Abstract
This chapter focuses on the micro-individual level and examines a new breed of Chinese war correspondents, their role perceptions and the impact of ICTs. In the globalizing and convergent world, this new breed is neither traditionally Chinese in their approach nor Western in their perceptions but uniquely pragmatic in negotiating a complex mix of identities, motivations, corporate influences, and state interests. Chinese war correspondents perceive their roles as objective reporter, interpreter, propagandist, and diplomat. They use satellite phones and Google Earth as new reporting tools. Multi-platform reporting is adopted for the purpose of disseminating news to the widest audience and market branding.
An earlier version of this chapter was published in Zhang, S. (2013) ‘The new breed of Chinese war correspondents: Their motivations and roles, and the impact of digital technology’, Media, War and Conflict, 6 (3): 311–325.
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Zhang, S.I. (2016). Motivations, Roles, and Digital Technology. In: Chinese War Correspondents. Palgrave Series in Asia and Pacific Studies. Palgrave Macmillan, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-1738-4_2
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