Yuming Yu: Selected Works: No Choice: A Theoretical Confession of a Media Scholar

Author: Yu Guoming
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-05-01
Features: This series of "Selected Works of 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 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 favorable atmosphere, the long-interrupted research on journalism and communication studies resumed. At the turn of the centuries, 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 are the pioneers and trailblazers of journalism research and education 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 and theoretical research. Under their mentorship, a new generation of scholars has emerged. The new generation of leaders was born in the tide of reform and opening up. Building upon the theories, knowledge, and methods of their predecessors, they have made 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. 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 has been continuously deepened and expanded. Second, it systematically introduces the research fields and representative works of new leaders 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, journals publishing academic papers on journalism and communication studies are both scarce and scattered, making it quite difficult to access these papers. 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 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 with no prior experience in editing such a series, we plan to start with the first volume, inviting eight renowned scholars. Since this is a self-selected series, it should reflect the individual styles of the authors. However, as part of a series, it should also have similarities or consistencies. After discussions among the eight authors, the following requirements have been agreed upon for the individual selected works in the series: First, respect the original context of the articles, making only minor technical edits such as correcting typos. Second, each volume 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 volume 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 greetings to our students, whose diligence and efforts have demonstrated the value of our work. We express our gratitude to the leaders and editors of Fudan University Press, as it is their provision of space and opportunities that allowed us, these scholars, to publish this selected works series and reflect on our journey. We quietly await the criticism of readers for this series. We will improve future volumes based on their feedback.
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 attention and research on communication have also spanned nearly 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 "discipline of prominence." 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, journalism history, press law, journalistic ethics, radio and television, and public supervision have been comprehensively expanded. Research on journalistic theory has also shifted from pure party newspaper theory to general journalistic theory. The study of communication has permeated sociology, psychology, anthropology, law, and economics externally, while integrating with journalism internally, achieving significant growth. Research on basic theories of communication, critical theories of communication, as well as communication public opinion studies and semiotics, have garnered attention. The study of new media and media economics has also become a hot topic. Journalism and communication studies have entered a stage of integration with other humanities and social sciences, with multidimensional 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 renowned scholars who have contributed to the prosperity and development of Chinese journalism and communication studies. The authors included in this series are the new generation of "renowned scholars" in Chinese journalism and communication studies who emerged after 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 a particular field, and are outstanding scholars with extensive knowledge and a strong reputation. Compared to their predecessors, the "renowned 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 thinking, avoiding rigid adherence to tradition or self-imposed limitations; (5) Exposure to the reforms and opening up, as well as the integration of Chinese and Western cultures, with a broad academic perspective. They are a generation of innovators and, in many ways, surpass their predecessors.
It is a good publishing idea to have the "renowned scholars" of journalism and communication studies publish "self-selected works." First, all are from "renowned scholars." If they are "renowned scholars," there is a certain guarantee of quality, avoiding the confusion or misjudgment that can arise from selecting among the numerous new specialized works. Second, all are "self-selected." If they are "self-selected," the works must be that the authors are satisfied with and believe can endure. This avoids the waste of resources or misleading of readers and students, and can significantly reduce 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 of 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.
Fang Hanqi
February 19, 2004
Beijing, Yiyuan