Hugo de Burgh's research while affiliated with Goldsmiths, University of London and other places

Over the last 10 years a genre of critical, abrasive journalism has emerged in China, particularly on television. Chinese journalists like to refer to it as ‘investigative journalism’ and, in doing so, they are consciously likening it to the Anglophone equivalent. This article examines how Chinese journalists describe their work. It also looks at the various possible explanations offered for the emergence and popularity of the genre: as an epiphenomenon of government reforms of the institutional and financing systems of the media; as a function of the irritation felt by professionals with past practices and the unsatisfied urge to participate of many Chinese citizens; because of the social roles ascribed to journalists both by themselves and by the citizenry; a response to new ideas from abroad, or ‘westernization’. It is concluded that, while many topics and techniques of investigative journalism are analogous with those of Anglophone countries, the Chinese journalists appear to be striving to realize roles traditional to Chinese culture rather than adopting foreign models. The notion that the re-emergence of investigative journalism is an instance of ‘westernization’ is rejected.

This article argues that journalism can be taught as, and should be regarded as, a serious academic discipline and not simply a vocational training. Trends in society and polity place new responsibilities on, and require a better education of journalists. They must be equipped to make essential contributions as analysts and brokers of information. Journalism education has aspects specific to it: the particular balance of academic, applied and occupational learning; simulations of real working experience and engagement with the world; the conformity to professional standards of behaviour; the involvement with local communities; the application of the competency concept in assessment criteria; the high degree of transferability of skills, particularly research and composition skills. This combination can make for stimulating courses which provide a useful base for many types of work in later life and which compare favourably with other social science and humanities disciplines.

This paper examines Chinese regional television news packages to establish what congruence there might be between the declared beliefs of the reporters about their work, and the reports they produce each day. Chinese television reporters from Hangzhou were interviewed and their news product examined across a month long sample. Interviews conducted with Chinese journalists revealed that they see themselves as scrutinising government, representing the people to the government and vice versa. Examination of their news product, however, suggests that they are mere transmitters of the political line of the government and of the cultural prejudices of their masters. In being so contradictory they reflect an ambivalence in Chinese society as a whole, where market individualism coexists with political authoritarianism. Chinese journalists believe they have social responsibilities which, to an outside observer, they cannot fulfil while making news. Examining their product in the light of their declarations illustrates the considerable gulf that separates their aspirations from their practices.