Zou was known for developing Shenghuo Zhoukan (Life Magazine) into a pioneering journal of political reporting and social commentary, and for his participation in the National Salvation Movement that mobilized opposition to the Nationalist Government and demanded stronger resistance to Japan's expansion.

Although he wanted to become a journalist, his first jobs after graduation were teaching English, then director of the editorial board of the China Vocational Education Society (中華職業教育社), headed by Huang Yanpei.

[3] In 1926 Zou became editor of the society's journal, Shenghuo zhoukan (Life Weekly) and changed its mission from vocational education to political reporting and social criticism.

The Vocational Society's target was young men who wanted to take advantage of schooling but often could not afford a university education and feared that they would not be able to enter a secure professional life.

Zou, in the words of a recent historian, "turned out to be one of those legendary editors who found out just what made their readerships laugh, cry, and most importantly, come back the following week for more."

Zou used his magazine not only as a forum to urge the Nationalist Government offer stronger resistance but to launch a campaign to raise money for armies that were more resolute.

Zou's journey took him through Europe, then to the Soviet Union, where he attended a summer session at Moscow University, and finally to the United States, where he traveled May through July 1935.

He gained the confidence of a group of young progressives who had been organizing black factory workers; they had been seized by secret agents hired by the boss, taken outside of town and beaten, then turned over to the police, who put them in jail for a month.

After he returned to Shanghai in August 1935, he started a new weekly journal, Dazong shenghuo (Life of the masses), which announced that its mission was "achievement of national liberation, eradication of feudal remnants, and suppression of individualism."

Leaders included Li Gongpu; Shen Junru; Tao Xingzhi; Shi Liang, one of the first women lawyers; Wang Zaoshi, Zhang Naiqi, and even Chiang Kai-shek's sister-in-law, Song Qingling.

In August 1936, they published a letter calling upon Mao Zedong to "demonstrate sincerity in uniting all parties and factions in fighting the Japanese and saving the nation".

They urged him to cease attacks on the central government in order to open negotiations and to give lenient treatment to landlords, rich peasants, and merchants.

Mao replied favorably, saying that the declaration and program of the Salvation Front "represent the opinions and demands of the majority of the Chinese people who are unwilling to become slaves without a country.

Zou returned to Shanghai, where he continued to write in support of the United Front, promote establishment of democratic government, and urge expansion of mass education.