China’s press is often described as among the most restricted in the world, but that’s because you’re judging it using Western standards. Today I’ll give you all a quick introduction into Chinese media, and explain the most basic and important difference between the news media here in China, and its Western counterpart. Let’s get reporting!

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China is often given the ominous title of one of the most restricted news media scenes in the world. In the annual World Press Freedom Index, China is always right at the bottom of the list, and my home country New Zealand sits proudly near the top. I’ve worked in the media in both places, so I think I have a pretty unique insight.
 
In 2021’s World Press Freedom Index, China ranks 177th out of 180 countries, beating out only Turkmenistan, North Korea and Eritrea. New Zealand, on the other hand, is celebrated in the top 10... number 8, to be exact. But what does “press freedom” mean, and why should it matter?