Since 2001, he is among the first scholars in China who lectures on strategic communications for Chinese high-ranked politicians and leaders of the state owned enterprises. As a member of advisory committee for publicity and crisis communications for varied offices of the State Council of China since SARS in 2003, he has experienced the fast growing and tremendous changes of political communications for the top leader's understanding of media power in China over the years. From the Olympic games, foot and mouth disease, earthquake, polluted milk, to the mining accidents, Dr Dong was invited to serve as in-house communications advisor for varied State Council ministerial offices including the MOH, SASAC, NDRC, SCIO and the MOFCOM. He participated in proposing the State Council's Transparent Governance Act and it was announced in May 2008 just before the Olympic Games.
Dr. Dong was a news presenter of political and current affairs programs on China Central Television (CCTV). As a journalist, he interviewed top leaders of many countries, transnational firms and policy institutes including a 30-minute intensive television interview with Chinese Premier Li Peng and a globally televised open Q&A with British Prime Minister Tony Blair.
Dr Dong holds LL.B. in Diplomatic Studies and Foreign Affairs Administration from Peking University, M.A. in Political Communications from the University of Sheffield, M.Phil. of Development Studies from the University of Cambridge, Ph.D. of East Asian Studies from the University of Durham.
His research interests and expertise involve political communications, international communications, public relations and strategic communications. His comments appear in New York Times, Financial Times and the leading Chinese national newspapers. He has written articles and reviews for the leading journals like World Policy Journal and edited, translated and authored books including Transparent Governance: Theory and Practice (2007), Managing Reputations for the Corporate World (2007), The Encyclopedia for Spokespersons (2006), Press Conference and Media Relations for the Government (2005), Mediated Politics (2011) and Governing China with the News: Political Communications for Stability, Consensus and Economic Growth (forthcoming 2012).