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 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 Sixth Stone as left-biased based on editorial and story selections that favor the Communist Party of China. We also rate them Questionable due to poor sourcing and the publication of one-sided pro-government propaganda.
Detailed Report
Questionable Reasoning: Propaganda, Censorship, Poor Sourcing
Bias Rating: LEFT
Factual Reporting: MIXED
Country: China
MBFC’s Country Freedom Rank: TOTAL OPPRESSION
Media Type: Website
Traffic/Popularity: Medium Traffic
MBFC Credibility Rating: LOW CREDIBILITY
History
Sixth Tone is a Shanghai-based English-language news website launched in 2016. It presents a modernized narrative of China to domestic and international audiences, focusing on progressive, state-approved content. Sixth Tone is affiliated with The Paper, a Chinese state-backed news outlet, which shapes its editorial direction.
Read our profile on Chinese Media and Government.
Funded by / Ownership
Sixth Tone is owned by Shanghai United Media Group (SUMG), a state-backed media conglomerate in China. It is the English version of The Paper.
Analysis / Bias
SixthTone.com frequently sources content from government websites and other Chinese platforms, influencing its coverage. For instance, the article “Why China’s Universities Are Ditching Their Engineering Programs“ discusses how China’s universities are discontinuing or adjusting their degree programs to align with government priorities, particularly focusing on engineering and management. The article provides factual information, citing reports from ScienceNet.cn (China Science Daily) and interviews with educational experts like Xiong Bingqi, director of the 21st Century Education Research Institute. The article’s framing aligns closely with government objectives, as it highlights the strategic focus on emerging technologies like AI, robotics, and cloud computing. While the article offers insights into the challenges faced by engineering programs, it does not critically explore the potential downsides of the government’s educational reform or the societal impact of deprioritizing popular majors.
Similarly, the article “China Launches Policy Blitz to Tackle Unemployment” highlights the Chinese government’s 24-point plan to address rising youth unemployment. This policy, issued by the State Council and the Communist Party of China, focuses on creating “high-quality” jobs and reforming educational programs to align with government priorities. The article cites government sources, including The Paper (sister publication) Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security (MOHRSS), which sources Xinhua News Agency and frames the policy as a decisive step to combat unemployment.
Generally, Sixth Tone exhibits a pro-China bias that consistently aligns with the Chinese government’s perspectives, framing national policies and developments in a positive light and sourcing content from government-backed entities such as Xinhua News Agency and various Chinese ministries. While it often provides factual information, it often avoids critical analysis or dissenting viewpoints, particularly on politically sensitive topics, favoring narratives that align with China’s state-approved messaging.
Failed Fact Checks
- None in the Last 5 years
Overall, we rate Sixth Stone as left-biased based on editorial and story selections that favor the Communist Party of China. We also rate them Questionable due to poor sourcing and the publication of one-sided pro-government propaganda. (M. Huitsing 09/29/2024)
Source: https://www.sixthtone.com/
Last Updated on September 30, 2024 by Media Bias Fact Check
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