Economic Daily
The Economic Daily traces its origins to the early 1980s, emerging as the successor to the China Financial and Trade Post. It officially began publication on January 1, 1983 under the auspices of the State Council.
Media assets
Publishing: Economic Daily, China Flower & Gardening News, Spotlight Times, China Fashion News, Securities Daily, China Building Materials News, China Fashion Weekly, China Entrepreneur (bimonthly), China Economic Information (bimonthly), Economy (monthly), China Textile News
State Media Matrix Typology
Ownership and governance
As of mid‑2025, the Economic Daily remains firmly under the control of the Chinese Communist Party. It is owned and closely managed by the Central Propaganda Department of the Party, with its publishing arm, Economic Daily Press, operating at the deputy‑ministerial level.
Source of funding and budget
While comprehensive financial transparency remains elusive, interviews with local experts and journalists in March 2024 confirm that the Economic Daily relies primarily on advertising revenue. Government funding still plays a pivotal role, accounting for over half of its budget. No official breakdown of revenue or funding sources has been made public.
Editorial independence
Editorial policy is tightly reinscribed by the Communist Party Central Committee, which maintains a heavy hand in shaping content and messaging. There are currently no independent oversight mechanisms or legislation to safeguard journalistic autonomy, leaving editorial independence effectively off the table.
August 2025