CPC urges stable circulation of Party papers

Key newspapers and magazines under the Communist Party of China (CPC) have been told to maintain their circulations amid an increasingly grim outlook for traditional media.

"Party organizations at all levels should attach great importance to the publishing of major Party papers and magazines... and take effective measures to ensure stable circulations," said a statement released after a Friday meeting on the work of Party publications for 2015.

Party committee principals were urged to strengthen guidance of Party media groups, and publicity, organization, post and other departments should join forces in retaining their circulations, the meeting was told.

While urging Party groups at all levels to take the lead in subscribing to a list of leading Party publications such as the People's Daily, the CPC's flagship paper, the statement stressed that no other publications should take advantage of the call to force subscriptions on groups or individuals.

In addition, Party publications were told to stick to "correct guidance on public opinions," go deep into the grassroots to uncover stories, promote "positive energy," and build up trust among readers with high-quality journalism.

Friday's call came only days after President Xi Jinping told the country's artists to create more works that are both artistically outstanding and morally inspiring, in order to serve the people and socialism and to present core socialist values.