ANI
29 Mar 2023, 18:57 GMT+10
Rome [Italy], March 29 (ANI): Journalists blasted Chinese propaganda in Italy's top economic paper after it praised China's economic health and asked Italian investors to invest in China, reported Italian publication decode39.
Il Sole 24 Ore's editorial staff denounced the repeated publication of advertorials, disguised as legitimate articles on the benefits of investing in China, inside the influential paper.
On Tuesday, the union of journalists working at Il Sole 24 Ore -- often likened with Italy's Financial Times -- issued a public communique criticising the publication of covert Chinese propaganda in Sunday's paper.
The communique referred to the four-page advertorial titled "Focus China" as a legitimate-looking special. Its formatting and styling are "highly ambiguous," stressed the journalists, as they do not clarify whether it's actually paid to advertise, nor do they clearly identify the client, reported decode39.
Those, according to the editorial staff, are "even more serious", as they lavish praise on China's economic health and detail why Italian investors should channel their money into it.
Headlines range from "In 2022, China's GDP hit a new record" to "Foreign companies are still betting on investment in China" and "China, a hotspot for foreign investment."In short, note the journalists, it's "pure propaganda to attract investment from Italy to China" -- which "we find unspeakable, given that it puts the pages of the newspaper at the disposal of an economic system and a State (the permeability, if not the identity, between one and the other, is absolute) that are characterised by the absence of the basic elements of a democracy", reported decode39.
"In other words, Il Sole 24 Ore has lent itself to beating the drum for a dictatorship, which in addition to the traditional absence of political pluralism, freedom of opinion and expression, and respect for minorities, is today increasingly entrenched in a pro-Putin foreign policy," it stated.
Similar incidents had already occurred, leading the editorial staff to call out the "aggravating recidivism" of the group's advertising arm, 24 Ore System.
After past protests, the editorial staff had been assured of advance notice of the publication to take action in good time. This commitment, however, "was obviously disregarded", reported decode39.
The 'Focus China' advertorial is the latest instance of Beijing's efforts to influence the perception of Italians through the media. The People's Republic, which was once granted wide access to the Italian media through Belt and Road-sanctioned deals, had switched tactics and is focussing on business to push its messaging.
The Belt and Road Memorandum of Understanding are up for renewal in 2024. However, Giorgia Meloni's government has signalled its intention to "move in concert" with the European Union and NATO on all matters regarding China, reported decode39. (ANI)Get a daily dose of Baton Rouge Post news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Baton Rouge Post.
More InformationNEW YORK CITY, New York: Bitcoin surged to a new all-time high this week, buoyed by growing institutional interest and a wave of pro-crypto...
SHENZHEN, China: As global chip competition intensifies, Huawei Technologies is exploring new markets in the Middle East and Southeast...
LONDON/NEW YORK CITY: American grocery bills may be headed higher as coffee and orange juice prices face upward pressure from new tariffs...
BATTLE CREEK, Michigan: In a major consolidation of iconic food brands, WK Kellogg has agreed to be acquired by the owner of Ferrero...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: Filmmaker Peter Jackson's lifelong fascination with the extinct giant New Zealand flightless bird called the moa...
NEW DELHI, India: India has submitted a revised proposal to the World Trade Organization (WTO) in Geneva to implement retaliatory tariffs...
LONDON, U.K.: American consumers and businesses could soon face the highest overall tariff burden in more than a century, according...
U.S. President Donald Trump noted there would be secondary tariffs of about 100 percent. WASHINGTON, July 14 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President...
Kyiv [Ukraine], July 15 (ANI): Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Tuesday said he had a 'very good conversation' with US President...
Berlins forces are ready to take lethal action against Russian troops, German defense minister has said Germany is becoming dangerous...
According to the Association for the Development of Industry in the Mezzogiorno, Italy's exports would face a reduction of nearly one-fifth...
Washington DC [US], July 15 (ANI): US President Donald Trump reiterated his claim on Monday (local time) that he stopped the escalation...