Publicity Department of the Chinese Communist Party

The Publicity Department of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party, also known as the Propaganda Department or Central Propaganda Department, is an internal division of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in charge of spreading official ideology and propaganda as well as media guidance and censorship.

The department was established by the CCP in May 1924, structured using its counterpart in the Soviet Union as a model. In 1941, the department was put in charge of leading and reviewing newspapers and magazines. It became responsible for implementing CCP policies in literary and artistic work and news work in 1943. After the establishment of the People's Republic of China in 1949, the department had an increased role in activities related to mass organizations such as trade unions, artists' associations, and party branches. The department was abolished shortly after the Cultural Revolution, with its powers transferred to the Cultural Revolution Group. In October 1977, after the end of the Cultural Revolution, the department was re-established. In 2018, the powers of the department were expanded, with the newly created National Radio and Television Administration put under its control as part of the "deepening the reform of the Party and state institutions."

The department exercises direct leadership over the media control system, and is one of the main entities that enforces media censorship and control in the People's Republic of China. The department also engages in propaganda work for both domestic and foreign audiences designed to increase support for the CCP, and is also responsible for researching, devising, and disseminating the ideology of the CCP. Additionally, the department monitors and researches public opinion about public support for CCP policies. Its inner operations are highly secretive.