ABSTRACT
Press freedom is a fundamental premise of Western journalism. In contrast, some Chinese journalists voluntarily accept the limits to that freedom as necessary discipline. With an education in journalism, the Party line, and a cultural tradition that emphasizes individual duties over rights and what is right and wrong over individual liberty, Chinese journalists try to reconcile professional standards, national interest, and a sense of self-fulfillment. Based on in-depth interviews with professional journalists, this chapter focuses on journalists’ views of the role of journalism in the Chinese society, the role of the press as a watchdog, press freedom and censorship, and media ethics. It also discusses journalists’ motivations, job satisfaction, major challenges, and ethical quandaries in performing their professional duties.
