China's Contentious Journalists: Reconceptualizing the Media
Problems of Post-Communism, Vol. 55, No. 4, pp. 52-61, July/August 2008
11 Pages Posted: 14 Oct 2008
Date Written: October, 13 2008
Abstract
While scholars of both Chinese politics and contention have occasionally recognized the power of the media in shaping or suppressing protests, they have largely ignored the possibility that media workers themselves can be contentious actors. Despite a prominent Chinese government media crackdown, contentious action among China's newspaper journalists - including open letters, refusal to cover specific topics and even a strike - has become dramatically more visible. The actions of China's contentious journalists have implications for mainstream social movement theory and illuminate the importance of grievances in spurring contentious action.
Keywords: China, Chinese politics, media, journalists, contentious politics
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