China ink : the changing face of Chinese journalism / Judy Polumbaum with Xiong Lei ; illustrations by Margaret Kearney ; foreword by Aryeh Neier ; afterword by Christopher Merrill.

Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

This lively book explores individual and societal changes in contemporary China through the compelling personal accounts of young Chinese journalists. China's media are central to public life in the most populous nation on earth, and have also become increasingly relevant to communication and understanding on a global scale. Through a series of engaging oral histories, Judy Polumbaum puts a human face on vital political and philosophical issues of freedom of expression and information that will shape China's future. The author's extended and frank conversations with journalists from a range of news outlets reveal diversity, passion, humor, and optimism that belie the stereotype of journalists as cogs in a rigidly controlled machine. Neither dissidents nor paragons but rather people working day in and day out within China's existing and evolving media, these talented and ambitious reporters open new windows to understanding Chinese journalism and intellectual life. Some of their tales could happen only in China; others will resonate with readers everywhere. As the first book to explore experiences and ideas of everyday journalists who are helping to shape their rapidly changing country, this unique and timely work will appeal to all those interested in China's dynamic society.

Reviews provided by Syndetics

Publishers Weekly Review

Journalism professor and former newspaper reporter Polumbaum looks at the metamorphosis of Chinese media over the past few decades through the voices of 20 Beijing journalists, many of whom began careers in the shadow of the 1989 Tiananmen Square demonstrations. Despite popular presumption, Polumbaum claims that Chinese media is not a "controlled, mechanistic system" populated by party loyalists; even in its Communist Party establishment papers, it's a diverse and evolving industry populated by dedicated professionals. Not only are the journalists included here highly ethical and aware, they're also largely upbeat. All are well educated 20-to-40-year-olds working at government and commercial organizations, and though readers may miss dissident voices, Polumbaum's subjects are open and persuasive, and each oral history has charm and detail to spare. (May) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved