This paper argues that XinwenLianbo, a CCTV news program, is still more a program of propaganda rather than of journalism by employing the ritual view of communication. Firstly, we clarify the several important revisions of XinwenLianbo; then the news program is analyzed as a symbolic system made up of editing order, verbal symbols, picture symbols, and anchors, constructing audience’s understanding, imagining of themselves and the nation-state. Although XinwenLianbo seems to be more “news” rather than “propaganda” with the several revisions, its function as political ritual will be strengthened with its position fixed and new media burgeoning.