Chinese Media Reveals Political Red Lines

Government control over the media can, in a somewhat counter-intuitive manner, provide a glimpse into the minds of China’s top leaders. A careful examination of Chinese media can help reveal the “red lines” of political discussion. Analysis of which topics are censored can provide insights into the political fears and hopes of China’s rulers. Meanwhile, commercial and official media outlets have been forced by the realities of the digital age to cover some controversial stories, which in previous decades may have been taboo.