Initially hired as a trainer at the Television Corporation of Singapore,[5] where she trained then amateur presenters such as Tung Soo Hua,[9] Zhang was asked to anchor the 1 pm news bulletin after just one week into the job.
It was rumoured that she left MediaCorp because she was unhappy she did not win the Best News Presenter Prize in the Star Awards 2001 despite leading by a landslide victory of 70% of the audience vote according to several reports by the local media.
[10] Then SPH MediaWorks head Man Shu Sum dismissed the rumours and added that negotiations with Zhang were going on for months before the award ceremony.
"[citation needed] When interviewed in Year 2003 by Lianhe Zaobao, Zhang admitted that she was extremely disappointed she did not win the coveted award in 2001.
[citation needed] In 2003, with SPH MediaWorks Channel U, Zhang hosted the current-affairs programme, Inside Out, which explores various social issues in Singapore and the region.
[5] After three years off the air, Zhang announced on 7 January 2008, that she would return to broadcasting on MediaCorp TV Channel 8, and would assume duties as a news anchor on 15 February 2008, reporting on the 2008 Singapore Government Financial Budget.
[16] In January 2011, an online Facebook page was set up in a bid to garner audience support for Zhang to win her long overdue Best News Presenter prize.
Her poor public relations skill was thought to be a contributing factor as to why she has never won despite being widely acknowledged as one of the finer news presenters in the industry with vast experience.