At a time of intense geopolitical competition, journalism serves the role of bridging people and perspectives between the U.S. and China. Although journalists fight uphill against censorship and reporting on a contentious topic, they still uncover and unpack the nuances buried in stories of technology, trade, and politics. As journalism adapts to the internet and social media, more perspectives can find their way onto phones across the Pacific.
Professor Zhifan Luo and Journalist Viola Zhou joined us in May and April 2025 (respectively) to discuss the evolving role of journalism in China and in the U.S.-China relationship.
Zhifan Luo
Dr. Zhifan Luo is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Sociology and the Wilson College of Leadership and Civic Engagement at McMaster University, Canada. Her research investigates the intricate interplay among digital technologies, political power, and civil society. Dr. Luo’s research has been funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada. Her work has appeared in journals such as New Media & Society, Information, Communication & Society, China: An International Journal, Journal of Political Power, and Armed Forces & Society. She received her doctorate in sociology from the State University of New York at Albany.
Viola Zhou
Viola Zhou is a senior reporter at Rest of World covering China. She has reported on Chinese tech, business, and internet culture for more than 10 years. Viola previously covered Chinese politics and society for Vice World News, and reported for the South China Morning Post from Hong Kong. She has won multiple SABEW and SOPA Awards for her reporting on Foxconn in India and Chinese pop culture. She is based in New York City.