New Books in Communications AI, News, and the State: Reinstitutionalising Journalism in Global China’s Algorithmic Age: A conversation with Dr. Joanne Kuai
Nov 3, 2025
Dr. Joanne Kuai, a Research Fellow focused on digital journalism and AI’s societal impact, shares insights into how artificial intelligence is reshaping journalism in China. She discusses the challenges reporters face with accountability and authorship in an increasingly automated landscape. Joanne highlights the differences in news distribution across various platforms and compares AI regulation strategies between China, the US, and EU. She emphasizes the importance of human accountability in AI systems and offers intriguing cultural recommendations.
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AI As Socio-Technical Power Shaper
- AI in journalism is a socio-technical phenomenon that reflects and reinforces power dynamics between state, tech firms, and newsrooms.
- In China this co-construction reshapes journalistic roles and institutional legitimacy rather than simply automating tasks.
Investigative Reporting Still Works
- Chinese investigative journalists still perform watchdog reporting within political constraints, for example People's Magazine exposing algorithmic exploitation in food delivery platforms.
- That reporting triggered national policy discussion and improved worker protections tied to algorithm design.
Capacity, Not Format, Drives AI Adoption
- Organizational capacity, not format, determines how journalists adopt AI: large outlets invest in AI teams and training while small newsrooms cannot.
- Freelancers worry most about copyright and authorship loss, risking income and recognition.
