1st Edition

Metro Newspaper Journalists in China The Aspiration-Frustration-Reconciliation Framework

By Zhaoxi (Josie) Liu Copyright 2017
    124 Pages
    by Routledge

    124 Pages 7 B/W Illustrations
    by Routledge

    This book explores how journalists at local metro papers in a south-western China metropolis give meaning to their work and how these meanings are shaped by the specific social environment within which these journalists operate. These metro papers provide the bulk of daily news to the general public in China, yet are often understudied compared to the country’s party news outlets. Informed by fieldwork in four metro newspapers, the book puts forward a grounded theory for exploring journalists’ occupational culture: the aspiration-frustration-reconciliation framework.



    1. Introduction to "Heaven and Hell"



    Purpose of the Study



    Why Metro Newspaper Journalists?



    Why Journalism Culture?



    Structure of the Book



    Note on Field Research



    2. The Rise of Metro Newspapers and Metro Papers In Kunming



    The Rise of Metro Papers



    Metro Papers in Kunming



    New Players: the Internet and Social Media



    3. All the Buzz in the Kunming Newsrooms



    Tipsters, BBS and eBikes



    General Assignment vs. Beat Reporters



    Getting Paid



    Cigarettes, Air and Food



    4. Aspirations: Ideals of the Journalists



    Monitoring Power



    Upholding Social Justice



    Making a Difference



    5. Frustrations: Realities of Daily Work

    Obstructions to and Troubles from Reporting



    Story Bans



    The Red Line



    Business Pressure



    King without Crown vs. Migrant Worker of News



    Frustrated, Disappointed and Conflicted





    6. Reconciliations: Compromises in Practice



    Helping People While Doing Journalism



    Sense of Achievement



    Learning to Compromise



    Undercover Reporting





    7. Journalism Culture in Context: Global Influence, Social Conflict and Epidemic Mistrust





    Global Influence



    Social Conflict



    The Pandemic of Mistrust



    8. Social Media Impact

    Weibo’s Impact on Journalism amid the Wenzhou Train Collision



    New Source of Information



    Expanding the Range of Discourse



    Defying Censorship



    Pushing for More Government Transparency



    Viral Impact



    Constraints on the Power of Social Media



    Recent Developments





    9. Journalism Culture with Chinese Characteristics





    Organizational Differences



    Kunming and China



    The Theoretical Framework



    Conclusion: Lesso

    Biography

    Zhaoxi (Josie) Liu is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Communication at Trinity University, USA