Legal framework, management, and self-regulation of Western media

Author: Wei Yongzheng
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2003-11-01
Features: Since the State Council Academic Degrees Committee elevated Journalism and Communication to a first-tier discipline in 1997, the discipline has made significant strides in China, bringing new and higher demands for teaching, research, and academic publishing. Following the launch of the "21st Century Series of Textbooks in Journalism and Communication" by the China Renmin University Press in 1999, over a dozen publishers such as Beijing Broadcasting University Press, Huaxia Publishing House, Nanjing University Press, Social Sciences Academic Press, and Xinhua Publishing House have introduced textbooks and Chinese translations of classic works by international journalism and communication scholars. However, monographs that signify the academic level of the discipline and reflect the latest domestic research outcomes remain scarce. During the same period, China's journalism and communication education has made considerable progress. 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 associate-degree students enrolled in journalism and communication programs nationwide. Degree education in the field has also expanded. Currently, China has eight doctoral programs and 40 master's programs in journalism and communication. A group of research-oriented institutions, 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, characterized by high standards and multidisciplinary approaches, has opened a new chapter in the vibrant development of these century-old institutions. Beijing Broadcasting University has risen to prominence in China's journalism and communication education. Institutions like the School of Journalism and Communication at Wuhan University 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 emerging forces in 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 spread 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, the journalism and communication industry in China 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 media. Mass media education targeting the entire population has become an urgent task for society, especially for journalism and communication educators. Providing high-quality journalism and communication literature to the public has become a pressing priority for the discipline today. All of this underscores the importance of publishing a high-level academic series in journalism and communication that meets the needs of discipline development, professional education, and social education. The launch of the "Journalism and Communication Library" is one such effort by scholars working toward this goal. The Library aims to bring new breakthroughs in the discipline: exploring new systems, arguing new perspectives, seeking new methodologies, employing new discourses, and discovering new writing approaches. In short, compared to existing achievements in journalism or communication, the Library's works should offer innovation, introduce fresh ideas, and embody a spirit of creativity. Innovation first lies in discarding outdated systems, concepts, and practices. This 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 to embrace the new is the only path to disciplinary development. Engels once noted that our theories are developmental, not rigid 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 blindly adhere to Marx and his words but would think like Marx based on their own circumstances. Only in this sense does the term "Marxist" hold 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 later two decades. Therefore, studying contemporary Chinese journalism and communication under the current historical conditions naturally requires methods and conclusions distinct from foreign, old China, and the first three decades. Thus, the "Journalism and Communication Library" demands that authors and their works: grasp the characteristics of the era, align with its demands, keep pace with its progress, and lead the times, using the theoretical courage and boldness of Marxism to delve into the social transformation from planned to market economy, explore the complex relationships between the party, government, media, and audiences, and research new issues, seek new methods, acquire new knowledge, discover new perspectives, and argue new conclusions. This is the purpose of the Library and our expectation of its authors. We hope that every work and every author in the Library will guide readers toward the academic of journalism and communication, opening up a new academic landscape for them. Innovation inevitably carries risks. A sense of innovation and risk-taking are intertwined. Innovation means doing what no one has done before, saying what no one has said before, or overturning what has been done or correcting what has been said. This challenge to outdated systems, concepts, and traditions, to traditional forces and obsolete doctrines, and to long-cherished views and discourses will inevitably provoke resistance and backlash from the old guard. Therefore, scholars committed to theoretical innovation must constantly remind themselves of the risks involved. Moreover, given the rapid social progress and the swift development of the media industry, the discipline 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 Library's authors and works may be difficult to verify. Even if some correct new ideas gain consensus among scholars and society, they still depend on practice and time. Thus, while fostering a spirit of innovation, authors must also possess an equally strong sense of risk. 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, as rigorous and responsible critique is the truest form of support for authors and their works. Of course, the "Journalism and Communication Library" holds the responsibility of demanding that authors submit works that reflect their dedicated research, in-depth exploration, meticulous writing, and genuine insights. These works may expand into new academic fields in journalism and communication, clarify certain outdated systems and concepts, present arguments for media regulatory bodies, or offer fresh interpretations of overseas works in journalism and communication through the lens of Chinese language and culture. In essence, the Library should and must provide premium academic research in journalism and communication. The editing and publication of this Library adhere to the principle of "few but excellent," selecting three to five outstanding works annually from the extensive research of scholars at Renmin University of China and beyond. After three to four years, the Library will have grown into a comprehensive collection, standing proudly among academic achievements in journalism and communication and even in the broader field of human and social sciences. As the new century unfolds, the China Renmin University Press, through 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 together with all of you to make this Library even better.