Los Angeles Times Runs China Daily Propaganda Insert
An eight-page China Watch supplement appeared in the financially-struggling Los Angeles Times in June 2020, distributed by the Chinese government-backed China Daily. The standalone insert, branded “All You Need to Know,” featured content promoting Chinese perspectives during the COVID-19 pandemic period. The supplement was clearly labeled as not involving the newspaper’s editorial staff, but presented as news reading material. The timing coincided with the LA Times’ well-documented financial difficulties, suggesting economic motivations for accepting the paid insert. China expert Clayton Dube documented the supplement’s appearance, highlighting the case as another example of Chinese state media’s efforts to reach American audiences through established US newspaper distribution networks.
