Summary
In September 2022, the American institution Freedom House, known for its Freedom in the World Index, published a special issue on Beijing’s Global Media Influence 2022. GGR assistant Sascha Hannig Nuñez co-authored a section of the report which analyzes the disinformation and the degree of influence that the Chinese media have had on Chile. The report explores Chinese influence efforts in digital, press, and audiovisual media across dozens of countries in the world, identifying unfair responses against Chinese citizens (as overreaction) and resilience mechanisms to protect freedom of expression and democracy. Common practices were identified for all PRC state media, public officials, and diplomats. In Chile, the researchers found that these attempts to change narratives appeared especially through inserts and co-publications in traditional media, with the objective of countering the negative image of the PRC during the pandemic and creating a parallel concept of democracy. Interestingly, the main supportive group of Beijing’s narratives was the Chilean elites. Still, journalists and civil society have kept this influence attempts exposed. The report was also cited by media outlets such as Voice of America (in English and Chinese) and the independent Chilean media Ex Ante.
Publications Link
Chile Section: https://freedomhouse.org/country/chile/beijings-global-media-influence/2022
Full Report: https://freedomhouse.org/si/node/5512