Global questioners: examining journalists’ aggressiveness at Chinese premiers’ press conferences (1993–2015)

Abstract

This paper explores the different levels of aggressiveness in five dimensions exhibited by journalists with diverse global backgrounds at the press conferences of four Chinese premiers. Four attributes of the journalists’ home countries are examined: (1) power distance, (2) press freedom, (3) stage of development, and (4) frequency of questioning opportunities. The results show that journalists from countries with lower power distances tend to be more direct in their question designs than those with higher power distances; journalists with higher levels of press freedom tend to show more initiative, directness, assertiveness, and adversarialness than those with lower levels; journalists from developed countries are more direct, assertive, adversarial, and accountable than their counterparts; frequent questioners are more assertive, adversarial, and accountable than those infrequent. The theoretical and practical implications of journalists’ aggressive behaviors are discussed.