#375 That Time China Bought A Vancouver Newspaper

June 28, 2021

CANADALAND

As reports of Chinese government influence in Canadian media gain traction, South China Morning Post reporter Ian Young reveals an incredible tale from the past.

Jesse Brown

Host & Publisher

Tristan Capacchione

Audio Editor & Technical Producer

Almost 20 years ago, the PRC’s media company actually bought a Canadian newspaper. But all is not as it seemed, and media mogul Li Bolun may have had other plans besides propaganda. Sadly, he died in a Beijing jail cell following scandalous drug and fraud charges and cannot explain his side of the story. What’s left is a messy court battle and enduring concerns about who controls Chinese language media in Canada.

More from this series

#942 How Canada Became An International Joke

What is going on with Canada’s international relations? With all the recent stories about India and the Two Michaels time in China coming to the front again, reporter Sam Cooper helps break it all down.

December 4, 2023

Is Jesse a Zionist? (editorial)

Canadaland publisher Jesse Brown has been asked to stop talking about antisemitism.

November 29, 2023

#940 How Flacks Spin Hacks

Journalists report the news. They hear about a story, write it up, verify the facts, and then hit “publish”. Except for the times when they publish someone else’s story…

November 27, 2023

#938 Thunder Bay: Post-Mortem, Part 2

Nine sudden death cases of Indigenous people in Thunder Bay, Ontario were investigated so poorly that they had to be reinvestigated. But were they able to get it right this time?

November 20, 2023

#936 Thunder Bay: Post-Mortem, Part 1

For over five years, Canadaland has been investigating Thunder Bay, Ontario. Specifically, we have been trying to figure out why there were so many unanswered questions around the deaths of Indigenous people in this one Ontario town.

November 13, 2023

#934 The Aquanaut

It’s easy to imagine medical science and research being done from the safety of a lab with all the proper controls in place. But sometimes, it all starts with one person, going underwater, and exploring caves for unique and mysterious sea creatures.

November 6, 2023

The Newfoundlander: Chapter 1

While at a production of the hit Broadway musical Come From Away in 2019, reporter Justin Brake is confronted with an old story about his family’s history, a story that challenges his sense of identity. He decides to find out what was true in that story, and what was false.

October 30, 2023

#930 Alive At Ten

Canadaland’s official tenth anniversary celebration took place last Thursday at the Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema, as part of the Hot Docs Podcast Festival. Today we bring you a condensed version of that event. Featuring appearances from all of the Canadaland hosts you know and love. Oh, and Jan Wong interviews Jesse for once… wait for it.

October 23, 2023

All Podcasts

CANADALAND