Chronology of Chinese Journalism (Volume 1, 2, 3)

Author: Fang Hanqi
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2000-09-01
Features: The China Chronicle of Journalism is a meticulously crafted work by the journalism historian Fang Hanqi, recently published by Fujian People's Publishing House after 20 years of refinement. The book covers the history of Chinese journalism from the year of the birth of the first ancient Chinese newspaper—713 AD—to the year before its final completion in 1997, spanning 1,284 years. It includes content on newspapers, news agencies, radio, television, electronic publications, major events in the journalism field, prominent figures, news photography, press laws, journalism education, journalism research, as well as advertising, supplements, newspaper layouts, printing, distribution, and media management. The entries are organized chronologically by year, month, and day, with clear threads and appropriate levels of detail.
China is the world's first country to have newspapers and the first to develop a journalism industry. If we count from the oldest newspaper in China and the world, the Kaiyuan Miscellaneous News, Chinese journalism has a history of over 1,300 years. Over the millennia, China's journalism industry has undergone remarkable transformations. The China Chronicle of Journalism is a comprehensive chronicle dedicated to documenting the history of Chinese journalism, and its academic and reference value is self-evident.
The China Chronicle of Journalism is divided into three volumes, totaling 2.17 million words, and was published by Fujian People's Publishing House in September 2000. Fang Hanqi, a member of the Academic Evaluation Committee of the State Council and president of the Chinese Journalism History Society, served as the chief editor. The book records events chronologically by year, month, and day, starting from 713 AD, the year of the birth of the first ancient Chinese newspaper, and ending in 1997, the year before its final completion, covering a span of 1,284 years. Its content encompasses newspapers, news agencies, radio, television, electronic publications, major events in the journalism field, prominent figures, news photography, press laws, journalism education, journalism research, as well as advertising, supplements, newspaper layouts, printing, distribution, and media management, making it a comprehensive collection.
Despite the complexity of a millennium's worth of history, the book occasionally quotes original texts for specific entries to save readers the effort of cross-referencing. At the end of the book, an index of newspaper founding years is included, which is detailed, well-organized, and easy to use, requiring the compilers to spend over six months to complete. This book is a thorough reference tool for journalists, journalism educators, and researchers, as well as a valuable guide for cultural workers, historians, and international scholars seeking to understand the history and current state of Chinese journalism.
During the writing process, the author not only referenced and drew upon existing historical records, monographs, and papers on journalism history but also examined representative publications from the past century, extracting a large amount of original material. Based on the original sources and the latest research findings, the book has corrected over 2,000 errors in historical facts and timelines in previously published works. For ambiguous historical accounts, careful verification was conducted, and the most reliable information was chosen. Statistics show that the book has corrected more than 2,000 inaccuracies, and the accuracy of its historical records far surpasses that of existing journalism history monographs.