2016/05/04 by Margaret Simons, David Nolan, Scott Wright · 1 citation
Social Sciences · #Media Studies and Communication #Asian Culture and Media Studies #China's Socioeconomic Reforms and Governance #Journalism #Professionalization #Sociology #Politics #Legitimacy #China #Autonomy #Normative #Public relations #Ideal (ethics) #Political science #Public service #Media studies #Social science #Law
paper · doi:10.1177/0163443716643154
openalex publication_date 2016/05/04 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/30
This article draws on an empirical analysis of the testimonies of Chinese journalists to (re)consider the nature of professionalism in contemporary Chinese journalism. We draw on earlier work by a number of scholars to develop an analysis of the testimonies in order to trace both how professionalism is shaped by cultural, social, organizational, institutional and political influences, and how these work to shape everyday journalistic practices and outputs. We conclude that professionalization is best understood not as a shift towards an ideal version of autonomous, public service–oriented journalism, but instead as a process informed by diverse and somewhat contradictory influences, including many that are internal to China as well as some that are near universal. Not only are journalists clearly concerned to be distinguished from ‘propagandists’, but editors also engage in tactical practices and organizational strategies that allow a meaningful autonomy from the state. These are not only influenced by conflicting normative discourses of journalism but have also become both a necessity for establishing the legitimacy of individual journalists and news institutions and to facilitate their viability in highly competitive news markets.