AFPC-USA Names Chloe Fang a 2023 Scholarship Awardee

Chloe Fang is a journalist based in Washington, D.C., covering U.S. foreign policy towards East Asia, especially on China. 

She started her journalism career in Hong Kong and moved to Beijing to cover China at CNN and Reuters. During her time in mainland China, she reported from the field on China's annual parliament meetings, Chinese foreign policy, and U.S.-China relations, and wrote in depth about China's social issues such as low-birth rate issues and China's ethnic minority policies. At Reuters, she took the lead in producing multimedia packages on the Covid-19 outbreak in China. 

She is currently finishing her Master's Degree in Asian Studies at Georgetown University. 

The following interview has been condensed and edited for clarity.

Chloe Fang

What was the primary reason you chose to pursue your master's studies in the United States as a foreign journalist?

I started to get interested in international politics when I was at CNN. I was assigned at the time to attend daily news briefings at the Chinese Foreign Ministry to report China's responses when U.S.-China relations started to deteriorate. From the Chinese perspective, it has been the U.S.'s Cold War mindset that sees China as a rising rival that has made the relationship unstable. So I started to get interested in what the U.S.'s perspective is. Then I applied for my master’s degree at Georgetown University, which is known for international relations, to gain a deeper understanding of U.S. foreign policy towards Asia, especially China. I think Georgetown's education makes a more detailed way for my future career since I’ve decided to cover international politics in the future. 

You were recently awarded a scholarship from the Association of Foreign Press Correspondents in the United States (AFPC-USA). How did you feel about this recognition?

I am very honored and I appreciated this opportunity. I think AFPC-USA gives us an opportunity to gather together as a community. This recognition rewarded the effort I made in the past. 

As a journalist, how do you expect your studies and the support from AFPC-USA to help you advance your career?

I think Georgetown is a good university that not only expands my knowledge but also makes me engaged in U.S. foreign policy circles. There are many speakers from the U.S. government to give us up-to-date news and information on what is going on. Many of my classmates work for the government so they also give me more information on current discussions in the policy-making process. 

The AFPC-USA sends out weekly emails that contain lessons, seminar information, podcasts, fellowship and other journalism materials for us to read and learn. Sometimes I can find stories within these materials. I remember once I attended a seminar on the U.S.-China energy sector, during which a speaker said the U.S.-China trade war didn't really affect the energy sector if we look at published data. That's counter-intuitive but I think that's a gap where should be reported on. What's more, the AFPC-USA also has tailored educational programs such as on agricultural journalism. All these materials will equip us to become better journalists. 

The AFPC-USA is also a place where we can meet each other. I think meeting each other is important because we are supposed to be a big family while our families and friends are far away in another country.

Why do you think the work of AFPC-USA is important and what are your thoughts on its impact on the journalism field at large?

I think AFPC-USA helps foreign journalists to better perform in their jobs. With educational materials, funds, and support from AFPC-USA, at least to me, I think it makes me feel like I'm not alone and I have resources to do better. 

What made you decide to become a journalist? How do you hope to make an impact in the journalism field of your country of origin?

I decided to become a journalist when I was about 10 years old. I was watching TV in the evening and the show I was watching was an international news program on China's CCTV. I told my dad I wanted to become a reporter and he said I need to speak/write/read English very well, like a native. That's kind of the start of my dream. 

China's journalism industry is a mix. I think I can help China's commercial media to have a better understanding of journalism ethics to produce content that is impartial, accurate, fact-based, etc. 

What is the state of press freedom in your country of origin and how do you hope that your work will encourage more people to access independent and credible information?

China's censorship itself is a story. People in China know how to get access to more information. They have VPNs to access information they want to know. Now there's a trend that Chinese people don't read state media news, and don't read news produced by big-name western media outlets. They rely on independent news already. I think as a journalist, what I should do is report more impartial and fact-based news to help people know what a good story should be. Gradually, people will read more and more independent news. 

What do you think is the greatest threat to journalism today?

I think the shrinking freedom of reporting is the biggest threat. Many of us are in exile because the reporting environment is dangerous. Especially nowadays, national security issues are what authorities focus on. Doing investigative journalism or anything about politics poses a physical threat to reporters. We lack the capability and resources to protect ourselves once governments target us. AI cannot threaten us because humans are more versatile. But detention from governments is still a big problem.