#375 That Time China Bought A Vancouver Newspaper
  • Search
    • Sign up for our newsletter
    CANADALAND
    #375 That Time China Bought A Vancouver Newspaper
    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.

    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.

    Further Reading:

    Who Was Li Bolun? by Ian Young https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/long-reads/article/3103793/who-was-li-bolun-disgraced-citic-media-moguls

    Sponsors: Hover & Dispatch Coffee

    Additional music provided by The Audio Network

    June 28, 2021
    Share
    More from this series
    #698 Journalism Schools Are Revolting
    Ryerson University (aka X University) has a Journalism department in turmoil over student grievances. As similar reckonings sweep Canada's other J-Schools, Jesse sits down with departing Ryerson Prof Karyn Pugliese and former Undergraduate Director Lisa Taylor to discuss why they both left their posts. Then, reporter Cherise Seucharan talks to Ryerson alum Sarah Krichel and student Reah Singh, an organizer of the open letter that became national news.
    July 26, 2021
    #696 Are Taxis Finished?
    Travel Writer and Journalist, Marcello Di Cintio talks to Jesse about his one year journey around Canada, in search of the secret stories etched in the minds of Canadian taxi drivers.
    July 19, 2021
    #694 War On Porn
    Pornhub is a massive Canadian website that few talked about until the New York Times called it out for profiting from the exploitation of children and rape victims. Now government is rushing to regulate all online pornography. But the NY Times piece has its origins in an anti-porn crusade from an anti-gay, racist evangelic church. Sandra Wesley, executive director of the sex worker advocacy group Stella, says that bad laws will harm sex workers, and that the "moral panic" over porn could even kill them. 
    July 12, 2021
    #376 What Is Black Press, And Did Victoria Police Re-Write Its News Story?
    News stories are frequently updated, clarified or corrected online, after they've been published. But when there's no disclosure that a story has been changed, something's usually up. 
    July 5, 2021
    #375 That Time China Bought A Vancouver Newspaper
    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.
    June 28, 2021
    #374 “Pretendians” On Campus?
    Queen's University quickly rejected the findings of an anonymous report accusing six people associated with the school of misrepresenting their Indigenous identities. That prompt dismissal has raised questions about the non-status Ardoch Algonquin group, and the controversial academic from the U.S. who co-founded it.
    June 21, 2021
    #373 Another NXIVM Podcast
    "Coercive control" is how cults like NXIVM entrap followers and how abusive partners dominate their victims.
    June 14, 2021
    #372 The RCMP’s Portapique Narrative Is Falling Apart
    Frank Magazine publisher Andrew Douglas and reporter Paul Palango discuss their bombshell story, and what the RCMP may still be hiding about Gabriel Wortman.
    June 7, 2021
    all podcasts arrow All Podcasts
    CANADALAND