Introduction to Film and Television Arts

Author: Ni Xiangbao
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2002-09-01
Features: Preface to the Revised Edition
In 1996, the School of Literature at Soochow University's Department of Journalism and Communication accepted the (commission) of the Jiangsu Provincial Self-Study Examination Committee to take charge of the main examination work for the junior college-level self-study examination in Jiangsu Province's journalism major. It also collaborated with the School of Journalism and Communication at Nanjing Normal University to jointly undertake the main examination work for the undergraduate-level self-study examination in Jiangsu Province's journalism major. To meet teaching needs, the Department of Journalism and Communication at the School of Literature at Soochow University compiled the "Modern Journalism and Communication Series" textbooks.
Self-study examinations are one form of national academic examinations. Their junior college (basic) and undergraduate levels align with the academic standards of regular higher education institutions, while their learning methods feature adult, part-time, and self-study characteristics. Therefore, when compiling the textbooks, we adhered to two principles: on one hand, we followed the teaching syllabus requirements of regular higher education institutions' journalism majors; on the other hand, we organized the knowledge points systematically and clearly according to self-study requirements, striving to enable readers to "teach themselves."
After publication, the textbooks were widely used in Jiangsu Province's self-study examinations and some provincial and municipal higher education institutions, receiving positive feedback and being reprinted several times. Journalism and communication is a discipline closely tied to societal development and highly practical. With the rapid growth of China's journalism and communication industry and the continuous expansion of reform and opening-up efforts, the knowledge in this field is constantly being updated, and the discipline is continuously improving. To avoid the "obsolescence" of textbook content and the detachment of theoretical construction from societal realities, we undertook a large-scale revision of the "Modern Journalism and Communication Series."
This revision was guided by two principles: 1. To incorporate as much new research achievements from domestic and international journalism and communication as possible, guiding students to the forefront of the discipline through the textbooks. 2. To maintain the original textbooks' self-study-friendly features—clear concepts, well-organized knowledge points, and concise, lucid explanations.
In the original preface, we stated: "The development of a discipline is boundless, and textbook compilation is merely a ( - stage achievement). We hope to receive feedback from all sides to make it even better in future revisions." On the occasion of this revised edition's publication, we reiterate this wish, hoping that our textbooks will become more contemporary as they gradually improve.
This series has been renamed the "21st Century Journalism and Communication Series." The revised series can not only serve as self-study materials for journalism majors but also be used in higher education institutions. The original planner of this series, Professor Zhu Donglin, devoted significant effort to the selection of topics, drafting, and reviewing. Soochow University Press placed great importance on the publication of these textbooks, with relevant personnel specifically planning the revision, setting clear requirements for the revision's guiding principles, format, schedule, and layout, and making meticulous arrangements. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to them.
Due to the rapid development of science and technology in the journalism and communication industry, innovation is the eternal theme of this discipline. Therefore, paying attention to the theoretical and practical development of this discipline will remain a long-term task for us. At the same time, we also look forward to expert and reader criticism and suggestions so that we can make corrections in future revisions.
"21st Century Journalism and Communication Series" Editorial Committee
July 30, 2002