Investigative Journalism in China: Journalism, Power and Society by Jingrong Tong

Volume:36
Issue:4
Book Review

There have been a number of transformations within China since the opening of the Chinese economy in 1978. The changes are not confined to economy only but have had effects on other aspects as well. One of the major areas witnessing unprecedented changes is the state–society dynamic. The media has played an important role in managing the state–society relations in China. The Chinese media has traditionally played the role of the ‘mouth piece’ of the party, as is expected in any authoritarian communist system. However, post liberalisation the dynamic between the state and the media has also undergone a major upheaval. The Chinese media of today is very different from the Chinese media of the pre-reform period. The book Investigative Journalism in China: Journalism, Power and Society attempts to analyse this transformation and provide a perspective on the new rising dynamics. The book provides an in-depth study on the characteristics and nature of the rise of investigative journalism in China.