Article Corresponding author: Haiqing Yu, School of Languages and Linguistics, Level 2, Morven Brown Building, Kensington Campus, University of New South Wales, NSW 2052, Australia. Email: h.yu@unsw.edu.au Beyond gatekeeping: J-blogging in China Haiqing Yu University of New South Wales, Australia Abstract This essay contributes to the continuing debates on the changing horizons of journalism in the era of Web 2.0 by examining blogging as a deliberative practice among Chinese professional journalists, who, as gatekeepers of the mainstream news media, nevertheless go beyond gatekeeping by watching the ‘gate’, poking the ‘gate,’ and mocking the ‘gate’ through blogging. I argue that j-blogging represents an experiment of amateur journalism by professional journalists in the blogosphere. The creativity in gate-watching, gate-poking and gate-mocking is situated in the feedback loop of blogosphere and mediasphere in general. J-bloggers are essential to the mediated loop that is in itself a liminal zone, where ideas, visions, emotions and beliefs can be tested. J-blogging forms a crucial link in the formation of the mediated loop and transformation of the liminal zone, upon which the viability of Chinese public sphere depends. Keywords gate-keeping, gate-mocking, gate-poking, gate-watching, j-blogging Introduction The rapid growth of the internet in China has been keenly observed and carefully documented by journalists, academics, business consultants, government agencies and NGOs both in and outside China. According to a recent survey by China Internet Network Information Center (also known as CNNIC), by the end of 2008 the number of Chinese internet users reached 298 million, more than half of whom are bloggers (162 million) (CNNIC, 2009). Since its onset in the Chinese cybersphere in 2002, blogging and later micro-blogging have become an integral part of the urban lifestyle in China. They have ushered in new experiences and patterns of social networking, community building and engagement with the Chinese polity. 1 Journalism 12(4) 379–393 © The Author(s) 2011 Reprints and permission: sagepub. co.uk/journalsPermissions.nav DOI: 10.1177/1464884910388229 jou.sagepub.com