%0 Journal Article %1 akhavanmajid2004mmr %A Akhavan-Majid, R. %D 2004 %J International Communication Gazette %K China Chinese_media market-oriented media_commercialization media_reform non-state_actors party-state %N 6 %P 553 %R 10.1177/0016549204047576 %T Mass Media Reform in China: Toward a New Analytical Framework %V 66 %X Department of Mass Communications, St Cloud State University, rmajid@stcloudstate.edu Historically, analyses of change in mass media systems have tended to draw upon a ‘dissident vs state’ framework, derived largely from the western historical experience. In the case of China, a ‘state vs market’ scenario has been superimposed on this basic framework, in the context of which the Chinese Communist party-state is often portrayed as a monolithic entity intent on promoting market-oriented reform in China’s economic base, while keeping a tight grip on the country’s mass media system and political superstructure. These dominant analytical frameworks tend to mask a number of important dynamics unique to Chinese history and society, that have played a significant role in the mass media transformation process. The purpose of this article is to outline a new conceptual framework incorporating these unique dynamics. In particular, it is the contention of this article that many of the changes in China’s mass media system during the post-Mao period have been achieved by non-state actors, not in an adversarial process vis-à-vis the state, but through what may be called ‘creative renegotiation and expansion’ of new policy openings initiated by the state. The success of these non-state actors, furthermore, has been due to three major systemic factors: (1) the increasing ‘deideologization’ of the Chinese society set in motion by Deng’s pragmatic policies; (2) the gradual functional shift on the part of the local party cadres and bureaucratic authorities from ideological supervision to entrepreneurial collaboration with private investors; and (3) the increasingly common core of interest created by the media’s commercialization among the party cadres, bureaucratic bodies and media entrepreneurs and managers in extracting profits from the media.

@article{akhavanmajid2004mmr, __markedentry = {[afeld]}, abstract = {Department of Mass Communications, St Cloud State University, rmajid@stcloudstate.edu Historically, analyses of change in mass media systems have tended to draw upon a ‘dissident vs state’ framework, derived largely from the western historical experience. In the case of China, a ‘state vs market’ scenario has been superimposed on this basic framework, in the context of which the Chinese Communist party-state is often portrayed as a monolithic entity intent on promoting market-oriented reform in China’s economic base, while keeping a tight grip on the country’s mass media system and political superstructure. These dominant analytical frameworks tend to mask a number of important dynamics unique to Chinese history and society, that have played a significant role in the mass media transformation process. The purpose of this article is to outline a new conceptual framework incorporating these unique dynamics. In particular, it is the contention of this article that many of the changes in China’s mass media system during the post-Mao period have been achieved by non-state actors, not in an adversarial process vis-à-vis the state, but through what may be called ‘creative renegotiation and expansion’ of new policy openings initiated by the state. The success of these non-state actors, furthermore, has been due to three major systemic factors: (1) the increasing ‘deideologization’ of the Chinese society set in motion by Deng’s pragmatic policies; (2) the gradual functional shift on the part of the local party cadres and bureaucratic authorities from ideological supervision to entrepreneurial collaboration with private investors; and (3) the increasingly common core of interest created by the media’s commercialization among the party cadres, bureaucratic bodies and media entrepreneurs and managers in extracting profits from the media.}, added-at = {2008-06-01T16:51:41.000+0200}, author = {Akhavan-Majid, R.}, biburl = {https://www.bibsonomy.org/bibtex/29aa8d6528e71b63ea7de9e61d5030556/acf}, description = {May08}, doi = {10.1177/0016549204047576}, interhash = {00cef38d517689621e9daef0f6660499}, intrahash = {9aa8d6528e71b63ea7de9e61d5030556}, journal = {International Communication Gazette}, keywords = {China Chinese_media market-oriented media_commercialization media_reform non-state_actors party-state}, number = 6, pages = 553, timestamp = {2008-06-01T16:51:43.000+0200}, title = {{Mass Media Reform in China: Toward a New Analytical Framework}}, volume = 66, year = 2004 }