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Paper short abstract

This paper juxtaposes how Dagong Bao (大公报) shaped its political reporting in response to the Japanese invasion of Manchuria (today’s Northeast China) from 1931 to early 1932. I argue that the Manchurian Incident marked beginning of Chinese newspapers' politicization and cooperation with the state.

Paper long abstract

This paper juxtaposes how Dagong Bao (大公报) shaped its political reporting in response to the Japanese invasion of Manchuria (today’s Northeast China) from 1931 to early 1932. In particular, I compare Dagong Bao’s political stance with those of Shen Bao (申报) and Central Daily (中央日报) to demonstrate the strategies it employs to adapt to the challenges posed by uncertain nationalist sentiment and the unpredictable political situation in China. This paper challenges the assumption made by some earlier studies that Dagong Bao editors’ moral and cultural commitments shape the newspaper’s political stance. I argue that Dagong Bao's political opinion was carefully crafted by a limited group of editors to serve the newspaper’s practical interests in coping with state censorship, avoiding reputational setbacks, and expanding its popularity and circulation. I also intend to demonstrate that the Manchurian Incident, along with a few subsequent political events, marked the beginning of Chinese newspapers’ turn toward politicization and cooperation with the state, a change that would have a profound impact on Chinese journalists’ self-identity throughout the twentieth century.