I have heard there is a conflict in the Chinese news media about news censorship. I come from a western country. It got me thinking. We don't have so much censorship over here, I thought. But then I thought, maybe we do, and I just don't see it because this is where I live.

Over here our biggest news people and opinion-shapers are very well paid syndicated media personalities. They are part of the establishment, and what they say is not quite regarded as gospel truth, but it has a great influence on popular public opinion. The are news celebrities on the radio or in newspapers, and they are very well paid. And that made me think, maybe that is how the media is controlled: by having powerful media personalities who do not want to rock the boat.

This my question:

I don't know if China works like that. Do you have very highly paid "news media personalities" that help shape popular opinion too?

P.S. Genuine question. I am not trolling or trying to stir the pot.