Chen Lidan's Selected Works: Journalism Concepts: From Tradition to Modernity: A Self-Selected Collection of Famous Figures in Journalism and Communication Studies

Author: Chen Lidan
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-05-01
Features: This series of "Selected Works by Famous Scholars in Journalism and Communication Studies" is prefaced by the esteemed academician Fang Hanqi, and no further introduction is needed from the editor. Here, I will briefly discuss the creative (: original intention), selection criteria, and editorial principles. In the early 1980s, shortly after the Cultural Revolution, representatives who once advocated "journalism without a discipline" retracted their ignorance. The Beijing Journalism Society and the China Journalism Education Society were established one after another. In this positive atmosphere, the long-interrupted research in journalism and communication studies resumed. At the turn of the new century, journalism and communication studies were elevated to the status of a first-tier discipline. Since the new century, hundreds of books and thousands of academic papers on journalism and communication studies have been published every year. Scientific research and discipline construction in journalism and communication studies have entered a true golden age. With the deepening of research and the continuous extension of secondary and tertiary disciplines, a group of influential academic leaders emerged. Among them are Wang Zhong, Gan Xifen, Li Longmu, Fang Hanqi, Zhang Longdong, Ning Shufan, Ding Ganlin, and Zhao Yuming—veteran scholars in academia. They were the pioneers and trailblazers in the research and education of journalism in New China. Some proposed new theoretical systems, some authored numerous works, some introduced new theories of journalism and communication to the Chinese public earlier, and some promoted discipline construction through a combination of historical analysis and theoretical research. Under their mentorship, a new generation of scholars has emerged. The new generation of leaders emerged in the tide of reform and opening up, building upon the theories, knowledge, and methods of their predecessors while making new breakthroughs and developments. The eight authors in this selected works series are among the first representatives. There are several reasons for editing and publishing this series of selected works by famous scholars in journalism and communication studies. First, it examines the research achievements of the new generation of academic leaders in journalism and communication studies, showcasing the new level of discipline construction that is continuously deepening and expanding. Second, it systematically introduces the research fields and representative works of new leading scholars in journalism and communication studies, promoting communication and complementarity between the discipline and other humanities and social sciences. Third, it provides a platform for young students of journalism and communication studies to understand the academic views and research methods of their mentors. Due to various reasons, there are few journals that publish academic papers in journalism and communication studies, and reading these papers is quite challenging. Publishing a collection can provide some convenience. For the invited scholars selected for this series, there are several considerations. First, they are leading figures in a specific professional field or research direction in journalism and communication studies. Second, they have a certain national influence. Third, they are active doctoral supervisors. Fourth, they have a relatively broad readership. Given that there are dozens of scholars nationwide who meet these criteria, and lacking experience in editing such series, we plan to start with the first installment, inviting eight renowned scholars. Since this is a self-selected series, it naturally reflects the individual styles of the authors. However, as part of a series, there should be some similarities or consistencies. After discussions among the eight authors, the following requirements are adopted for each selected works in the series: First, respect the original historical context, making minimal changes to the selected articles, such as correcting typos, while preserving the essence of the content. Second, each book will include a photograph of the author, an academic profile, and an interview-style text where the author discusses their academic experiences, insights, and reflections. Third, each book will be approximately 300,000 to 350,000 words in length.
At the end, as the editor, I would like to represent the eight selected authors in expressing our respect to our mentors. Without their cultivation, we would not have achieved what we have today. We extend our greetings to our students, whose diligence and achievements demonstrate the value of our work. We express our gratitude to the leadership and editors of Fudan University Press, whose support and opportunities allowed us, as scholars, to publish this self-selected series and reflect on our journey. We eagerly await the readers' criticism of this series. We will use their feedback to make future installments even better.
Journalism and communication studies are emerging disciplines within the broader field of humanities and social sciences. In China, the study of journalism has a history of nearly a century, while the study of communication has gained widespread attention and research over the past three decades. Through the efforts of scholars in journalism and communication studies, the discipline has transformed from being dismissed by some industry professionals as "a discipline without a discipline" to becoming a "prestigious discipline." In the national discipline catalog, it has evolved from being a secondary discipline under Chinese language and literature to becoming an independent first-tier discipline. The past two decades since the reform and opening up have been a period of rapid development for journalism and communication studies in China. Theories of journalism, the history of journalism, press law, journalistic ethics, radio and television, and public supervision have been comprehensively explored. Research on journalistic theory has expanded from pure party newspaper theory to general journalistic theory. The study of communication has been deeply integrated with sociology, psychology, anthropology, law, and economics externally, and with journalism internally, achieving significant progress. Research on basic theories of communication, critical theories of communication, as well as the study of communication and public opinion, semiotics, and new media and media economics have all garnered attention. Journalism and communication studies have entered a stage of integration with other humanities and social sciences, with multidisciplinary academic development.
The current prosperity and development of Chinese journalism and communication studies are the result of the hard work of several generations of scholars. From the early 20th century to the present, the academic community of journalism and communication studies in China has passed down the torch, with each generation leading the field for several years. Among them, the outstanding figures are all considered "famous scholars" and have contributed to the prosperity and development of Chinese journalism and communication studies. The authors included in this series are the new generation of "famous scholars" in Chinese journalism and communication studies who have emerged since the reform and opening up. Most of them come from universities or other teaching and research positions, are leading figures in contemporary journalism and communication studies in one aspect, and are distinguished scholars with extensive knowledge and a strong reputation. Compared to their predecessors, the "famous scholars" of this generation have the following characteristics: (1) A solid foundation in humanities theory; (2) A reasonable and comprehensive knowledge structure; (3) Up-to-date knowledge of disciplinary frontiers; (4) Active and innovative thinking, avoiding rigid adherence to tradition; (5) Exposure to the reforms and opening up, as well as the integration of Eastern and Western cultures, with a broad academic perspective. They are a generation of innovators and, like the (: surpassing the teacher), they surpass their predecessors.
It is a good publishing idea to have "famous scholars" in journalism and communication studies publish "self-selected works." First, all the works are by "famous scholars," ensuring a certain level of quality and avoiding the confusion or misjudgment that can arise from selecting among numerous new publications. Second, all the works are "self-selected," meaning the selected works are necessarily personal treasures that the authors are satisfied with and believe can endure. This avoids the waste of resources and the misguidance of others, while also significantly reducing the financial burden on readers and students. This will be highly beneficial for society, academia, and cultural development. I congratulate the publication of this series of "Selected Works by Famous Scholars in Journalism and Communication Studies" and believe it will certainly attract the attention and welcome of journalism and communication scholars and students both at home and abroad.