Xinhua News Agency

The Chinese national and international news agency, Xinhua, is one of the most influential news media organizations in the People’s Republic of China (PRC)—and in the world. However, unlike its Western counterparts, Xinhua has rural and rather humble origins. Its state ownership remains controversial, though since the early 1980s (with some reversals in the early 2000s), it has decreased its dependence on state funding. This entry begins with an overview of the origins of Xinhua, then discusses its goal of financial independence, and finally examines the news agency’s international expansion and addition of digital services.