The Impulso Podcast E50: Keith Zhai, veteran journalist on China, media and 2024
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Jan 5, 2024 Keith Zhai, a seasoned journalist with nearly two decades of experience covering China, delves into the evolution of international media perceptions of the country. He outlines three key phases of coverage, from the 2008 Olympics to today’s tech regulation concerns. Zhai addresses misconceptions about AI and the media's bias, emphasizing the lack of ordinary Chinese voices. He highlights the complexities behind headlines and offers insights for critically engaging with China coverage, all while maintaining a cautious optimism for the future.
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Three Phases Of China Coverage
- Keith Zhai outlines three media phases: Beijing Olympics curiosity, deep business-focused interest, then risk-driven disengagement.
- Audience demand shaped coverage as China shifted from novelty to strategic economic actor.
Regulation Fueled Disengagement
- From ~2020 the narrative shifted as regulatory shocks made China seem risky for new Western investments.
- That risk reduced audience appetite to learn granular business details about China.
Perception Of China’s AI Is Overstated
- Western coverage inflated China's technological strength, especially AI, beyond reality.
- Keith Zhai warns media tendency to portray China as an overwhelmingly powerful threat can be misleading.