Guangming Daily
Established on June 16, 1949, Guangming Daily, also known as Enlightenment Daily, debuted as the official mouthpiece of the China Democratic League before coming under the aegis of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in 1982, later becoming an institution directly under the CCP Central Committee by 1994.
During the Cultural Revolution (1966–1976), Guangming Daily stood among the “three papers and one magazine” that continued publication, alongside People’s Daily, PLA Daily, and Red Flag, playing an outsized role in shaping the national discourse.
In the political storms of the late 1970s, the paper was central to ideological shifts—publishing, most notably, the 1978 editorial “Practice is the Sole Criterion for Testing Truth”, which helped propel Deng Xiaoping’s reformist agenda.
Media assets
Publishing: Guangming Daily
State Media Matrix Typology
Ownership and governance
Guangming Daily operates under the Publicity Department of the CCP Central Committee—a ministerial-level body responsible for shaping ideology, overseeing media content, and enforcing obedience to party doctrine. . It ranks administratively just below outlets like People’s Daily and China Daily, and its leadership—including publisher and editor—are appointed by this department.
Since May 2021, Wang Huimin has served as the president and editor-in-chief of Guangming Daily. He also sits on the 20th Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and was a representative at the 20th Party Congress.
Source of funding and budget
While the paper strives for greater self‑sufficiency through advertising and broader content, it remains largely reliant on government funding. Circulation peaked around 1.5 million in 1987, shrinking to 800,000 by 1993 as media diversification took root. In response, Guangming Daily deliberately dialed down overt political messaging and broadened coverage in culture, science, and education, appealing more to intellectual circles, academic institutions, and official agencies.
By the early 2010s, daily print circulation further waned (to about 490,000) though digital reach remained noteworthy, especially via GMW.cn, launched in 1998, which by 2019 reportedly drew around 180 million daily page views and 35 million unique visitors. According to a September 2024 briefing, Guangming Daily has continued to lose traction among readers. To stave off further declines, it has doubled down on expanding cultural and scientific content. Yet today’s print circulation remains a shadow of its past heyday.
Editorial independence
Guangming Daily is regarded as a propaganda outlet that frequently disseminates the perspectives of the government. Despite a reduction in political coverage in recent years, the newspaper’s editorial line remains subject to strict government and Communist Party control. In its published material, Guangming Daily explicitly advocates for governmental control over the dissemination of information within China.
There is no legislation in place, nor is there an independent assessment or oversight mechanism, to validate the editorial independence of Guangming Daily.
August 2025