Rule of law and self-discipline

Author: Xu Jiabiao
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-07-01
Features: "The spirit is novelty without fixed rules" can be roughly summarized as the main purpose and intention of the planners, authors, and publishers of the "Fudan 'Guanghua' Young Scholars Series in Journalism and Communication Studies." As an independent branch of humanities, journalism and communication studies have been in existence for less than a century. However, in recent years, especially since China's reform and opening-up, the discipline has been elevated from a secondary to a primary academic field. The various sub-disciplines under it, such as the history and theory of journalism and communication, practical journalism and communication, management of news media, radio and television studies, advertising studies, public relations studies, and comparative journalism and communication, have produced an overwhelming number of books and textbooks globally, almost innumerable. But there is no need to avoid the fact that the related fields of journalism and communication education and the development of news media industries have advanced too rapidly. This has both deepened the construction of the discipline and inevitably brought about superficiality and shallowness. The low-level, simplistic repetition in the writing of journalism and communication books and papers is more serious compared to other disciplines. Adding to this, the influence of improper commercial practices and decadent social trends in recent years has further negatively impacted journalism and communication research. It is precisely in this atmosphere and environment that a group of young scholars from Fudan's School of Journalism and Communication, united by a shared vision, have jointly launched this series of books, which holds great significance and is truly commendable. Some of them remain to teach at the School of Journalism, others have already taken teaching positions at other universities, and some work at academic journals in the field. Most of them, "with elders above and children below," bear the heavy burdens of both teaching and social work. Yet they remain steadfast in their pursuit of knowledge, undeterred by hardships. What is even more admirable is that they refuse to settle for the ordinary and are willing to tackle difficult challenges. The topics selected for the series are all of considerable difficulty. Some of these topics are new areas in the discipline of journalism and communication studies that urgently need in-depth exploration, others are new explorations in interdisciplinary research, some attempt to use new methods like ethnography to interpret new research subjects, and others are major issues that demand breakthroughs in the current reform of news media systems. It is believed that this series will certainly spark a lively response in academia after its publication. Over the years, many series, collections, and series of books in the field of journalism and communication studies have emerged, mostly written by middle-aged or elderly scholars or led by so-called "authority scholars." This series, however, is different—it is entirely composed of PhDs (with a few currently pursuing their doctorates) as authors. Yet these young scholars are mostly leaders in their respective departments, such as deans, department heads, or leaders of teaching and research divisions, with mature academic perspectives and strong research capabilities. Especially in their sensitivity to new phenomena in journalism and communication, their acceptance of new knowledge from abroad, and their grasp of new research methods, they each have unique insights. They are not accustomed to following the old path and dislike repeating others' ideas and conclusions. They cannot be confined within old viewpoints, old thinking, or old frameworks. The phrase "The spirit is novelty without fixed rules" truly and extremely accurately depicts the spirit, theoretical courage, and academic style of these young scholars. The series is named "Fudan 'Guanghua'." "Guanghua" is the spiritual origin of Fudan's name. In the "Book of Documents·Yuxia Bo," it is said, "The sun and the moon shine with brilliance, and Fudan rises in the morning." "Guanghua" refers not only to brilliance but also to inheriting tradition and promoting it to greater heights. These young students have named their series "Fudan 'Guanghua'" to express, through concrete actions, their love for their alma mater and their aspirations for self-improvement. The publication of this series serves as a test of the guiding principles, teaching policies, and training methods for postgraduate education in journalism and communication studies in China, as well as an evaluation of Fudan's doctoral training program, guidance methods, and teaching quality in journalism and communication studies. Ten PhDs who have only held their degrees for one or two years have produced ten monographs at once, which is truly quite remarkable. Moreover, the topics of these books are targeted at the forefront of academia and are of considerable difficulty. If these books can gain popularity among readers after entering the market, they will not only have social benefits but also economic benefits, truly achieving "a new opening." These books and the PhDs who wrote them set an example for those currently pursuing their doctorates in school, as well as for more master's and undergraduate students, on how to，，，. The features of this "Young Scholars Series in Journalism and Communication Studies" are extensive themes—covering media and politics, media and culture, media and society, media management and operations, media law and ethics, and media and audiences; appropriate methods—combining speculation with empirical research, integrating diverse approaches, and drawing from the strengths of others; and significant meaning—both in that the topics explored in these manuscripts are urgent issues and in that the viewpoints and conclusions presented offer valuable insights.