Freedom of the press and humanity are the foundation of The Epoch Times.
The Epoch Times was born out of a great need to provide uncensored news to a people immersed in propaganda and censorship in China. Having witnessed events like the Tiananmen Square massacre and the persecution of the spiritual group Falun Gong, and at great risk to themselves and their loved ones, a group of Chinese Americans started publishing The Epoch Times in the Chinese language in the United States.
When we launched in 2000, we had reporters and editors in China; they were soon arrested, and some suffered severe torture. To this day, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has been relentless in its efforts to assault our operations and stop us from pursuing our mission—including by ransacking our offices, attacking our websites, and setting our printing press on fire in Hong Kong.
In English, our first edition was published online in 2003, followed by the first print edition in 2004. Our beginnings have instilled in Epoch Times staff an unwavering commitment to integrity, truthfulness in reporting, and respect for human rights and freedom.
The Epoch Times was founded by followers of Falun Gong from diverse backgrounds and perspectives. The Epoch Times is an independent nonprofit organization and does not—and indeed could not—speak on behalf of Falun Gong or the followers of the spiritual practice.
Falun Gong is a spiritual practice that emphasizes universal moral values such as truthfulness, compassion, and tolerance. Followers come from a variety of nationalities, backgrounds, and political persuasions.
As an independent media organization, The Epoch Times is free from the influence of any government, corporation, or political party. Our aim is to give you the information you need to make up your own mind.
We remain committed to our founding mission to expose the CCP’s human rights abuses in China and its ongoing campaign to subvert Western societies and fundamental freedoms and values. We regard the CCP as the gravest threat to the Chinese people, and the world’s people, and highlight in our reporting the distinction between the CCP and the people of China, as well as the nation’s profound cultural heritage.
Our motto of Truth, Tradition, Hope is our guiding light. We highlight in our reporting the best of humanity, valuable lessons from history, and traditions that benefit society.
The Epoch Times has received numerous awards for our reporting and design, including from the New York Press Association, the Society of Professional Journalists, and the Society for News Design.
