James West (Australian journalist)
James West | |
|---|---|
| Born | February 21, 1982 Sydney, Australia |
| Alma mater | University of Sydney, New York University |
| Occupation(s) | Journalist, author |
| Notable work | Beijing Blur |
James West (born 21 February 1982) is an Australian journalist and author.
Early life and education
Born in Sydney, West completed his schooling at Barker College located in Hornsby. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Media and Communications from the University of Sydney and subsequently obtained a Master’s degree in Journalism from New York University.
Career
West’s professional experience includes serving as a radio producer for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation based in Sydney. He also worked as a Foreign Expert at China Radio International in Beijing, where he created the Australian-themed podcast Mr Science Show. Additionally, he was the producer of Triple J’s nationwide current affairs broadcast, Hack. His production credits extend to the Insight series on SBS Television.
His memoir, Beijing Blur (), was released by Penguin Books in Australia in June 2008. The book details his experiences at China Radio International during 2005–06 and delves into topics such as capital punishment, Chinese punk music, blogging culture, and LGBTQ+ life in China. It has also been published internationally: in the United States and Canada by Cuttyhunk/Landsdown Books, and in the United Kingdom by Crimson Publishing.
West attracted global media interest after uploading a YouTube video appealing for an invitation to join the Tran family’s Thanksgiving celebration in Florida. This followed his accidental receipt of their emails over a three-year period. The incident garnered coverage across Australian and American media outlets.