CGTN America

CGTN America is the American version of CGTN.[1] CGTN is the collection of international language news channels run by China Media Group. It is based in Washington, D.C. and manages bureaus across North and South America. The service employs a mix of American, international and Chinese journalists and produces Americas-based programming with a focus on Asia for CGTN.[2] It maintains a separate schedule of programs each day from noon to 7 p.m. MST (7 p.m. to 2 a.m. GMT), and like its African counterpart, it simulcasts CGTN International at all other times. CGTN America is led by director general Ma Jing with veteran Asia journalist Jim Laurie as executive consultant.[3] It began broadcasting on February 6, 2012, replacing the former English language CCTV 9 in the region.[4]

CGTN America
LaunchedFebruary 6, 2012
NetworkChina Global Television Network
Owned byChina Central Television
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Broadcast areaNationwide
HeadquartersWashington, D.C.
WebsiteCGTN America
Availability
MHz NetworksCheck Local Listings
Satellite
DirecTVChannel 2119
Dish NetworkChannel 279
Cable
Available on some cable systemsCheck Local Listings
AT&T U-verseChannel 3602
Streaming media
CGTN AmericaLive stream

CGTN America has registered as a foreign agent under the Foreign Agent Registration Act on February 1, 2019.[5]

Production team

Anchoring team

North America correspondents

US

Awards

News and Documentary Emmy® Awards[7]

YearProgramCategory
2016Jen Bricker: When “Can’t” is a Four-Letter WordOutstanding Feature in a News Magazine

2016 New York Festivals International TV & Film Awards[8]

MedalProgramCategorySub-category
GoldJen Bricker: When Can't is a Four-Letter WordTelevision - News: Reports/FeaturesHuman Interest
SilverOn Thin Ice: People of the NorthTelevision - Craft: ProgramBest Camerawork
SilverReinventing CubaTelevision - Documentary/Information ProgramHuman Concerns
SilverJen Bricker: When Can't is a Four-Letter WordTelevision - News: Reports/FeaturesHeroes
BronzeReinventing CubaTelevision - Documentary/Information ProgramHeroes
BronzeNo Strings Attached: Puppets Supporting Children Throughout the WorldTelevision - Documentary/Information ProgramThe Arts

2015 New York Festivals International TV & Film Awards[9]

MedalProgram/TalentCategory
GoldHaiti steps up health care measures to fight diseaseBest Coverage of a Continuing News Story
BronzeAnand NaidooBest News Anchor
BronzeAfghanistan Re-born?Best Coverage of a Continuing News Story

Programs
  • The World Today - Live news reporting from around the world with special emphasis on the Americas. Airs weekdays at 2, 3, 5, 6:30 and 8PM and weekends at 2, 3, 4, 6 and 7PM ET.
  • Global Business – Global news and analysis, is aimed at combining reporting of economic and financial issues in North and South America with those from China and the Asian region. Anchored by Rachelle Akuffo from CGTN's studios in Washington, D.C. Airs Monday-Friday 4:00 PM to 4:30pm and 7-8PM US Eastern time.
  • The Heat – Daily news and current affairs show that features often heated discussions on global affairs. Airs weekdays at 6PM US Eastern time.
  • Americas Now – CGTN's premiere news magazine broadcast, features original reporting throughout the Americas. The program was developed and It was launched by Senior Producer Barbara Dury.
  • Full Frame - A weekly talk magazine that explores current events, culture and social issues from a global perspective.

Controversy

During President Xi Jinping's tour of state media outlets in February 2016, he emphasized that they must “speak for the Party,” and, further, that they must expand their influence abroad in order to “tell China’s story to the world.” The Guardian's Louisa Lim and Julia Bergin wrote that while the "[Chinese] Communist Party has always maintained a tight grip over domestic media, their strategy has shifted in recent years to spread that control globally", by "exerting their influence on media abroad, through a multifaceted approach that includes offering generous salary packages to recruit talented journalists away from local media in Africa, Latin America, and elsewhere; buying advertising supplements in mainstream foreign publications; buying foreign media companies outright; and making deals with local broadcasters in Africa and elsewhere to spread their content in local markets". One result of the Chinese Communist Party's international media strategy has been the elimination of the independent Chinese-language media outlets in the United States, "through a mix of co-option and aggressive expansion of its own competitors".[10][10] Alongside their international media strategy, the Chinese Communist Party has also stepped up the use of "Pro-Beijing trolls -- the so-called 50-cent army, named for the price they are supposedly paid for each post" plus the "state-backed media and botnets [who] have been employed to pump out huge quantities of disinformation and misinformation" on social media platforms like Twitter.[11][12]

CGTN initially claimed that it had “editorial independence from any state direction or control”. This was debunked by New York Times reporter Paul Mozur in interviews with "current and former CGTN employees [who] say CCTV editors in Beijing often dictated plans for covering China. American employees sometimes pushed back, they said, and Ms. Ma allowed some flexibility when Beijing’s orders didn’t specifically forbid or dictate content. But three people interviewed said they had little choice but to air propaganda clips when Beijing said so".[13][10] CGTN employees were disciplined when a news report mentioned Falun Gong, the religious group labeled as a cult and banned by the PRC. The flag of Taiwan, the self-governing island that is claimed by PRC, is banned from broadcasts. In November 2018, amid growing international criticism of China's imprisonment of hundreds of thousands of Muslim Uyghurs in re-education camps, CGTN America aired a piece portraying the camps as successful vocational training and antiterrorism centers and Uyghurs as grateful. In addition, CGTN America has broadcast "exclusive" forced confessions of people accused of a wide variety of crimes in China, most notably the example of a Briton, Peter Humphrey.[1] In addition, some CGTN journalists "recall being asked to cross a sometimes blurred line between news reporting and intelligence gathering as they were asked to report on high-level government meetings".[10] International observers noted that while RT aims to divide its audience with controversial content, the "aim [of CGTN] is to influence public opinion overseas in order to nudge foreign governments into making policies favourable towards China’s Communist party" through more subtle means.[10]

The United States Department of State characterised "CGTN America’s relationship with a foreign government and a foreign political party as one of interest to Washington". The United States Department of Justice was concerned about an "expanding influence campaign being waged by Beijing through the global arms of state media outlets" like CGTN and Xinhua News Agency.[14][5] In putting pressure upon Xinhua and CGTN, a senior US official noted that US grievances towards the lack of reciprocity from Beijing on trade and media access as many American and international news outlets are blocked in China.[15] CGTN America has registered as a foreign agent under the Foreign Agent Registration Act on February 1, 2019, on the orders of the Justice Department. While this permits them to continue operating in the United States, they are required to disclose information about their annual budget and ownership structure, while also including disclaimers on broadcasts, published materials and social media identifying themselves as registered foreign agents. After registering with the FARA, CGTN America director general Ma Jing and a dozen other staffers were recalled to Beijing.[16]


References
  1. Mozur, Paul (2019-02-28). "Live From America's Capital, a TV Station Run by China's Communist Party". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 2020-04-28. Retrieved 2020-05-28.
  2. "CCTV America Initiates New Programming From Washington, D.C." (Press release). CCTV. 2012-02-06. Retrieved 2012-02-08.
  3. "Chinese state TV starts American service this week". Associated Press. 2012-02-08. Retrieved 2012-02-08.
  4. Wang, Xi (2012-02-06). "About CCTV America". CNTV. Archived from the original on 2012-03-14. Retrieved 2012-02-08.
  5. "A Leaked Memo Says Chinese State TV Registered As A Foreign Agent "In The Spirit Of Cooperation"". Buzzfeednews. February 5, 2019. Archived from the original on 9 November 2019. Retrieved 12 February 2019.
  6. Hernández, Javier C. (2016-02-05). "Ties to Chinese State Media Raise Questions in U.S. Election Campaign". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 2016-03-17. Retrieved 2016-04-07.
  7. "37th Annual News and Documentary Emmy® Awards". Archived from the original on 12 November 2017. Retrieved 9 February 2018.
  8. "New York Festivals - World's Best TV & Films 2016". Archived from the original on 9 February 2018. Retrieved 9 February 2018.
  9. "New York Festivals - World Best TV & Films 2015". Archived from the original on 2018-02-09. Retrieved 2018-02-09.
  10. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2019-03-11. Retrieved 2019-03-11.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  11. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2020-02-24. Retrieved 2020-02-24.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  12. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2020-02-22. Retrieved 2020-02-22.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  13. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2019-03-11. Retrieved 2019-03-11.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  14. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2020-02-20. Retrieved 2020-02-22.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  15. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2020-02-22. Retrieved 2020-02-22.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  16. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2020-05-25. Retrieved 2019-03-13.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
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