Chinese-style pragmatic objectivity in war reporting
China plays an increasing role in the wars and conflicts around the world with its expanding political and economic interests overseas, and its diplomatic role in international affairs. More and more Chinese journalists go to the frontlines overseas to cover distant conflicts for domestic audiences....
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| Format: | Article |
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Taylor & Francis
2015
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| Online Access: | https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/47929/ |
| _version_ | 1848797651993100288 |
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| author | Zhang, Shixin Ivy |
| author_facet | Zhang, Shixin Ivy |
| author_sort | Zhang, Shixin Ivy |
| building | Nottingham Research Data Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | China plays an increasing role in the wars and conflicts around the world with its expanding political and economic interests overseas, and its diplomatic role in international affairs. More and more Chinese journalists go to the frontlines overseas to cover distant conflicts for domestic audiences. Based on semi-structured in-depth interviews with sixteen Chinese correspondents who have covered conflicts outside China, this study examines Chinese journalists’ perceptions and reflections on objectivity in the war zones. The author adopts a term of Chinese-style pragmatic objectivity to mean that objectivity is a convenient approach for Chinese journalists to do war journalism in the field. At the level of objectivity-as-a- value, objectivity is defined as a pragmatic value and a practical ritual for Chinese journalists to do news within the scope they can reach, to protect themselves from criticisms, and to justify their version of the truth. It promotes allegiance and patriotism. At the level of objectivity-as-a-practice, objectivity in war coverage is compromised by China’s foreign policies, military constraints, the press’s political orientations and editorial polices, and journalists’ personal experiences and values. Chinese journalists use Chinese-style objectivity to negotiate their roles in the power struggle with the state, foreign militaries, the newsroom and journalists. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-14T20:07:16Z |
| format | Article |
| id | nottingham-47929 |
| institution | University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus |
| institution_category | Local University |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-14T20:07:16Z |
| publishDate | 2015 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | nottingham-479292020-05-04T17:05:51Z https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/47929/ Chinese-style pragmatic objectivity in war reporting Zhang, Shixin Ivy China plays an increasing role in the wars and conflicts around the world with its expanding political and economic interests overseas, and its diplomatic role in international affairs. More and more Chinese journalists go to the frontlines overseas to cover distant conflicts for domestic audiences. Based on semi-structured in-depth interviews with sixteen Chinese correspondents who have covered conflicts outside China, this study examines Chinese journalists’ perceptions and reflections on objectivity in the war zones. The author adopts a term of Chinese-style pragmatic objectivity to mean that objectivity is a convenient approach for Chinese journalists to do war journalism in the field. At the level of objectivity-as-a- value, objectivity is defined as a pragmatic value and a practical ritual for Chinese journalists to do news within the scope they can reach, to protect themselves from criticisms, and to justify their version of the truth. It promotes allegiance and patriotism. At the level of objectivity-as-a-practice, objectivity in war coverage is compromised by China’s foreign policies, military constraints, the press’s political orientations and editorial polices, and journalists’ personal experiences and values. Chinese journalists use Chinese-style objectivity to negotiate their roles in the power struggle with the state, foreign militaries, the newsroom and journalists. Taylor & Francis 2015-04-30 Article PeerReviewed Zhang, Shixin Ivy (2015) Chinese-style pragmatic objectivity in war reporting. Asian Journal of Communication, 25 (2). pp. 178-196. ISSN 0129-2986 China; war correspondents; objectivity; constraints https://doi.org/10.1080/01292986.2014.944925 doi:10.1080/01292986.2014.944925 doi:10.1080/01292986.2014.944925 |
| spellingShingle | China; war correspondents; objectivity; constraints Zhang, Shixin Ivy Chinese-style pragmatic objectivity in war reporting |
| title | Chinese-style pragmatic objectivity in war reporting |
| title_full | Chinese-style pragmatic objectivity in war reporting |
| title_fullStr | Chinese-style pragmatic objectivity in war reporting |
| title_full_unstemmed | Chinese-style pragmatic objectivity in war reporting |
| title_short | Chinese-style pragmatic objectivity in war reporting |
| title_sort | chinese-style pragmatic objectivity in war reporting |
| topic | China; war correspondents; objectivity; constraints |
| url | https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/47929/ https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/47929/ https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/47929/ |