The Platformization of Chinese Official Media

Abstract

This paper analyses the impact of platformization on Chinese official media, especially the market-oriented popular official media. A successful case of digital journalism, Newspaper X and its platformization strategy, X Platform, is analysed using qualitative approaches involving the walkthrough method and newsroom ethnography. The Chinese official media’s motivations, mechanics, and effectiveness to engage in platformization are then summarized. The empirical material suggests that Newspaper X has used a thoughtful ‘quasi-platformization’ approach, with a wall of separation between its own platform and the agency’s professional journalism, to minimize the negative economic and political consequences of their activities. We argue that the positive side of platformization is complementing the flexibility of news production for Chinese official media, including flexible adaptation to changes in the business and performance environment, and providing a more dynamic journalism culture.