China needs to improve its image abroad, so the regime is now willing to invest no less than 6 billion dollars in Chinese media which target international audiences. There is talk of a Xinhua satellite channel and new English language newspaper editions. Expertise is needed and probably available in these difficult economic times:

Many English reporters in other Beijing-based media organisations said they had received “very competitive salary package” offers from the Global Times as the head-hunting campaign becomes more urgent, with some saying apartments were being offered as well as high salaries.