J visa application whilst having a Q type in other passport?!

Need some answers here please, for a friend who is changing her job. She has two Italian passports (same name), and is married to a Chinese National, holds a two year multiple entry spouse type (Q1 I think). She might be offered a job where she needs a journalist type (J) for a 6 months contract with a news agency.
Can she use the second passport (no Chinese visa's exist in this passport, nor has it been used in China) to apply for the J type and keep the other type (Q) in the other passport valid?

Appreciate any pointers to get some advice for her
thanks