Sixth Tone is a Chinese state-owned English-language online magazine published by Shanghai United Media Group.[1]
Name
Sixth Tone 's name relates to the number of tones in Mandarin Chinese, but also is stated to carry more metaphorical meaning as well. Mandarin Chinese has four active tones and a fifth dropped tone that has less prominence than the other four. Because of the language's five tones, the publication's name refers to an ideal of expanding beyond traditionally-reported items in Anglophone media, making it the "sixth tone".[2]
History
The online magazine began publication on April 6, 2016, with an investment of US$4.5 million from the Shanghai United Media Group.[1]