Media recommendations

Media recommendations

 

Circle 19 has compiled a catalogue of more than 100 recommended media platforms to provide its readers with independent sources of information on China-related issues. The media platforms listed are almost all censored in the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and many have been set up by journalists in exile. They provide information on Tibet, the Uyghur region, Hong Kong, Macau, mainland China and international affairs, and cover a wide range of topics, from human rights, political and social issues to current affairs and lifestyle.

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    • 64 Tianwang

      Created by human rights activist Huang Qi in 1998, this platform is China’s first human rights news website. It notably focuses on ethnic minorities, Falun Gong practitioners, and social rights.

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    • All about Macau

      This media is an independent Macanese media launched in 2010, which focuses on Macau’s local topics rarely mentioned in mainstream media. It features breaking news as well as in-depth reports on social issues. Here is their Facebook page.

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    • Allan Au

      Allan Lau is a Facebook page that provides commentary on Hong Kong-related news.

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    • Boomheadhk

      Boomheadhk is the Facebook page of an independent journalist that reports on Hong Kong-related news notably by posting videos from its YouTube channel. The content is primarily in Cantonese and Mandarin.

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    • Boxun

      Boxun is an independent Chinese-language news website that covers a wide range of topics, including politics, human rights, and social issues. Established as a platform for uncensored news and citizen journalism, Boxun provides insights into current events and developments within China.

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    • Bumingbai podcast

      Bumingbai is a Chinese-language platform that focuses on cultural commentary, literature, and social issues. Established as a space for critical discourse and creative expression, it offers exiled Chinese journalists’ insights into contemporary Chinese society and intellectual trends.

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    • Caixin

      Founded by journalist Hu Shuli in 2010, Caixin is one of the few privately-funded Chinese media outlets that continues to publish critical investigative reports within China, and provides insights into China’s economy, policy developments, and societal trends.

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    • Charter 08

      Charter 08 is a blog that provides commentary and analysis on human rights and social issues, politics, freedom of the press and freedom of expression. It refers to Charter 08, a manifesto signed by 303 Chinese dissident intellectuals including Nobel Peace Prize Liu Xiaobo, who called for democratic reforms in China.

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    • China Labour Bulletin

      China Labour Bulletin (CLB), based in Hong Kong, is dedicated to advancing workers’ rights in China through research, advocacy, and support initiatives. Their platform primarily uses Chinese and English to provide insights into labour conditions, collective bargaining, and workers’ movements, aiming to promote fair labour practices and social justice.

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    • China Unofficial Archive

      China Unofficial Archive is a website dedicated to providing access to key documents, movies, blogs, and publications about and from Chinese people seeking to reclaim their country’s history.

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    • Chris Yeung

      Chris Yeung, on his YouTube channel, provides commentary on Hong Kong-related news. A veteran journalist, he has been reporting and analysing Hong Kong’s politics and policies since the 1980s. Here is his Facebook page.

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    • Chuang

      Chuang is a platform that focuses on critical analysis and commentary on social movements, labor struggles, and political economy in China and beyond. Established as a collective effort, it provides in-depth articles and resources to understand contemporary social movements and radical politics. Their website is primarily in English but also displays translations in many other…

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    • Civil Rights & Livelihood Watch

      Civil Rights & Livelihood Watch is a Chinese-language platform for independent journalism and commentary. It provides insights and analysis on a wide range of topics including politics, current affairs, human rights and societal issues within China and globally.

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    • Commons

      Commons HK is a Chinese-language platform aimed at the Hong Kong diaspora that reports on social, political and cultural issues in Hong Kong, mainland China, UK and international news. It displays multimedia content and features Hong Kongers’ stories.

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    • CWR News Post UK

      This YouTube channel, managed by Chris Wong (王俊彥) from the United Kingdom, targets the Hong Kong diaspora and displays content in Cantonese. Through vlogging, this channel aims at bringing to the fore Hong Kongers’ collective memories, and promoting the importance of storytelling.

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    • D100 Radio

      Hong Kong D100 Radio is the official website of the eponymous radio station, a prominent radio broadcaster in Hong Kong. It offers a variety of programming including news, music, talk shows, and entertainment.

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    • Diyin

      This website in (simplified) Chinese aims at giving voice to the neglected social groups and shed light on issues often overlooked in mainstream media. It notably has a podcast that features stories of “common people.”

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    • Edu Lancet

      The name “Edu Lancet” is modelled on the former Cable News investigative programme “News Lancet.” This Facebook page on educational news aims at exposing the issues in the Hong Kong educational system to provide better information to the students.

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    • Europe 13h

      ICCICA is a platform focusing in Chinese, English and Czech that promotes cultural exchange and a better understanding between China and international communities through resources, events and initiatives. Here is their YouTube channel.

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    • Finance Analysis

      This blog in (traditional) Chinese is aimed at the Hong Kong diaspora and provides articles related to the financial sector. Here is their Facebook page.

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    • Flow HK

      Flow HK is a Chinese-language media created by Hong Kong exiled journalists. Based on the spirit of “Like Water” (its name), they are committed to preserve Hong Kong’s unique community amidst unprecedented historical challenges and pass on the spirit of resistance. It reflects on Hong Kong’s current political climate under increasing mainland Chinese influence, emphasising…

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    • Gong Chao

      Gong Chao was created in 2008 by cross-border researchers who majored in China studies. This platform is dedicated to labour rights advocacy and worker empowerment in China. It provides resources, news, and campaigns to support workers’ rights and improve labour conditions. The website offers a selection of analytical texts and workers’ own narratives in multiple…

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    • Great Fire

      Great Fire, established as a platform for digital rights advocacy, focuses on monitoring and circumventing internet censorship in China. It provides tools, reports, and analysis to promote online freedom of speech and access to information in English and (simplified) Chinese.

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    • guanguan

      This YouTube channel started in 2018 features video on social, environmental and political issues in China, including personal accounts and recordings of people such as in the Uyghur region.

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    • Hong Kong Feature

      This website in (traditional) Chinese displays feature reports in Hong Kong, regarding social, political, legal and cultural topics.

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    • Hong Kong Free Press

      Hong Kong Free Press (HKFP), established in 2015, is an independent English-language news outlet dedicated to reporting on Hong Kong’s political, social, and cultural developments. It provides in-depth news coverage, analysis, and commentary to foster transparency and accountability in Hong Kong.

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    • Hong Kong Uncensored

      This Chinese-language YouTube channel supports independent journalism focusing on Hong Kong, providing uncensored news and insights. It was created to fund and support investigative reporting and commentary on Hong Kong’s political and social issues. Here is their Facebook page.

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    • Hong Kong’s People Schedule

      This Facebook page reports information about current news in Hong Kong from major public websites or Telegram groups without modification brought by newsrooms.

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    • Lau Sai-leung – commentary

      This YouTube channel is that of veteran Hong Kong journalist Lau Sai-leung, who published videos commenting on political, human rights and social issues in Cantonese.

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    • Li Wei-ling

      This is the YouTube channel of Li Weiling, a Hong Kong-based seasoned journalist who has contributed to Ming Pao, Apple Daily, Commercial Radio and D100. She focuses on Hong Kong-related news.

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    • LIHKG

      LIHKG is a popular online forum in Hong Kong known for its discussions on hot topics on politics, current affairs, social issues, entertainment, and daily life matters. It provides a platform for users to engage in free and anonymous discussions and share information in Cantonese.

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    • Little Universe Podcast

      Little Universe is a platform dedicated to podcasts and audio content, focusing on a variety of topics such as culture, education, and lifestyle. It offers a wide range of programmes and discussions in Mandarin Chinese.

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    • Matters

      Matters is a platform launched in 2020 that hosts a variety of community-generated content and discussions in Chinese. It serves as a space for users to share and engage in topics ranging from social issues to cultural commentary, fostering a community-driven approach.

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    • Mingjing News

      Mingjing News is a Chinese-language news website known for its coverage of political and economic developments, with a focus on Greater China and international relations.

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    • Mirror Media

      Mirror Media is a Taiwanese news and multimedia platform that provides in-depth reporting and analysis on current affairs, culture, and society in Taiwan and beyond, in traditional Chinese.

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    • Pincong Rocks

      Pincong Rocks is a Chinese-language online forum known for its diverse discussions on social, political, and cultural topics in China and abroad.

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    • ReNews

      This news platform was created by former Hong Kong journalist Andrew Lam (林彥邦). Through commentary and analysis, he explores Hong Kong’s current affairs related to politics, social issues and world affairs.

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    • Sam Ng Chi-sum

      Sam Chi-sum Ng is the former producer of “Hong Kong Connection” (《鏗鏘集》) that hosted the “Green Bean” channel (《綠豆》). On his YouTube channel, Sam Ng gives commentary and analysis in Cantonese about Hong Kong current affairs, politics and social issues. This channel aims at the Hong Kong diaspora.

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    • Simon’s Glos World

      Simon’s Glos World Facebook page and its YouTube channel are run by Simon Shen (沈旭暉), a Hongkonger living in Taiwan who provides commentary and analysis with a global perspective on international relations, social issues, art and culture, lifestyle and travels. His platforms is aiming at the Hong Kong local audience and diaspora.

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    • Southern Metropolis Daily

      Southern Metropolis Daily, created in 1997, is part of the Nanfang Media Group and is known as one of the few independent, critical newspapers remaining in operation in China. Thanks to its many investigative reports on political and social issues, it has won multiple awards such as the World Press Freedom Prize in 2005.

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    • Southern Weekly

      Southern Weekly, founded in 1984, is also part of the Nanfang Media Group and was before Xi’s era one of China’s most liberal and outspoken media outlets, known for publishing investigations exposing government wrongdoing and annual editorials advocating for constitutional reform despite censorship and government pressure.

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    • Stephen Shiu – commentary

      This news platform was created by a former Hong Kong journalist and explores current events related to Hong Kong politics and social issues, and world affairs.

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    • The Institute for China’s Democratic Transition

      The Institute for China’s Democratic Transition is a non-profit think tank and educational organisation established to promote democratic ideals and human rights in China, provides resources, news, and advocacy tools to prepare for and facilitate the transformation of the country’s political landscape. The website is available in English and (simplified) Chinese.

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    • Tibet Express

      Tibet Express (or Bangchen in Tibetan) is a news platform available in Tibetan and English that provides news and updates on various issues related to Tibet. It covers topics such as politics, human rights, culture, environment, and social developments affecting Tibet and Tibetan communities worldwide.

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    • Unknown Little Thunder

      This YouTube channel in Chinese is from an American woman discussing current affairs on China, US-China relations and American culture. They support “the liberation of Hong Kong and Taiwan, Xinjiang and Tibet.”

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    • Uyghur Times

      Uyghur Times is a multi language news website (in Uyghur, English and others) that focuses on providing timely and in-depth coverage of issues related to Uyghur culture, society, human rights, and current events, aiming to amplify voices and shed light on issues affecting Uyghurs globally.

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    • Wang Qing

      This is journalist Wang Qing’s public account on Chinese microblogging platform Weibo, aiming at relaying fact-based information about the Russian invasion of Ukraine on Chinese microblogging platform Weibo.

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    • Wenku

      Wenku (Bibliothèque) is a Chinese-language website that aims at preserving Hong Kong’s memory and history. It records Hong Kong’s two major democratic media, Apple Daily and Stand News.

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    • Women 我們

      This Substack channel, mostly in (simplified) Chinese, features articles and stories about contemporary history, political and social issues in China, and discusses topics such as feminism, environmental issues and human rights. It promotes a censor-free China.

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    • Xinjiang Victims Database

      The Xinjiang Victims Database website documents through reports, lists, and maps, the mass incarceration of ethnic minority citizens – most notably, the Uyghur, Kazakh, Kyrgyz, and Hui – of China’s Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region in de facto concentrations camps and police custody as well as other forms of repression such as movement restriction and forced…

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    • Yesterday

      This Youtube channel is ran by Chinese citizen-journalist Lu Yuyu, who posts recordings and updates of protests in China.

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    • Zhong Xun

      Zhongxun is a Chinese-language blog platform that provides commentary and analysis on political, cultural, human rights and social issues within China. It aims to offer insights and perspectives that may not be widely reported in mainstream media.

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