News Value Theory (News Communication Studies Library)

Author: Yang Baojun
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2003-06-02
Features: Since the State Council Academic Degrees Committee elevated Journalism and Communication to a first-tier discipline in 1997, the discipline in China has experienced rapid progress and significant development, placing new and higher demands on 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, over a dozen publishers such as Beijing Broadcasting University Press, Huaxia Publishing House, Nanjing University Press, Chinese Social Sciences Press, and Xinhua Publishing House have introduced textbooks and translated classics of international journalism and communication scholars. However, monographs that represent 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 strides. The number of professional programs in journalism and communication surged from 66 in 1994 to 232 in 2001. Statistics show that there are over 50,000 undergraduates and college students enrolled in journalism and communication programs nationwide. Degree education in journalism and communication has also seen new growth. Currently, China has eight doctoral programs and 40 master's programs in the field. 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 emerging. The journalism and communication education at Peking University and Tsinghua University, with its high starting point and multidisciplinary approach, has opened a new chapter in the vigorous development of these century-old institutions. Beijing Broadcasting University has risen to the ranks of top journalism and communication education institutions in China with remarkable achievements. The School of Journalism and Communication at Wuhan University and others have been showcasing 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 the discipline's development. Since the beginning of the new century, with the rapid popularization of new media as a breakthrough point, the collaboration between traditional and new media, and the growing active participation of hundreds of millions of Chinese in mass communication, China's journalism and media industry has experienced comprehensive leapfrog development. The public's use of mass media has never been more widespread, timely, and indispensable, making it impossible to escape the profound influence of pervasive and omnipresent mass media. Mass media education for the entire population in journalism and communication has become an urgent task for society, especially for educators in the field. Providing high-quality journalism and communication works to the public has become a pressing mission for the current academic community. All this indicates that publishing a high-level academic series in journalism and communication that meets the needs of discipline development, professional education, and social education is a significant and meaningful endeavor. The launch of the "Journalism and Communication Library" is one such achievement of scholars working together toward this goal. The "Journalism and Communication Library" aims to bring new breakthroughs in the discipline: exploring new systems, arguing new academic perspectives, finding new research methods, employing new discourses, and discovering new writing styles. In short, compared to existing journalism or communication achievements, the works in the library should offer some innovation, speak new truths, 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, as progress with the times is a hallmark of Marxist theory, and discarding the old and embracing the new is the only path to discipline development. Engels once pointed out that our theory is a developing one, not a set of dogmas to 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 must naturally adopt methods and conclusions distinct from 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 era, adapt to its requirements, keep pace with its progress, and lead the times, with the theoretical courage and boldness of Marxism, to delve into the social transformation from planned economy to market economy, to explore the complex relationships between the party, government, media, and audiences, to study new problems, seek new methods, acquire new knowledge, discover new perspectives, and argue new conclusions. This is the purpose of the library and the hope for its authors. We expect every work and every author in the library to help guide readers into the academic of journalism and communication, opening up a new academic landscape for them. Innovation inevitably carries 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 forces and outdated doctrines, this critique of long-cherished old perspectives and discourses, will inevitably attract suppression and attacks from old forces. Therefore, scholars dedicated to theoretical innovation must constantly remind themselves of the need for risk awareness. Moreover, given the rapid social progress and the swift development of the journalism and media industry, the discipline of journalism and communication seems relatively slow and lagging. In such circumstances, the correctness and scientific validity of some new perspectives and insights from authors and works in the library may sometimes be difficult to verify. Even if some correct new views and insights become consensus among society and scholars, they still depend on practice and time. Thus, 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 their works in the library the utmost tolerance and support. This does not exclude but genuinely welcomes criticism of the works, as rigorous and responsible criticism is precisely a form of love for the authors and their works. Of course, the "Journalism and Communication Library" holds the responsibility of requiring authors to provide academic achievements that reflect their 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 and concepts, present arguments for media and communication authorities, or offer new interpretations of overseas journalism and communication works 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 "few but excellent," selecting three to five outstanding works from the research achievements of scholars at Renmin University of China and its affiliates each year. After three to four years, the library will become a vast collection, standing proudly among academic research achievements in journalism and communication and even in the broader field of human and social sciences. Just as the new century has turned a new page, China Renmin University Press, after careful planning and thorough organization, has launched this library. I am deeply impressed and grateful for the strategic vision of the press and the collaborative spirit of the authors. I hope to work with everyone to make this library even better.