History

The Epoch Times is an international, multilingual newspaper and digital media organization founded in 2000 by John Tang and other Chinese-American Falun Gong practitioners. Initially established to counter Chinese state censorship, it has since expanded to more than 35 countries and 22 languages. The publication’s mission, according to its About Us page, is to provide “value-driven journalism that informs, inspires, and provides clarity,” emphasizing “truth and tradition” as guiding principles.

In 2024, the Epoch Times faced significant controversy when its CFO, Weidong “Bill” Guan, was charged with laundering $67 million through fraudulent means. Following this, founder John Tang resigned as CEO, and a new management team led by Janice Trey, formerly of Philips HealthCare and GlobalFoundries, took over, pledging to restore transparency and editorial integrity.

Read our profile on the USA government’s influence on media.

Funded by / Ownership

The Epoch Times is owned by the nonprofit Epoch Times Association, Inc., affiliated with the Epoch Media Group. It generates funding primarily from subscriptions (accounting for roughly 90% of revenue), sponsorships, and advertisements. While historically linked to Falun Gong, the outlet now describes itself as an independent, reader-supported media organization governed by a board of directors.

Analysis / Bias

Under new leadership since mid-2024, the Epoch Times has taken substantial steps to improve editorial accuracy and journalistic responsibility. According to a March 2025 NewsGuard review, the outlet corrected or removed 41 of 50 previously false or misleading articles and had not published any verifiably false claims for 10 consecutive months. However, NewsGuard noted that these corrections primarily occurred only after inquiries, and some misleading articles remain uncorrected.

Editorially, the Epoch Times maintains a clear Right-Center bias, with coverage frequently supportive of Republican policies and critical of Democrats. For example, recent pieces such as “Senate Confirms Zeldin to Head Environmental Protection Agency” and “Rolling Back DEI: Resisting Forced Equality” highlight conservative perspectives while limiting opposing views. Its opinion section, including essays like “The Hidden Crisis in Our Classrooms: Why Education Without Character Is Failing America”, reflects traditionalist and moralist framing consistent with conservative social values.

In contrast to its past reliance on conspiracy theories and pseudoscientific claims, the current Epoch Times now adheres more closely to mainstream fact-based journalism. Articles such as “29-Year-Old Florida Man Arrested Over Palisades Fire” and “Illegal Immigrants and Federal Health Benefits: What to Know” demonstrate an improved commitment to sourcing and balanced reporting, particularly in straight news. While its ideological tone remains conservative, there is no longer consistent promotion of conspiratorial or anti-science content that once defined its coverage.

Failed Fact Checks

• From 2020–2023, The Epoch Times published several false claims related to COVID-19 and U.S. politics. Most of these have since been corrected or removed as part of the 2024–Present editorial reforms.

Overall, The Epoch Times is rated Right-Center biased due to its consistent conservative framing and editorial support for traditional values and Republican viewpoints. Its Factual Reporting rating has improved to Mostly Factual, reflecting major corrections and stronger sourcing. While remnants of one-sided reporting persist, the publication has transitioned mainly from a Questionable source to a higher Credibility outlet committed to more responsible journalism. (M. Huitsing 8/21/2017) (Updated 10/08/2025)

Source: https://www.theepochtimes.com