Semafor revealed its partnership with the China Center for Globalization (CCG), a Chinese think tank whose founder, Wang Huiyao, is connected to China’s United Front Work Department (UFWD). The new collaboration of Semafor with the Chinese think institution allegedly linked it to Beijing’s Communist party.
The recently founded news website announced an ambitious new endeavor with China Center for Globalization that will provide the latest platform for global corporate leaders seeking a way forward, despite the economic hostilities between China and US.
According to Semafor, two China and Global Business, events will be held as part of the collaboration. The first will be in New York City in June, while the second will be in Beijing in October. The news outlet will have complete editorial freedom and financial control over these events.
The media outlet has denied the allegation that it is an organ of the Communist Party of China and the Chinese government on its website.
The director of the CCG, Wang Huiyao, who the FBI believes specializes in stealing US trade secrets, is a member of the advisory board of Semafor’s new project.
The chairman of the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce, which describes itself as a mass organization and chamber of commerce led by the Communist Party of China, is also a member of the advisory board.
Other members include former Chinese Minister Chen Deming, former Chinese ambassador and supporter of the Uyghur genocide Cui Tiankai, and Chen Deming.
Want to know more about the newly established news website? Here’s everything you need to know about Semafor.
Semafor: Bio
Semafor is the latest new website founded by the former editor-in-chief of BuzzFeed News and a media columnist for The New York Times, Ben Smith, and the former CEO of Bloomberg Media Group, Justin B. Smith. It was established in 2022 with Justin B. Smith as the CEO.
The name of the website derives from the Ancient Greek word semaphore. It is defined as a visual signaling apparatus that uses flags, lights, and arm movements.
The news outlet provides the audience with unparalleled Journalistic transparency through creative new formats, cutting through the clutter of the news cycle with insightful, condensed viewpoints and examining opposing points of view from around the world.
Semafor: History
Ben Smith announced that he would depart The New York Times in early January 2022 to launch a worldwide news operation targeting 200 million college-educated English readers. Ben Smith would serve as the chief editor of the new business, while Justin B. Smith would oversee the business side.
According to Semafor, it will break the news and replace complex news reports. A new organization that would reimagine great global media outlined Justin Smith in a message he sent to his close associates.
It intends for an English-speaking college-educated professional class that has lost faith in all sources of news and information.
Ben Smith and Justin B. Smith launched the new media outlet on October 18, 2022.
Semafor: Key People
The leadership of Semafor comes under its founder, Ben Smith, and Justin B. Smith.
Justin B. Smith serves as the co-founder and Chief executive officer at Semafor since its beginning in 2022. He is the former CEO of Bloomberg Media. Justin started Quartz while serving as president of Atlantic Media, where he was in charge of the revival of The Atlantic.
Before joining the Atlantic, Justin headed the worldwide corporate strategy at The Economist Group and served as president of The Week. he co-founded Breaking Media and has been a member of the Council on Foreign Relations for his whole life.
Ben Smith, the co-founder of Semafor serves as its editor-in-chief. Ben was a former New York Times media columnist. He served as BuzzFeed News’ initial editor-in-chief in the past.
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Ben has been writing about American politics for more than ten years for publications such as Politico and the New York Daily News. He also started several political blogs.
Semfaor was launched in 2022 with Gina Chua as the executive editor. Other staff writers of the website include David Wegel and Reed Albergotti, both formerly of the Washington Post Liz Hoffmann, former staff at Wall Street Journal Steve Clemons, Gina Chon, Alexi Akwagyiram, Yinka Adegoke, and Prashant Rao.
Semafor: Investors
The Atlantic magazine co-owner David G. Bradley and Journalist Jessica Lessin were among the company’s first investors, contributing around $25 million before the company officially launched.
The founder of the now-defunct cryptocurrency exchange FTX, Sam Bankman-Fried, was the largest investor with a $10 million investment. Semafor declared to sell his stock after Bankman-Fried was arrested on alleged fraud and said neither he nor any other investors had any control over journalist coverage or business operations.
Other investors of Semafor include John Thornton, an American businessman and professor, and the Brazilian banker Jorge Paulo Lemann.
According to reports, in January 2023, Semafor accepted sponsorship from Alibaba Group. Semafor and the Center for China and Globalization partnered in February 2023.
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