The procedure for establishing a newspaper requires the sponsoring authority (at or above a vice-ministerial level) of the newspaper to submit a written application to the Shanghai Municipal Press and Publication Bureau. If the newspaper is sponsored by two or more parties, then one supervising authority or department should be selected to submit the written application.

After the application is approved by the Shanghai Municipal Press and Publication Bureau, the applicant should fill out the "Application Form for the Establishment of Newspapers" and submit the form to the General Administration of Press and Publications for final approval.

Applicants should have:

(1) A name and articles of association;

(2) a supervising authority or department designated by the administrative departments of the State Council;

(3) a clearly-defined business scope;

(4) over RMB 300,000 of registered capital and a fixed business venue;

(5) an structured organization for business and competent staff with relevant qualifications, and

(6) they should meet the requirements of the law and other regulations.

During the approval of such applications, the overall number, structure and layout of publishing enterprises should also be considered.

The following documents should be submitted by the applicant to the Shanghai Municipal Press and Publication Bureau:

(1) A written application, indicating:

(i) The reason for the establishment of the newspaper, principle and major field of content;

(ii) the supervising authority;

(iii) the name, publishing frequency, size, pages and scope and means of publishing;

(iv) the name, CV, title and qualifications of the major responsible person, with the basic organizational structure of the periodical.

(v) the office venue and printing venue of the magazine (office venue should be the same as for the supervising authority); and

(vi) the source and amount of financing.

If the above-mentioned six items are incomplete or untrue, approval will not be granted.

(2) The name, address and other documents of the supervising authority of the applicant;

(3) the name, address and qualifications of the legal representative and major responsible staff;

(4) the source and amount of financing;

(5) the articles of association of the applicant;

(6) a feasibility study report from the applicant;

(7) the proof of use of a work venue, and

(8) the "Application Form for the Establishment of Newspapers (Including for Major Changes to the Newspaper)".