China Network News Industry Management

Author: Du Junfei
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-07-01
Features: Since the State Council Academic Degrees Committee elevated Journalism and Communication to a first-tier discipline in 1997, China's discipline construction in Journalism and Communication has made remarkable progress and significant development, which has also raised new and higher requirements for teaching, research, and academic publishing. Following the launch of the "21st Century Series of Textbooks in Journalism and Communication" by China Renmin University Press in 1999, more than ten publishers such as Beijing Broadcasting University Press, Huaxia Publishing House, Nanjing University Press, Chinese Social Sciences Press, and Xinhua Publishing House have successively released textbooks and Chinese translations of classic works by international masters in Journalism and Communication. However, monographs that signify the academic level of the discipline and reflect the latest domestic research achievements remain scarce. During the same period, China's Journalism and Communication education has made substantial progress. The number of professional programs in Journalism and Communication surged from 66 in 1994 to 232 in 2001. Statistics show that the number of undergraduates and college students enrolled in Journalism and Communication programs across the country has reached over 50,000. Degree education in Journalism and Communication has also seen new growth. Currently, there are eight doctoral programs and 40 master's programs nationwide. A group of research-oriented departments, such as the School of Journalism at Renmin University of China and the School of Journalism at Fudan University, are rising. The Journalism and Communication education at Peking University and Tsinghua University, characterized by high starting points and multidisciplinary approaches, has opened a new chapter in the vigorous development of these two century-old institutions. Beijing Broadcasting University has made remarkable achievements and joined the ranks of top institutions in Journalism and Communication education in China. The School of Journalism and Communication at Wuhan University and other institutions have showcased their unique charm and appeal by expanding their programs and research initiatives following the establishment of doctoral programs. Both academia and society eagerly anticipate these "tiers" of Chinese Journalism and Communication education to contribute new works and achievements to advance discipline construction. Since the beginning of the new century, with the rapid popularization of new media as a breakthrough point in communication, the collaboration between new and traditional media, and the growing active participation of hundreds of millions of Chinese in mass communication, China's journalism and media industry has experienced comprehensive and leapfrogging development. The public's use of mass media has never been more widespread, timely, and indispensable, making it difficult to escape the profound influence of pervasive and omnipresent mass media. Mass communication education targeting the entire population has become an urgent task for society, especially for educators in Journalism and Communication. Providing high-quality works in Journalism and Communication to the public has become an urgent priority for the current academic community in this field. All of this indicates that publishing a high-level academic series in Journalism and Communication that meets the needs of discipline construction, professional education, and social education is a significant and meaningful endeavor with both academic and practical value. The launch of the "Journalism and Communication Library" is one of the fruits of scholars' collective efforts in this direction. The "Journalism and Communication Library" aims to bring new breakthroughs to the discipline: exploring new systems, arguing new academic perspectives, finding new research methods, employing new discourse, and discovering new writing approaches. In short, compared to existing achievements in journalism or communication, the works in this library should offer some innovation, express new ideas, and radiate a sense of creativity. Innovation first lies in the rejection of old systems, old concepts, and old practices. This rejection is necessary because theoretical innovation is the right of human and social science workers, and keeping pace with the times is the theoretical quality of Marxism. Disciplines must evolve by discarding the old and embracing the new. Engels once pointed out that our theory is a developing theory, not a set of dogmas that must be memorized and mechanically repeated. A Russian writer recalled a conversation with Engels, saying that Engels hoped the Russians—not just the Russians—would not rigidly adhere to Marx and his words but would think like Marx based on their own circumstances. Only in this sense does the term "Marxist" have any meaning. China is different from foreign countries, the old China is different from the new China, and the first three decades of the new China are different from the last two decades. Under the current historical conditions, researching contemporary Chinese Journalism and Communication should naturally adopt methods and conclusions different from those of foreign countries, the old China, and the first three decades. Therefore, the "Journalism and Communication Library" demands that authors and their works: grasp the characteristics of the times, adapt to the demands of the times, keep pace with the times, and lead the times, with the theoretical courage and boldness of Marxism, delve into the social transformation from a planned economy to a market economy, explore the complex sender-receiver relationships between the Party, government, media, and audiences, research new problems, seek new methods, acquire new knowledge, discover new perspectives, and argue new conclusions. This is the purpose of the library and the expectation for its authors. We hope that every work and every author in the library can guide readers to the academic of Journalism and Communication, opening up a new academic realm for them. Innovation inevitably involves risks. The awareness of innovation and risk are intertwined. Innovation means doing what no one has done before or saying what no one has said before, or overturning what has been done or correcting what has been said. This rejection of old systems, old concepts, and old ideas, this challenge to traditional conventions and outdated doctrines, and this critique of long-cherished old perspectives and discourse will inevitably face suppression and attacks from old forces. Therefore, scholars who are dedicated to theoretical innovation must constantly remind themselves of the importance of risk awareness. Moreover, given the rapid social progress and the swift development of the journalism and media industry, the discipline construction of Journalism and Communication appears relatively slow and lagging. In such circumstances, the correctness and scientific validity of some new perspectives and insights from the authors and works of the "Journalism and Communication Library" may sometimes be difficult to verify. Even if some correct new views and insights become a consensus among society and scholars, it will depend on practice and time. Therefore, while promoting innovation, authors must also possess an equally strong sense of risk awareness. We call on society and scholars to show the authors and works of the library the utmost tolerance and support. This does not exclude but genuinely welcomes criticism of the works, as rigorous and responsible criticism is the truest form of support for authors and their works. Of course, the "Journalism and Communication Library" has the responsibility to require authors to provide academic achievements that result from deep research, thorough exploration, careful writing, and genuine insights. These works may expand new areas in the academic field of Journalism and Communication, clarify certain old systems or concepts, present arguments for media and communication authorities, or offer new interpretations of overseas works in Journalism and Communication using the Chinese language and traditional culture. In summary, the library should and must provide high-quality works in academic research on Journalism and Communication. The editing and publication of this library adhere to the principle of "less but better," selecting three to five outstanding works from the research achievements of numerous scholars at Renmin University of China and its affiliates each year. After three to four years, the library will become a comprehensive collection, standing proudly among academic research achievements in Journalism and Communication and even in the broader field of human and social sciences. As the new century turns the page, China Renmin University Press, after meticulous planning and thorough organization, has launched this library. I am deeply impressed and grateful for the strategic vision of the publisher and the collaborative spirit of the authors. I hope to work together with everyone to make this library even better.