Chinese investigative journalists’ dreams: autonomy, agency, and voice

Abstract

When I was a junior journalist many years ago in Beijing, a veteran American journalist and Fulbright scholar came to our newsroom and held a seminar on journalism. ‘Compared to other professions, journalism is more exciting,’ he said. He also said that we, as Chinese journalists, are living in an exciting time because China is a transitional society with so many social problems that we can and we should cover. Today China’s media environment has undergone dramatic changes driven by political, economic, and technological factors. Many journalists have left the profession due to their frustration and disappointment with the tightened censorship and/or the influence of the new media. Those who remain in the profession still uphold the journalistic ideals and explore ways to adapt to the new environment.