The scope of what was discovered was remarkable. Reporters from even small countries like Guinea-Bissau were asked to make deals with Chinese journalists. China was circulating its propaganda newspaper China Daily not only in English, but also in Serbian. A journalist from the Philippines estimated that over half of the news stories on a Philippines newswire were sourced from the Chinese state agency Xinhua. A media organization in Kenya received funding from Chinese investors, and subsequently dismissed a columnist who had covered China's treatment of the Uyghur minority. Journalists in Peru were heavily criticized on social media by aggressive Chinese government officials. This criticism was found to be part of a larger strategy to establish an alternative to global news media dominated by outlets such as the BBC and CNN, and to influence media worldwide with Chinese money, power, and perspective. A new report from the International Federation of Journalists, set to be released on Wednesday, examines China's intentions behind this strategy. Louisa Lim, author of the first report, conducted interviews with journalists in 54 countries for this second report. According to Lim, an ex-NPR bureau chief in Beijing now teaching at the University of Melbourne, interviews show how China utilized its global media infrastructure during the pandemic to spread positive narratives and disinformation. The report, co-written by Bergin and Lidberg from Monash University, highlights a shift in global power dynamics rather than a secretive plot. China's media strategy, per a Chinese Foreign Ministry official, is similar to tactics used by other powerful nations for over a century. The report also notes a surge in Chinese media activity during the pandemic, coinciding with increased diplomatic efforts and the distribution of protective equipment and vaccines worldwide. Italian journalists were pressured to broadcast President Xi Jinping's Christmas speech and were given a translated version in Italian. In Tunisia, the Chinese embassy provided hand sanitizer and masks to the journalists' union, as well as expensive television equipment and free pro-China content to the state broadcaster. A pro-government tabloid in Serbia displayed a billboard featuring the Chinese leader with the words "Thank you, brother Xi." The media and vaccine campaigns are linked to China's "Belt and Road" global investment initiative, which involves expectations of support in key UN votes and debt. China faces challenges due to its authoritarianism, treatment of Uyghurs, and crackdown on dissent in Hong Kong, which have negatively impacted global perceptions of the country even before the pandemic. Some governments are starting to make it more difficult for Chinese state media to operate in their countries, such as Britain revoking the license of the main Chinese state broadcaster. China's diplomatic efforts are primarily focused on countries that have a vote at the UN, rather than European countries. Despite appearing to be improvised and run out of local embassies, China's media influence is growing globally. According to a report by Lim, Beijing is gradually reshaping the global media landscape country by country. Journalists from five continents shared their perspectives on Chinese government pressure, with some feeling alarmed and others confident in navigating the complex media environment. In Peru, the government has a favorable relationship with China and influential political figures received early access to a Chinese-made vaccine. According to Zuliana Lainez, the secretary-general of the National Association of Journalists of Peru, the state media in Peru frequently promotes Chinese interests. Lainez expressed concern about the Peruvian state news agency and the state-controlled newspaper El Peruano acting as mouthpieces for the Chinese embassy, as well as the Chinese embassy investing in updating newsrooms' technology. This has raised worries about the lack of independence in reporting. However, not all journalists view China's expanding media presence as negative. Stefano Polli, the deputy director of the Italian news service ANSA, believes that China is using media to increase its influence in global politics. He defended his service's contract to translate and distribute Xinhua, stating that it is a common commercial agreement. China has tightened restrictions on foreign journalists within its borders, leading international news outlets to rely more on official sources and preventing American reporters, including most of the New York Times bureau, from obtaining visas. Luca Rigoni, a prominent anchor at a TV channel owned by the Italian company Mediaset, revealed that his news organization had previously collaborated with Chinese state media for reporting from China, but this partnership ceased after he covered the theory that the virus originated from a Chinese lab. Despite these challenges, Rigoni, whose company is owned by Italy's former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, noted that China is not the only country where government or parliament controls major TV and radio programs. The general secretary of the International Federation of Journalists, Anthony Bellanger, believes that China is becoming a significant player in the information war, but he also emphasizes the importance of resisting pressures from the US, Russia, and other governments. However, recent reports suggest that China is currently more dedicated to spreading its messages globally, spending millions of dollars annually for this purpose. The US, on the other hand, pioneered covert and overt influence tactics during the Cold War, but its official channels have weakened over time. While the CIA's influence operations have evolved into softer tools of American power, President Trump has attempted to use outlets like Voice of America and Radio Liberty as propaganda tools, which has been met with resistance from Democrats and journalists. The American government's inability to agree on how to utilize its own media outlets has resulted in a lack of projection. Instead, companies like Netflix and Disney, which are more powerful and well-funded than government efforts, have taken on this role. Journalists worldwide have expressed doubt about the effectiveness of Chinese government propaganda, a sentiment shared by many, including myself, when faced with unread editions of China Daily. Propaganda that may work in China is struggling to compete in the competitive market for people's attention. Eric Oduor, the secretary-general of the Kenya Union of Journalists, noted that China's attempts to influence Kenyan media have not yet been successful. Some argue that even though journalists may dismiss certain content as amateurish or propaganda, it still has an impact. Erin Baggott Carter, an assistant professor of political science at the University of Southern California, discovered in her research that American news organizations changed their focus from military competition to economic cooperation after their journalists accepted official trips to China. When discussing Chinese influence with journalists from various countries, the focus was often on China's efforts to build influence and promote its own narrative, rather than on a global struggle between nations. This contrasts with the common American perspective, which tends to view everything through the lens of the US. The Western world, including Americans, often overlooks events in languages other than English and assumes that Western values are universal.