Joanna Chiu Profile picture
Mar 16, 2018 9 tweets 5 min read Twitter logo Read on Twitter
A complicated situation on the ground: Writers face opaque and ever-shifting rules on banned subjects. Most self-censor to some degree to avoid repercussions that could end their careers. But many are also unwilling to avoid sensitive subjects. pen.org/forbidden-feed…
Despite many frustrations, there is still relatively more freedom of expression in online publishing, compared to traditional print. The prominent role of #socialmedia in #China has made creative fields more democratic as consumers have more ways to support creators.
As online censorship restrictions tighten, a deleted post is the least of some users’ worries. Writers and organizations have to contend with the possibility
that their social media accounts will get shut down entirely, or that administrators will get arrested.
But social media-fueled reporting is no substitute for institutionalized
journalism. @mranti told @PENamerican “Censorship has never eased. The more dramatic change is from Internet business models. We are losing financial support for real journalism.” pen.org/forbidden-feed…
Meanwhile, licensing regulations and criminal libel laws mean that independent Chinese journalists that use #socialmedia are taking a serious legal
risk with every posting.
Chinese journalists always faced great risks to report on politically sensitive topics, or if their work could be construed as voicing support for human rights and democracy. Their space to operate has shrunk dramatically since #XiJinping took office. pen.org/forbidden-feed…
Above is based on dozens of wide-ranging conversations with Chinese artists and writers @jrtager and I conducted over half a year. Read more: pen.org/forbidden-feed… @PENamerican #pressfreedom #netfreedom
All of us based in #China understand this: “Just for socializing alone, not just work, getting banned from using #WeChat would be a disaster,” one writer shared with @PENamerican. “No one would be able to reach me. Very few people, even my good friends, have my phone number.”
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More from @joannachiu

Jul 14, 2018
I did the most #ADHD thing the other day. I took one pill then got distracted + took another, so ended up wired when one dose makes me like a "normal" person. I'm coming out as ADHD now after building a record of hard work bc there's stigma. Lmk if you have qs about pros and cons
I'm in good company with Michael Phelps and Einstein 🙂. Basically even without meds I'm able to hyperfocus on what I'm interested in accomplishing but if you ask me to do something boring I'll be incredibly inept. healthline.com/health/adhd/be…
Also #ADHD is linked with higher sensitivity to things like bright lights, sounds and textures. I was only diagnosed a few years ago and just thought before that knit turtlenecks were a medieval torture device.
Read 23 tweets
May 21, 2018
I was only able to really briefly touch on the precarious status of some news assistants in foreign media bureaus -- unsung heroes of journalism in China in my opinion. The complicated situation best described here by a former "assistant": radiichina.com/a-former-chine…
Would be interested in hearing about status of local journalists working for foreign media bureaus elsewhere. I heard the situation isn't very good in Iraq, but I'm ignorant about what's happening outside China.
From Yajun in the piece: "Chinese news assistants perform a job that is not well known by the public. Due to language barriers and official hurdles, many correspondents rely on their news assistants for story ideas, finding interviewees, translation and research."
Read 16 tweets

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