Audio Describers in Mainland China

Over the past decade, audio description (AD) practice has grown across Mainland China despite the absence of explicit legal mandates. Volunteer movements have helped expand AD services and shape the profession of audio describers. However, our understanding of this profession in this region remains limited. This paper aims to address this gap by reporting on the results of a questionnaire answered by 223 describers. The findings highlight a notable growth in the profession, characterized by a predominantly young demographic profile and a practice driven largely by volunteers. We confirm earlier research [Tor Carroggio and Casas-Tost: 2020; Liu: 2023a] on the distinct professional identity of describers in Mainland China. Many of them, trained in journalism/media studies, identify as “accessible filmmakers” rather than “audio describers.” Moreover, our study reveals differences in professional practices. Chinese describers are involved in a wide range of tasks, which contrasts with the more specialized, single-task roles typically found in the Western world.