Jones talks about her trip to China in 1973 and then compares it with her trip in 1986. She then talks about her novel, The Confucius Enigma. Jones then compares the situation in 1974 and 1975 when one couldn't talk to ordinary Chinese to 1986 when it was possible. Jones also talks about the attitude of Chinese officials to journalists and attempts by Russians to get information from her about the situation in China. She also talks about The Smiling Buddha, a novel about Cambodia and her meetings with Prince Sihanouk. Jones also discusses writing Thatcher's Kingdom and a just completed novel about the return of art treasures from England to Greece. She is currently writing short stories. Jones then talks about her move from journalism to fiction writing; early days with the ABC, Mirror and Sydney Morning Herald (SMH); working in London and New York; discrimination against women journalists and her position as the first woman foreign editor of SMH and the changed situation today.
Conversation with Margaret Jones
Hazel de Berg
(interviewer),
1973
Z1110029
1973
single work
interview
Jones speaks of her work as a journalist for the Sydney Morning Herald ; about leaving for Peking and her prospects for gathering news ; the editorial policies of the Sydney Morning Herald ; she speaks about feature writing ; the techniques she employs when interviewing ; about her reasons for wanting to become a journalist ; she then speaks of her childhood.
