Chinese Investigative Journalists' Dreams

Investigative journalists form a very small but highly interesting subgroup amongst journalists in China. The study of this group can provide information not only about journalism but also about the limits and liberties which critical groups and networks have in an authoritarian state like China. Investigative journalists are therefore often mentioned when discussing journalism and critical debate in China, but so far it has been a challenge to find extensive and recent information on the size and individual variation within this group. The value of this edited volume is that it brings together a wealth of new, solid information on investigative journalists, mainly based on empirical work carried out by scholars both within and outside of China. . . .As indicated by the title, the book focuses on the values, experiences and ideas of investigative journalists themselves rather than on an analysis of their journalistic production. This does not only make the book a fascinating and entertaining read, it also leads to surprising insights in the tensions between what journalists want to achieve and what they can actually achieve in present-day China. . . .The book is clearly the work of people who are aware of the multilayered nature of Chinese society. It describes the complex interactions between journalists and the subjects of their investigation, their colleagues, their audiences, the media they work for, commercial entities and local, regional and national government bodies. Jingrong Tong, in her informative chapter on local investigative journalism, shows which regional and local conditions play a role in the flowering of investigative journalism in certain regions rather than others. * China Information *
Updated and insightful analyses of the politics and culture of investigative journalism in China, which provide a robust thermometer for assessing the trajectory of media practices---especially the prospect for the logjam of press control to be broken in a Communist-capitalist media system. -- Chin-Chuan Lee, City University of Hong Kong
This volume considerably expands our knowledge of investigative journalism and its practitioners in China, with original empirical work that sheds light on reporters' education and socialization, newsroom practices and strategies, journalists’ aspirations and frustrations, and a variety of other topics. Of particular note is the focus on illuminating regional and local variations along with national patterns and trends. -- Judy Polumbaum, University of Iowa