QUESTIONABLE SOURCE
A questionable source exhibits one or more of the following: extreme bias, consistent promotion of propaganda/conspiracies, poor or no sourcing to credible information, a complete lack of transparency, and/or is fake news. Fake News is the deliberate attempt to publish hoaxes and/or disinformation for the purpose of profit or influence (Learn More). Sources listed in the Questionable Category may be very untrustworthy and should be fact-checked on a per-article basis. Please note sources on this list are not considered fake news unless specifically written in the reasoning section for that source. See all Questionable sources.
- Overall, we rate 163.com as left-center biased, questionable, and mixed for factual reporting due to its use of poor sources such as CCTV, lack of external hyperlinking, and the publication of state propaganda through bias by omission.
Detailed Report
Reasoning: Poor Sourcing, State Propaganda
Bias Rating: LEFT-CENTER
Factual Reporting: MIXED
Country: China
Press Freedom Rating: TOTAL OPPRESSION
Media Type: Website
Traffic/Popularity: High Traffic
MBFC Credibility Rating: LOW CREDIBILITY
History
Founded in 1997 by William Ding, also known as Ding Lei, NetEase, Inc. operates the domain 163.com and is headquartered in Hangzhou, China. Initially an internet service provider, it has evolved into a diversified technology company, offering online gaming, digital music, online education (Youdao), and e-commerce.
163.com serves as a multifaceted web service platform primarily for the Chinese market, covering various topics, including news, technology, finance, sports, and entertainment. It offers diverse digital content like articles, videos, and interactive forums. 163.com is exclusively an online entity, focusing on real-time news and information delivery through digital channels without a physical print version.
Read our report on how the Chinese government influences media.
Funded by / Ownership
NetEase, a major Chinese technology firm, runs 163.com. Its founder, Ding Lei (William Ding), likely holds a significant share, but as a publicly traded entity on NASDAQ and HKEX, ownership extends to various public shareholders and institutional investors. NetEase’s funding primarily comes from its diverse operations, including online gaming and digital education. In Q3 2023, it reported substantial financial growth, with net revenues of RMB 27.3 billion (US$3.7 billion) and net income of RMB 7.8 billion (US$1.1 billion.) (refer to the unaudited financial report)
Analysis / Bias
Based on the article “E.U. Names China and Russia as Top Hackers” from EUobserver.com, 163.com, operated by NetEase, has been associated with several cybersecurity issues. Furthermore, 163.com’s digital services, including news coverage, are subject to China’s regulatory and political landscape, which could influence content and editorial stance. Here are some examples of national news coverage by 163.com.
The article “Hot Interpretation | Understand Xi Jinping’s “People’s City from his trip to Shanghai,” sourced from CCTV, demonstrates a clear bias towards promoting the Chinese government’s leadership and its initiatives, consistent with the typical characteristics of state-affiliated media in China. The article’s framing and narrative align with the government’s perspective, contributing to a positive portrayal of its actions and policies. A quote from the article reads, “General Secretary Xi Jinping has always regarded solving the most direct and practical interests of the people as the top priority of urban development.”
Another article, titled “The United States and the West have increased their military support for Ukraine, and a large number of military-industrial companies have profited from it,” discusses how Western nations, particularly the United States, have intensified their military support for Ukraine, leading to significant profits for Western defense companies. It emphasizes the economic aspects of this support, highlighting the profits gained by Western defense companies. This emphasis on economic interests could be seen as framing the situation from a financial perspective. The article quotes a Serbian European researcher critical of NATO’s role, and although there is no external hyperlink, the Reuters article titled “U.S. funding for Ukraine arms has poured into Pennsylvania, Arizona and Texas” provides additional context and verification for the claims made in the 163.com article. It confirms significant funding has been allocated to various U.S. states, including Pennsylvania, to arm Ukraine.
While the news is generally reported factually, it is misleading due to strong censorship of anything negative towards China.
Failed Fact Checks
- None by a third-party fact checker.
Overall, we rate 163.com as left-center biased, questionable, and mixed for factual reporting due to its use of poor sources such as CCTV, lack of external hyperlinking, and the publication of state propaganda through bias by omission. (M. Huitsing 12/05/2023)
Source: 163.com
Last Updated on December 5, 2023 by Media Bias Fact Check
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