In the framework of democratic societies, investigative journalism is deemed as serving the public interest, helping maintain a healthy public sphere and helping to hold power into account. The ideals of a democratic society justify the idea and practice of investigative journalism. Alternately, modern China runs an authoritarian system of the one-party rule, so where does the idea of investigative journalism fit in? Why can investigative journalism appear in such an authoritarian society and with what characteristics?
Investigative Journalism in Chinaexamines the four aspects of Chinese investigative journalism (the Idea of investigative journalism and its comparison against Western contexts; the Development/Influence; Reporters and their work; and the Impacts on society), by using empirical data from Dr. Jingrong Tong's fieldwork at two newsrooms (theSouthern Metropolitan Dailyand theDahe Daily) in 2006, 73 in-depth-interviews conducted from 2004-2008, and the analysis of internal and public documents and media cases in order to accurately survey the field and put it in context.
Dr. Jingrong Tong is Lecturer in Media and Communication, University of Leicester, UK.
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Acknowledgements
Chapter 1: Introduction: Understanding Watchdog Journalism in an Authoritarian Country
Chapter 2: Conceptualizing Investigative Journalism in China
Chapter 3: The flourishing of Investigative Journalism in the 1990s
Chapter 4: The fall of Investigative Journalism in the 21st century questioned
Chapter 5: Maintaining the Legitimacy of Chinese Journalism
Chapter 6: An Organisational Analysis: the case study ofSouthern Metropolis Daily
Chapter 7: Reporting on Social Riots: how investigative journalists tell stories
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