Abstract: The subject of this research is the problems of state control over media markets in the post-truth era, with an emphasis on how such control affects public perception and dissemination of information. The object of the study is based on the analysis of two case studies — the "Rat's Head or Duck's Neck" incident and the "Mathematical Genius Jiang Ping" incident. This study highlights the limitations imposed by government oversight on media diversity and pluralism in China. Applying the theory of media ownership, the theory of agenda formation, and the theory of the public sphere, the authors of the study show how state-controlled media limit the diversity of narratives, narrow the scope of public discourse, and shape public perception, ultimately influencing the reliability of information in the context of post-truth. The comprehensive approach in the study allows us to understand how the state controls information flows, the process of prioritization in the public consciousness and the formation of the public sphere in the context of post-truth in China. The research methodology is comprehensive, it includes: case study, data collection methods (statistical analysis and text analysis), application of theoretical foundations (theory of media ownership, theory of the public sphere, theory of agenda formation), comparative analysis. The novelty of this study is explained by the following factors: an integrated approach is applied, the research topic is relevant (a fresh look at the problem in the Chinese context), real-world case analysis, the insufficiency of the previous research base on this issue, the practical significance of the study (the conclusions of the study may be useful for politicians in China who seek to improve public confidence in the state media and make the system of state information and regulation more effective).

Abstract: The subject of this study is the era of smart media, which will have a significant impact on the news media ecosystem. It will lead to another industrial transformation and change in the news industry. The convergence of traditional and new media is made possible by 5G technology, cloud computing and big data technologies. The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the pace of media analytics, digitisation and platformisation. In addition, recent years have seen a surge in the development of artificial intelligence, which has been applied to various fields such as military, healthcare, retirement, etc. The development of ChatGPT has been an important signal of intelligent change in the media industry. The news media industry is undergoing a transformation that is already well underway. The research methodology is comprehensive and includes: descriptive method, comparative data analysis, statistical analysis and content analysis. The novelty of the research is the analysis of intellectual media paradigms in China and Russia. The nature of media interaction between the two countries, as well as the trajectory of global innovative technologies are investigated. Trends related to the development of digitalisation and AI in the following areas are described in detail: digitalisation of operations, news production, development of media platforms and AI technologies, and media content digitalisation processes. A prospective analysis is made of the need for international specialists with both humanitarian and technical competences. The digital and intellectual transformation of news media can take the cooperation between the two countries to a new historical level. In addition, media cooperation between China and Russia can help stabilise the world situation and provide a favourable ecological environment for international media.