During the 2003 SARS outbreak , Xinhua was slow to release reports of the incident to the public . However , its reporting in the aftermath of the 2008 Sichuan earthquake was seen as more transparent and credible as Xinhua journalists operated more freely . After the Beijing Television Cultural Center fire , cognizant of Xinhua 's " tardy " reporting in contrast to bloggers , China announced the investment of 20 billion yuan to Xinhua . The vice president of the China International Publishing Group commented on this , saying that quantity of media exposure would not necessarily help perceptions of China . Rather , he said , media should focus on emphasizing Chinese culture and the Chinese way of life " to convey the message that China is a friend , not an enemy "
2008 Sichuan earthquake
2008 Sichuan earthquake
Xinhua News Agency