The Epoch Times Objects to False Claims Other Media Made About It

In 2019, the media companies NBC News and MSNBC published reports regarding the newspaper The Epoch Times. The Epoch Times pointed out that these reports were inaccurate and repeated false propaganda from the Chinese Communist Party in an attempt to discredit The Epoch Times.

“Seeing the success of The Epoch Times as America’s fastest-growing newspaper, NBC News has published a hit piece that is riddled with inaccuracies, blatant errors, and misrepresentations,” an Epoch Times statement reported.

The Epoch Times explained that these inaccuracies include mixing Epoch Times reporting with content from an entertainment show that focuses on conspiracy theories, misrepresenting Epoch Times subscription advertisements, and even attacking the personal beliefs of Epoch Times staff.

“The most disturbing part of the coverage by [MSNBC] and NBC News is their deliberate effort to attack a group of religious believers currently persecuted in China,” The Epoch Times stated. “This comes at a time when tens of millions in China still don’t have religious freedom and face arrest, illegal incarceration in labor camps, torture, and even forced organ harvesting, for practicing their beliefs.”

In 1999, the Chinese Communist Party began to persecute the spiritual discipline Falun Gong, fearing its enormous popularity in China.

Falun Gong is a peaceful practice that involves doing meditative exercises and living according to the principles of truthfulness, compassion, and tolerance. Despite this, the Chinese communist regime has illegally arrested and killed many practitioners of Falun Gong for their beliefs.

The regime has also spread false propaganda about Falun Gong—especially in China, but also in other countries—in an attempt to justify the persecution.

The Epoch Times explains: “The Epoch Times was originally founded by Chinese Americans who had fled communism. In America, they saw the opportunity to create an independent media that would benefit people around the world.

“The founders of The Epoch Times believed in truthfulness, compassion, and tolerance, the principles of Falun Gong. This is a fact that we have never shied away from. And it is exactly this commitment to truth that can be seen in our reporting. That said, The Epoch Times is an independently owned media and not owned or operated by Falun Gong, as we clarified in our statement to NBC News.”

The Epoch Times learned that Facebook had blocked its ability to advertise print subscriptions.

“This appears to be a response to NBC News’ reporting on us,” The Epoch Times stated.

For the complete statements by The Epoch Times regarding this issue, see the sources below.

Sources:

https://www.theepochtimes.com/nbc-news-repeats-chinese-communist-party-propaganda-in-hit-piece-on-the-epoch-times_3049047.html

https://www.theepochtimes.com/why-nbc-msnbcs-reporting-on-the-epoch-times-is-textbook-fake-news_3051327.html

https://www.theepochtimes.com/epoch-times-statement-in-response-to-nbc-facebook-stories_3053492.html