{{Short description|Chinese Communist Party daily newspaper}} {{For|the Malaysian newspaper|Guang Ming Daily (Malaysia){{!}}''Guang Ming Daily'' (Malaysia)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2026}} {{Infobox newspaper | name = Guangming Daily | logo = Guangming logo.png | image = 光明日報創刊號.jpg | caption = Front page of the first issue on 16 June 1949 | type = Daily newspaper | format = Broadsheet | founded = {{start date and age|df=y|1949|06|16}} | language = Chinese | owners = Chinese Communist Party (1982–present)<br />China Democratic League (1949–1982) | publisher = Guangming Daily Press | headquarters = Beijing | editor = | ISSN = 1002-3666 | website = {{Official URL}} | circulation = | political_position = Chinese Communist Party | module = {{Infobox Chinese | child = yes | order = st | s = 光明日报 | t = 光明日報 | p = Guāngmíng Rìbào | w = Kuang-ming Jih-pao }} }}
thumb|265x265px|Headquarters of ''Guangming Daily'' in 2024 The '''''Guangming Daily''''', also known as the '''''Enlightenment Daily''''',<ref name="FairbankTwitchett1978">{{cite book |editor1=John King Fairbank |editor-link=John King Fairbank |editor2=Denis Crispin Twitchett |editor2-link=Denis Crispin Twitchett |title=The Cambridge History of China: Volume 14 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ioppEjkCkeEC&pg=PA693|year=1978|publisher=Cambridge University Press|isbn=978-0-521-24336-0 |page=693}}</ref> is a national Chinese-language daily newspaper published in the People's Republic of China. It was established in 1949 as the official paper of the China Democratic League. Starting from 1982, it was run by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), and was officially reorganized directly under the Central Publicity Department of the CCP from 1994.<ref name="official history">{{cite web|url=http://www.gmw.cn/content/2011-06/03/content_2046291.htm|title=传播光明的使者─光明日报报业集团简介|author=|publisher=|access-date=2011-08-12|archive-date=2011-08-11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110811210747/http://www.gmw.cn/content/2011-06/03/content_2046291.htm|url-status=live|website=Guangming Daily|trans-title=Messenger of Light─Introduction to Guangming Daily Press Group|language=zh}}</ref> As one of China's "big three" newspapers during the Cultural Revolution, it played an important role in the political struggle between Hua Guofeng and the Gang of Four in 1976 and between Hua and Deng Xiaoping in 1978.
==History== The ''Guangming Daily'', then romanized as '''''Kuangming''''', was launched on 16 June 1949 in Beijing. It was originally the official newspaper of the China Democratic League, but later became the Chinese Communist Party's official organ for China's educated elite.<ref name="Zhao1998">{{cite book |last=Zhao |first=Yuezhi |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hHkza3TX-LIC&pg=PA17 |title=Media, Market, and Democracy in China: Between the Party Line and the Bottom Line |publisher=University of Illinois Press |year=1998 |isbn=978-0-252-06678-8 |pages=17–18}}</ref>
In 1955, ''Guangming Daily'' became the first newspaper in China to fully switch to the left-to-right horizontal text format.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Li |first=Ying |title=Red Ink: A History of Printing and Politics in China |publisher=Royal Collins Press |year=2024 |isbn=9781487812737}}</ref>{{Rp|page=29}}
During the Cultural Revolution (1966–1976), ''Guangming Daily'' was one of the only three national newspapers that remained in circulation, together with the ''People's Daily'' and the ''People's Liberation Army Daily'', and the sole magazine ''Red Flag''. The four periodicals, known as "the three papers and one magazine", dominated China's public affairs. For safety reasons, regional newspapers and specialist magazines all took cues from the big four, and largely reprinted articles from them.<ref name="Cheek2016">{{cite book |first = Timothy |last = Cheek |title=The Intellectual in Modern Chinese History |url = https://books.google.com/books?id=qbAkCwAAQBAJ&pg=PA183 |date=7 January 2016 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |isbn=978-1-107-02141-9 |page=183 }}</ref>
Before the death of Mao Zedong, the paper fell under the control of the radical left-lean Gang of Four led by Mao's widow Jiang Qing. In October 1976, Vice Premier Ji Dengkui played a significant role in taking over the ''Guangming Daily'', helping Mao's successor Hua Guofeng oust the Gang of Four and put an end to the Cultural Revolution.<ref name="Song2013">{{cite book |first=Yuwu |last = Song |title=Biographical Dictionary of the People's Republic of China |url = https://books.google.com/books?id=PnsjAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA148 |date=8 July 2013 |publisher=McFarland |isbn=978-0-7864-3582-1 |pages=148–}}</ref>
In 1978, the reformist CCP leader Hu Yaobang appointed Yang Xiguang, formerly with Shanghai's ''Jiefang Daily'', chief editor of the ''Guangming Daily''. Under Yang's editorship, ''Guangming'' was the first Chinese newspaper to stop publishing Chairman Mao's Quotations on the front page every day.<ref name="ifeng">{{cite news |date=24 February 2010 |title= |script-title=zh:光明日报: 第一个取掉报眼上的毛主席语录 |url=http://news.ifeng.com/history/zhongguoxiandaishi/detail_2010_02/24/353441_0.shtml |work=Phoenix Television |publisher= |language=zh |access-date=18 April 2017 |archive-date=2 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190702050506/http://news.ifeng.com/history/zhongguoxiandaishi/detail_2010_02/24/353441_0.shtml |url-status=live }}</ref> On 11 May 1978, it published Hu Fuming's famous editorial "Practice is the Sole Criterion for Testing Truth", refuting Hua Guofeng's Two Whatevers theory in support of Deng Xiaoping's Reform and Opening policy. The article was quickly reprinted in almost all major Chinese newspapers, cementing support for Deng's victory over Hua.<ref name="ifeng" /><ref>{{cite news |last=Zeng |first=Tao |title= |script-title=zh:关于真理标准问题的讨论 |url=http://www.people.com.cn/item/20years/newfiles/a1010.html |access-date=12 July 2017 |work=People's Daily |language=zh |archive-date=19 April 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170419101321/http://www.people.com.cn/item/20years/newfiles/a1010.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>
In November 1982, the newspaper was designated as under the control of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party.<ref name="official history" /> In August 1984, it was restructured to be under the direct control of the Central Publicity Department of the Chinese Communist Party.<ref name="official history"/><ref>{{Cite web |last=Bandurski |first=David |date=2024-05-07 |title=China's Mouthpieces Go Quiet |url=https://chinamediaproject.org/2024/05/07/mouthpieces-go-quiet/ |access-date=2024-05-07 |website=China Media Project |language=en-US |archive-date=7 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240507221228/https://chinamediaproject.org/2024/05/07/mouthpieces-go-quiet/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
In 1998, ''Guangming Daily'' launched its official website, which was one of the earliest news websites in China.<ref>{{cite web |date=31 August 2012 |title=About GMW.cn |url=http://en.gmw.cn/2012-08/31/content_4945905.htm |publisher=Guangming Online |access-date=13 July 2017 |archive-date=7 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190507032107/http://en.gmw.cn/2012-08/31/content_4945905.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref>
Two ''Guangming Daily'' journalists, Xu Xinghu ({{lang|zh|许杏虎}}) and his wife Zhu Ying ({{lang|zh|朱颖}}), were killed on the night of 7 May 1999 in the United States bombing of the Chinese embassy in Belgrade during the NATO bombing of Yugoslavia.<ref name="bbc-20190507">{{cite news |last1=Ponniah |first1=Kevin |last2=Marinkovic |first2=Lazara |date=7 May 2019 |title=The night the US bombed Chinese embassy |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-48134881 |access-date=7 May 2019 |work=BBC News |archive-date=30 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200330123020/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-48134881 |url-status=live }}</ref>
In March 2018, ''Guangming Daily'' won the Third National Top 100 Newspapers in China.<ref name="o044">{{cite web | title=第三届全国"百强报刊"公布 这份名单是怎么产生的 | website=People's Daily | date=2018-03-06 | url=http://media.people.com.cn/n1/2018/0306/c40606-29850971.html | language=zh | access-date=2025-02-06 | archive-date=24 March 2025 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250324150058/http://media.people.com.cn/n1/2018/0306/c40606-29850971.html | url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="f915">{{cite web | title=第三届全国"百强报刊" 推荐结果出炉 | website=Xinhua | url=http://www.xinhuanet.com/zgjx/2018-03/05/c_137016743.htm | language=zh | access-date=2025-02-06 | archive-date=24 March 2025 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250324153735/http://www.xinhuanet.com/zgjx/2018-03/05/c_137016743.htm | url-status=live }}</ref>
The ''Guangming Daily'' has been documented to have been used as cover by Ministry of State Security (MSS) officers posing as journalists overseas.<ref name=":22">{{Cite book |last=Joske |first=Alex |title=Spies and Lies: How China's Greatest Covert Operations Fooled the World |title-link=Spies and Lies (Joske book) |date=2022 |publisher=Hardie Grant Books |isbn=978-1-74358-900-7 |pages=121 |oclc=1347020692 |author-link=Alex Joske}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=McKenzie |first=Nick |date=2024-03-03 |title=China revealed as country behind spy chief's unnamed 'A-Team' |url=https://www.smh.com.au/national/china-revealed-as-country-behind-spy-chief-s-unnamed-a-team-20240303-p5f9cr.html |access-date=2024-03-04 |website=The Sydney Morning Herald |language=en |quote=Former defence official Paul Monk confirmed to this masthead that, in 1995, ASIO warned him that the same Chinese journalist– who introduced himself to Monk as a Guangming Daily newspaper reporter while Monk worked at the Defence Intelligence Organisation – was an MSS operative stationed in Australia. |archive-date=3 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240303230816/https://www.smh.com.au/national/china-revealed-as-country-behind-spy-chief-s-unnamed-a-team-20240303-p5f9cr.html |url-status=live }}</ref> In January 2026, Czech authorities arrested the Prague correspondent for ''Guangming Daily'' on suspicion of espionage.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Vaughan |first=Hannah |date=2026-01-23 |title=Czech police detains man suspected of working for Chinese intelligence |url=https://english.radio.cz/czech-police-detains-man-suspected-working-chinese-intelligence-8875519 |access-date=2026-02-08 |website=Radio Prague International |language=en |archive-date=3 February 2026 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260203043002/https://english.radio.cz/czech-police-detains-man-suspected-working-chinese-intelligence-8875519 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Bandurski |first=David |last2=Parete |first2=Dalia |last3=Chiu |first3=Mark |date=2026-02-06 |title=Journalists and Spies |url=https://lingua-sinica.org/journalists-and-spies/ |access-date=2026-02-08 |website=Lingua Sinica |language=en-US}}</ref>
==Circulation and content== ''Guangming Daily''{{'s}} circulation reached 1.5 million in 1987, but as independent publications flourished during the Reform and Opening era, it dropped to 800,000 in 1993.<ref name="Zhao1998"/>{{rp|167}} To survive in the market, it reduced political coverage and propaganda, and increased its coverage on culture and science.<ref name="Zhao1998"/>{{rp|167}} ''Guangming Daily'' is considered to be a less political newspaper, and today focuses mostly on cultural, educational and scientific content.<ref name=":222">{{Cite web |title=Decoding Chinese Politics: Party Center |url=https://asiasociety.org/policy-institute/decoding-chinese-politics?policy=party-center&group=organizations&size=rank&connection=personal |access-date=11 October 2024 |website=Asia Society |archive-date=11 February 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250211211905/https://asiasociety.org/policy-institute/decoding-chinese-politics?policy=party-center&group=organizations&size=rank&connection=personal |url-status=live }}</ref>
== Organization == ''Guangming Daily'' is published by Guangming Daily Press, a deputy-ministerial-level institution.<ref name=":222" />
In 2003, ''Guangming Daily'' partnered with the Nanfang Media Group (publisher of the highly successful ''Southern Weekly'') to jointly publish ''The Beijing News'', which quickly became one of Beijing's most influential newspapers.<ref name="Hassid2015">{{cite book |author=Jonathan Hassid |title=China's Unruly Journalists: How Committed Professionals are Changing the People's Republic |date=2016 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-315-66611-2 |page=113 |chapter=Beyond pushback |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JqdACwAAQBAJ&pg=PA113}}</ref>
== Notable people ==
* Dong Yuyu<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |last=Wang |first=Vivian |date=2023-04-24 |title=China Accuses a Liberal Columnist of Espionage |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/24/world/asia/china-journalist-dong-yuyu.html |access-date=2023-04-24 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=24 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230424142541/https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/24/world/asia/china-journalist-dong-yuyu.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite news |title=Prominent Chinese journalist faces espionage charges |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/04/24/dong-yuyu-china-journalist-arrested/ |access-date=2023-04-24 |newspaper=The Washington Post |language=en-US |issn=0190-8286 |archive-date=23 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230823203429/https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/04/24/dong-yuyu-china-journalist-arrested/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
== External links == *{{Official website}}
{{Central Committee of the Communist Party of China}}{{Major central news organizations}}
Category:Guangming Daily Category:1949 establishments in China Category:Newspapers published in Beijing Category:Newspapers established in 1949 Category:Chinese Communist Party newspapers Category:Daily newspapers published in China Category:Publicity Department of the Chinese Communist Party