp 209–223 in ''Contesting Media Power: Alternative Media in a Networked World'', edited by Nick Couldry and James Curran (Rowman & Littlefield, 2003)</ref>
In some cases ''Epoch Times'' operates in a hostile overseas environment, in which "overseas Chinese media companies choosing to remain independent or publish non-approved content become the targets of an aggressive campaign of elimination or control." In one instance Chinese diplomatic officials made threats against media for reporting Falun Gong-related content; in other cases, advertisers have been regularly threatened not to support ''Epoch Times'' in any way. Communist Party authorities have also been accused of resorting to "militant methods" against the newspaper and its staff members, including, it is alleged, of attacking staff and destroying computer equipment.<ref>{{Cite book|title = Qiaowu: Extra-Territorial Policies for the Overseas Chinese|last = To|first = James Jiann Hua|publisher = BRILL|year = 2014|isbn = 9789004272286|location = |pages = 180}}</ref>
▲According to Ming Xia, political science professor at the [[College of Staten Island]], ''The Epoch Times'' represents part of Falun Gong's effort to expand to non-practitioners, and "is part of the Falun Gong strategy to embed itself into the large civil society for influence and legitimacy"."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.religionnewsblog.com/17386/epoch-times |title=Paper denies representing Falun Gong |publisher=Religionnewsblog.com |date= |accessdate=6 March 2014}}</ref> David Ownby, director of the Center for East Asian Studies at the [[Université de Montréal]] and the author of ''Falun Gong and the Future of China'', wrote "''Epoch Times'' is a newspaper with a mission, that of reporting on issues bearing on human rights throughout the world, which allows for considerable focus on China and Falun Gong."<ref name="DO" />
The newspaper reported that in 2005 the Communist Party "exerted hard and soft pressure" on printing houses in Hong Kong, forcing the paper to stop printing, after it reported on Tibet, human rights, Falun Gong, and was the first media to break the story on SARS.<ref>{{Cite book|title = Taiwan: The Threatened Democracy|last = Herschensohn|first = Bruce|publisher = WND Books|year = 2006|isbn = 9780977898428|location = |pages = 99}}</ref> The newspaper was also briefly banned from Malaysia after coming under reported pressure by the Chinese Communist Party.<ref>{{Cite book|title = Media and the Chinese Diaspora: Community, Communications and Commerce|last = Sun|first = Wanning|publisher = Routledge|year = 2009|isbn = 1134263597|location = |pages = xi}}</ref>
==Nine commentaries on the Communist Party==
{{Main|Tuidang movement}}
Since November 2004, the Chinese version of ''Epoch Times'' has published and promoted a series of editorials and a booklet titled "[[Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party]]"<ref name=9com>[http://www.ninecommentaries.com/english "Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party"] ninecommentaries.com/english</ref> ({{zh|t=九評共產黨|s=九评共产党|first=t|links=no}}). The editorials expose the CCP's often violent political campaigns through its history, from its ascent to power under [[Mao Zedong]] to its present-day form. The CCP was criticized as an illegitimate institution thatwhich used underhanded tactics to gain power. The commentaries allege that the CCP "destroyed traditional Chinese culture" and brands the CCP an "evil cult".<ref>{{cite web|author=The Epoch Times Dec 26, 2004 |url=http://en.epochtimes.com/news/4-12-26/25182.html |title=Part 8: On How the Chinese Communist Party Is an Evil Cult |work=The Epoch Times |date=December 26, 2004 |accessdate=December 18, 2009}}</ref> According to Ownby, the ''Commentaries'' are a condemnation of Communism and direct indictment on the legitimacy of the Chinese Communist Party in ruling China. While acknowledging the "unnecessary violence" the Chinese Communist Party has inflicted, as a professional historian Ownby finds that the lack of balance and nuance in tone and style makes the editorial resemble "anti-Communist propaganda written in Taiwan in the 1950s"."<ref name="DO"/> The commentaries won an award in 2005.<ref name=freelib/><ref>''The Epoch Times'' (19 August 2005) [http://en.epochtimes.com/news/5-8-19/31392.html "Nine Commentaries" Wins National Journalism Award in U.S] accessdate 18 December 2009AD</ref>
The Nine Commentaries have been translated into more than 30 other languages<ref name=9com/> and released as a DVD.<ref name=9comDVD>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s8oaUepvc70 "Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party"] NTDTV youtube.com</ref> The Nine Commentaries have been credited by the newspaper and prominent leaders of the expatriate Chinese community, with sparking an exodus from the CCP and its affiliated organizations.<ref name=AIM>{{cite web |url=http://www.aim.org/media-monitor/independent-chinese-newspaper-bucks-communists/# |title=Independent Chinese Newspaper Bucks Communists|last1=Gossett |first1=Sherrie |date=15 June 2005 |website=aim.org |publisher=Accuracy in Media |accessdate=19 October 2013}}</ref>
The ''Epoch Times'' website hosts a "[[Tuidang movement|CCP Renunciations]]" service, encouraging Chinese to quit the CCP and related organizations.<ref name="QuitCCP">{{Cite news|title=Quitting the CCP|url=http://www.theepochtimes.com/211,95,,1.html|newspaper=The Epoch Times}}</ref>
The number of people who have resigned from the Communist Party of China or its affiliate organizations, is published in Chinese editions of the newspaper. The counter stood at over 190 million on 16 January 2015.<ref>[http://epochtimes.com Epoch Times] epochtimes.com</ref>
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==Organ harvesting==
{{Further|Persecution of Falun Gong#Organ harvesting|Kilgour-Matas report}}
In March 2006, the Epoch Times published the allegations of three Chinese individuals who said that thousands of [[Falun Gong]] practitioners had been killed to supply China's organ transplant industry,<ref>[http://en.epochtimes.com/news/6-3-10/39111.html "Worse Than Any Nightmare—Journalist Quits China to Expose Concentration Camp Horrors and Bird Flu Coverup"], ''Epoch Times'', 10 March 2006</ref><ref>[http://www.theepochtimes.com/news/6-3-17/39405.html "New Witness Confirms Existence of Chinese Concentration Camp, Says Organs Removed from Live Victims"] ''The Epoch Times'', 17 March 2006</ref><ref name=36cc/> including a doctor, said who said there were 36 concentration camps all over China.<ref name=36cc>[http://www.theepochtimes.com/news/6-3-31/39910.html "Source Reveals Other Chinese Concentration Camps"] ''Epoch Times'', 31 March 2006</ref> The claims were criticized by dissident [[Harry Wu]], stated "no concrete or substantiated evidence, such as documents or photos, have been provided to support the witness'witness’ statements"."<ref name=challenge>{{cite web |url=http://www.cicus.org/info_eng/artshow.asp?ID=6492| title=Statement of Harry Wu about Sujiatun issue|last=Wu|first=Harry| publisher= Observechina.net| date=8 June 2006 |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20110717051720/http://www.cicus.org/info_eng/artshow.asp?ID=6492 |archivedate=17 July 2011}}</ref><ref>Frank Stirk, [http://www.canadianchristianity.com/cgi-bin/bc.cgi?bc/bccn/0606/07chinese Canadians probe Chinese organ harvesting claims], Canadian Christianity. Retrieved September 24, 2010</ref><ref name=glen>Glen McGregor, [http://www.canada.com/components/print.aspx?id=2c15d2f0-f0ab-4da9-991a-23e4094de949 "Inside China's 'crematorium'"], ''[[The Ottawa Citizen]]'', November 24, 2007</ref>
The [[Kilgour-Matas report]]<ref name=orgharv>[[David Kilgour]], [[David Matas]] (6 July 2006, revised 31 January 2007) [http://organharvestinvestigation.net "An Independent Investigation into Allegations of Organ Harvesting of Falun Gong Practitioners in China"] (in 22 languages) organharvestinvestigation.net</ref> stated "the source of 41,500 transplants for the six year period 2000 to 2005 is unexplained" and "we believe that there has been and continues today to be large scale organ seizures from unwilling [[Falun Gong]] practitioners.".<ref name=orgharv/> Appendix 16 of the revised report refuted Harry Wu's comments.<ref name=orgharv/>
In July 2006 and April 2007, Chinese officials denied organ harvesting allegations, insisting that China abides by World Health Organization principles that prohibit the sale of human organs without written consent from donors.<ref name=CE06>Chinese Embassy in Canada (6 July 2006) [http://ca.china-embassy.org/eng/mtfw/press2/t261810.htm Response to the so called "China's organ harvesting report"] ca.china-embassy.org</ref><ref name=CE07>Chinese Embassy in Canada (15 April 2007) [http://ca.china-embassy.org/eng/mtfw/press2/t311443.htm Response to the so-called "Revised Report on China's Organ Harvesting"] ca.china-embassy.org</ref>
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In 2008, two United Nations Special Rapporteurs reiterated their requests for "the Chinese government to fully explain the allegation of taking vital organs from Falun Gong practitioners and the source of organs for the sudden increase in organ transplants that has been going on in China since the year 2000".<ref>[http://www.theinformationdaily.com/2008/05/09/united-nations-human-rights-special-rapporteurs-reiterate-findings-on-chinas-organ-harvesting-from-falun-gong-practitioners "United Nations Human Rights Special Rapporteurs Reiterate Findings on China's Organ Harvesting from Falun Gong Practitioners"], The Information Daily.com, 9 May 2008</ref>
In 2012 and 2013, the Epoch Times won awards<ref name=DJM/><ref name=SPJ>[http://www.spj.org/sdxa12.asp "2012 Sigma Delta Chi Award Honorees"], The Society of Professional Journalists, spj.org Accessed 8 Dec. 2014</ref> for its coverage of the organ harvesting issue.
In April 2006, Dr. [[Wang Wenyi]] who worked for the ''Epoch Times'', specializing in medical issues, shouted at Chinese President [[Hu Jintao]] from the [[White House]] lawn. The newspaper stated that it did not know that she was planning the protest and apologized to the U.S. President.<ref>Ethan Gutmann (8 May 2006) [http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/012/160ymogj.asp?pg=1 "Why Wang Wenyi Was Shouting"] Weekly Standard</ref><ref name="post">{{Cite news|accessdate=May 20, 2006|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/04/21/AR2006042101429.html|title=Falun Gong Activist Defiant After Arrest|work=Washington Post |date=22 April 2006 |author=Karlyn Barker and Lena H. Sun}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|accessdate=20 May 2006|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4925704.stm|title= Bush presses China over currency|publisher=BBC News|date=April 21, 2006}}</ref> After her protest, Wang resigned from ''Epoch Times''.
==Awards and achievements==
The Epoch Times global media company has been the recipient of several awards:
* '''2005 National Ethnic Press & Media Council Award''' – The Epoch Times was given this annual award for being "a strong defender for human rights and democratic values"." The paper was also acknowledged for being the first to report on the coverup of the SARS virus by Chinese authorities in China.<ref>The Epoch Times (20 Sep 2005) [http://www.theepochtimes.com/news/5-9-20/32513.html Epoch Times Wins National Award in Canada] Retrieved 28 Apr 2013</ref>
* '''2005 Asian American Journalists Association National Award''' – The Epoch Times was awarded for "excellence in coverage of Asian American Issues" for its editorial series, Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party. According to the newspaper itself, The "Nine Commentaries" prompted millions of Chinese people to quit the Communist Party because it provided "the first in-depth look at the true nature and history of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP)"."<ref name=freelib>[http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Asian+American+Journalists+Association+Recognizes+Excellence+in+News...-a0135370774 "Asian American Journalists Association Recognizes Excellence in News Coverage"], The Free Library (23 August 2005) Retrieved 28 Apr 2013</ref>
* '''2005 International Society for Human Rights Award''' – In May 2005, ''Die Neue Epoche'', the German-language edition of the ''The Epoch Times'', received a special media prize from the [[International Society for Human Rights]] (IGFM) for "extensive and regular reporting about violations of [[human rights in China]]"."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://en.epochtimes.com/news/6-5-10/41381.html |title=The Epoch Times Wins Prize for Human Rights Reporting |work=The Epoch Times |date=10 May 2006 |accessdate=December 18, 2009}}</ref>
* '''2012 Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal''' – ''The Epoch Times'' was awarded this commemorative medal, which honours "significant contributions and achievements by Canadians"."<ref>[http://www.gg.ca/document.aspx?id=14019 The Governor General of Canada: Diamond Jubilee Medal] Retrieved 28 Apr 2013</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gg.ca/honour.aspx?id=239576&t=13 |title=Find a Recipient |publisher=The Governor General of Canada}}</ref> Canadian publisher Cindy Gu was nominated for the medal by the Canadian Centre for Abuse Awareness for raising awareness of human rights abuses in China and the organ harvesting of Falun Gong practitioners.<ref name=DJM>[http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/canada/epoch-times-publisher-awarded-diamond-jubilee-medal-302775.html "Epoch Times Publisher Awarded Diamond Jubilee Medal"], ''The Epoch Times'' (12 October 2012)</ref><ref>Newspapers Canada (12 October 2012) [http://www.newspaperscanada.ca/news/people/three-more-newspaper-publishers-receive-diamond-jubilee-medal Three more newspaper publishers receive Diamond Jubilee Medal] newspaperscanada.ca Retrieved 20 January 2013</ref>
* '''2012 National Ethnic Press and Media Council Award''' – The Chinese edition of ''The Epoch Times'' was given this annual award for, "Excellence in editorial/free expression, best concept and visual presentation"."<ref>[http://www.sources.com/Releases/NR1780.htm "National Ethnic Press and Media Council of Canada Award Recipients 2012"] sources.com 7 November 2012</ref><ref>''The Epoch Times'' (13 November 2012) [http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/canada/epoch-times-wins-ethnic-press-media-award-in-canada-314136.html Epoch Times Wins Ethnic Press Media Award] Retrieved 28 Apr 2013</ref>
* '''2012 New York Press Association Award''' – ''The Epoch Times'' won first place in the category "Best Special Section—Advertising, Division 2" for a special section produced for Asia Week New York in March 2012. "A great special section has five strong components: a great cover, appealing design, good art, strong content, and well designed complimentary advertising. This section has all five," said the NYPA judges. "In all, this is one of the nicest sections I have ever seen produced by a newspaper."<ref>[http://www.freeinews.com Free-i-News.] (8 April 2013) [http://www.freeinews.com/global/epoch-times-wins-newspaper-excellence-award "Epoch Times Wins Newspaper Excellence Award"] Retrieved 28 Apr 2013</ref>
* '''2012 [[Society of Professional Journalists]]' Sigma Delta Chi award''' – ''The Epoch Times'' China reporter Matthew Robertson won this award in the category of Non-Deadline Reporting for a series of articles he wrote on forced, live organ harvesting in China.<ref name=SPJ/><ref>''The Epoch Times'' (23 April 2013) [http://www.theepochtimes.com/n3/22109-epoch-times-reporter-wins-prestigious-journalism-award/ "Epoch Times Reporter Wins Prestigious Journalism Award"]</ref>
* '''2013 Newswomen's Club Award''' – ''The Epoch Times'' New York reporter Genevieve Belmaker won the Front Page Award from the Newswomen's Club of New York for reporting about the impact of [[Hurricane Sandy]], in the category of newspapers with a circulation of less than 100,000 per day.<ref>Newswomen'sNewswomen’s Club of New York [http://www.newswomensclubnewyork.com/2013-fpa-winners "2013 Front Page Award Winners"] newswomensclubnewyork.com</ref><ref>West, Ananda. "[http://www.theepochtimes.com/n3/315122-epoch-times-reporter-wins-newswomens-club-award/?photo=2 "Epoch Times Reporter Wins Newswomen'sNewswomen’s Club Award for Hurricane Sandy Coverage"]", ''The Epoch Times'', October 10, 2013.</ref>
* '''2013 Top Minority Business Enterprise Awards''' – ''The Epoch Times'' Chinese edition CEO in the Washington region, Jenny Jing, won the TOP MBE Awards' "Business Legends" award on October 30, 2013.<ref>Top 100 MBEs, honoring minority and women entrepreneurs. Accessed November 5, 2013.</ref>
* '''2013 New York Press Association Awards''' – ''Epoch Times'' English edition staff reporters, photographers, and designers won 16 awards . Six of the awards were for the first place, including top honors for overall excellence in photography, design, and advertising. Reporters Joshua Philipp and Zachary Stieber won second-place awards for best feature series and in-depth reporting.<ref>[http://www.theepochtimes.com/n3/605740-epoch-times-wins-16-awards-at-annual-newspaper-conference/ Epoch Times]</ref>
* '''2014 New York Press Association Awards''' – ''Epoch Times'' English edition staff reporters, photographers, and designers won 25 awards. 10 first places prizes, six for second place, five third-place finishes, and four honorable mentions. For the second year, the design department won first prize in the Richard L. Stein Award for Overall Design Excellence, and the John J. Evans Award for Advertising Excellence <ref>[http://www.theepochtimes.com/n3/1301663-epoch-times-wins-21-awards-in-annual-new-york-press-association-contest/ Epoch Times]</ref>
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==Assessments==
David Ownby stated that the newspaper's articles are "well written and interesting, if occasionally idiosyncratic in their coverage"."<ref name="DO">Ownby 2008, p. 221.</ref><ref name="morais">Morais, Betsy. "The Epoch Times doesn't like to brag", ''Capital Magazine'', Jun. 23, 2010</ref> According to Ownby, it has been praised and also been criticized for a perceived bias against the CCP, and support of Falun Gong practitioners and other dissidents such as Tibetans, Taiwanese independence advocates, democracy activists, Uyghurs and others. The paper, therefore, is often assessed in light of its connection to Falun Gong, rather than a thorough analysis of its editorial content.<ref>Ownby 2008, pp. ''vii''–''viii'', 163, 221–3, 229.</ref>
James Bettinger, a professor of Communications at [[Stanford University]] and the director of the John S. Knight Journalism Fellowships, said "Even if the ''Epoch Times'' is not associated with Falun Gong, if they consistently write about Falun Gong in the same perspective, or if there are no articles examining Falun Gong, people would perceive it as being not credible."<ref name=waves/> Orville Schell, dean of the [[UC Berkeley]] Graduate School of Journalism, said in 2005 that "It's hard to vouch for their quality because it's difficult to corroborate, but it's not something to be dismissed as pure propaganda."<ref name=sfgate/>
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[[Jiao Guobiao]], a former Beijing University journalism professor who was dismissed after criticizing the [[Central Propaganda Department]], proposed that even if ''The Epoch Times'' published only negative information highly critical of the CCP, the weight of their attacks could never begin to counterbalance the positive propaganda the party publishes about itself. In addressing media balance, Jiao noted that the Chinese public lacked negative, critical information regarding their country. As such, he noted for a need of media balance based on the principles of freedom, equality, and legality, and that media balance "is the result of the collective imbalances of all".<ref>Thornton, Patricia M. "Manufacturing Dissent in Transnational China" pp. 179–204 in ''Popular Protest in China'', Kevin J. O'Brien (ed.), Harvard University Press 2008</ref>
The paper's stance has also been lauded by some political commentators and media experts. [[Ethan Gutmann]] has characterized ''The Epoch Times'' as a leader in political analysis of the Chinese regime, saying "With the "Chinese Regime in Crisis" series, the ''Epoch Times'' has finally and indisputably arrived. Any China expert who wants to save face by pretending the paper doesn't exist can continue to do so—for a little while anyway—but they had better be reading it in secret."<ref>Ethan Gutman, Facebook. (23 Apr 2012) https://www.facebook.com/ethan.gutmann/posts/10150841176268179</ref>
In 2010, theThe ''Epoch Times'' successfully defended its reporting in the Canadian court system,<ref>[http://www.facts.org.cn/reports/world/200805/t80351.htm Facts.org], quoting from Xinhua, March 23, 2006 (Retrieved July 23, 2011)</ref> when a publisher they had reported on, Crescent Chau, sued for libel.<ref name="straightgood">Miller, John Gordon (31 May 2010) [http://www.straightgoods.ca/2010/ViewArticle.cfm?Ref=554 "Judge rules that Falun Gong newspaper acted in the public interest"] Straight Goods</ref> The justice in charge of the case ruled that the paper had acted in the public interest, and that the particular article expressed "legitimate concerns and constitute an opinion which is drawn from a factual premise". In examining the case, John Gordon Miller, a Canadian journalist and media professor, noted that the paper's articles "appear to be thoroughly and professionally reported".<ref name="straightgood"/>
"Bold, encouraging, thoughtful, the ''Epoch Times'' has become one of Canada's premier publications. For ten years now, the award-winning newspaper has been building bridges between communities and covering the stories that are shaping our world ... the ''Epoch Times'' immense success is a testament to the public's appetite for a fearless independent voice. I'd like to commend the ''Epoch Times'' for a decade of journalistic excellence,", wrote [[Peter Kent]], Canada's Minister of the Environment, former journalist, producer and anchorman.<ref name=epaper/>
==See also==