Rob Gifford
Encyclopedia
Rob Gifford is a British-born radio correspondent. He has degrees in Chinese Studies from Durham University
and in Regional Studies (East Asia) from Harvard University
. He began to learn Mandarin
Chinese in 1987 whilst in China.
Gifford was on staff at the BBC World Service
for three years. In the United States, he worked for two years at WGBH
in Boston
. From 1999 to 2005, Gifford was the China correspondent for National Public Radio (NPR). He took leave of absence from NPR to write his first book, China Road, (2007; ISBN 1400064678), which was based on his six-week trip on National Highway 312
, China's
3000 mile (4800 kilometre) "mother road" stretching from Shanghai
to the Gobi Desert
. Gifford initially covered this journey in a seven-part radio series for NPR's program Morning Edition
, as one of his last journalistic projects in China.
Gifford is currently the London
bureau chief for NPR.
Durham University
The University of Durham, commonly known as Durham University, is a university in Durham, England. It was founded by Act of Parliament in 1832 and granted a Royal Charter in 1837...
and in Regional Studies (East Asia) from Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
. He began to learn Mandarin
Standard Mandarin
Standard Chinese or Modern Standard Chinese, also known as Mandarin or Putonghua, is the official language of the People's Republic of China and Republic of China , and is one of the four official languages of Singapore....
Chinese in 1987 whilst in China.
Gifford was on staff at the BBC World Service
BBC World Service
The BBC World Service is the world's largest international broadcaster, broadcasting in 27 languages to many parts of the world via analogue and digital shortwave, internet streaming and podcasting, satellite, FM and MW relays...
for three years. In the United States, he worked for two years at WGBH
WGBH-TV
WGBH-TV, channel 2, is a non-commercial educational public television station located in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. WGBH-TV is a member station of the Public Broadcasting Service , and produces more than two-thirds of PBS's national prime time television programming...
in Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
. From 1999 to 2005, Gifford was the China correspondent for National Public Radio (NPR). He took leave of absence from NPR to write his first book, China Road, (2007; ISBN 1400064678), which was based on his six-week trip on National Highway 312
China National Highway 312
China National Highway 312 , also referred to as Route 312 or The Mother Road, is an important highway that runs east-west across the breadth of People's Republic of China. It begins at the port city Shanghai and ends at Khorgas in the Ili River valley, on the border with Kazakhstan. In total it...
, China's
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
3000 mile (4800 kilometre) "mother road" stretching from Shanghai
Shanghai
Shanghai is the largest city by population in China and the largest city proper in the world. It is one of the four province-level municipalities in the People's Republic of China, with a total population of over 23 million as of 2010...
to the Gobi Desert
Gobi Desert
The Gobi is a large desert region in Asia. It covers parts of northern and northwestern China, and of southern Mongolia. The desert basins of the Gobi are bounded by the Altai Mountains and the grasslands and steppes of Mongolia on the north, by the Hexi Corridor and Tibetan Plateau to the...
. Gifford initially covered this journey in a seven-part radio series for NPR's program Morning Edition
Morning Edition
Morning Edition is an American radio news program produced and distributed by National Public Radio . It airs weekday mornings and runs for two hours, and many stations repeat one or both hours. The show feeds live from 05:00 to 09:00 ET, with feeds and updates as required until noon...
, as one of his last journalistic projects in China.
Gifford is currently the London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
bureau chief for NPR.
External links
- Rob Gifford's home page
- NPR biography of Rob Gifford
- Rob Gifford, author of China Road: A Journey into the Future of a Rising Power (photographs by Patrick Fraser) at www.robgifford.com
- Podcast of Rob Gifford discussing “China Road: A Journey into the Future of a Rising Power” at the Shanghai International Literary Festival