China Ink: The Changing Face of Chinese Journalism

Journalism professor and former newspaper reporter Polumbaum looks at the metamorphosis of Chinese media over the past few decades through the voices of 20 Beijing journalists, many of whom began careers in the shadow of the 1989 Tiananmen Square demonstrations. Despite popular presumption, Polumbaum claims that Chinese media is not a “controlled, mechanistic system” populated by party loyalists; even in its Communist Party establishment papers, it's a diverse and evolving industry populated by dedicated professionals. Not only are the journalists included here highly ethical and aware, they're also largely upbeat. All are well educated 20-to-40-year-olds working at government and commercial organizations, and though readers may miss dissident voices, Polumbaum's subjects are open and persuasive, and each oral history has charm and detail to spare. (May)