It's the second largest economy in the world and a major political power but living and working in China as a foreign reporter presents its challenges.

Katie Stallard-Blanchette did just that as Sky News' Asia correspondent for three years. She faced major obstacles in trying to report in the real China. Challenging authority, questioning its oppressive approach to human rights and navigating through China's role on the world stage.

During her time in Beijing, Katie also travelled to North Korea and ended her stint in the region just as the secretive state begins to engage with the rest of the world.

In this Behind The Headline podcast, Sky News presenter Tom Macleod talks to Katie about her experiences covering two heavily censored nations.