Week 3

McChesney (2015) points out that media is fundamentally a matter of political economy. It is both a tool for disseminating information and an important part of the distribution of resources and power in society. In particular, China, as a socialist country, has an economic system based on the public ownership system as the mainstay, with a model of joint development of multiple ownership economies. This unique economic framework has shaped China’s media, making it socialist and deeply influenced by marketisation.

China’s traditional media (e.g., People’s Daily, Xinhua, etc.) are directly managed by the government, and their core mission is to publicise central government policies, convey the will of the state and guide public opinion. This type of media not only undertakes the duty of news reporting but also serves the propaganda needs of the party and government. Because of the need to maintain a correct political orientation at all times, their content is subject to strict scrutiny to ensure it is in line with socialist principles.

After the Reform and Opening-up in the 1980s, Chinese media gradually became commercialised and market forces began to influence the operation of media institutions. Advertising revenue has become an important economic source for many media outlets, with capital and ideology influencing each other. In the case of the Global Times and Tianjin Daily, although these media still operate under government supervision, their mode of operation is more flexible and the content of their reporting has begun to move closer to marketisation.。

The rapid development of digital technology has made new media an important part of China’s media system. Platforms such as Weibo and Douyin have quickly overtaken traditional media and become the mainstream channels for the public to access information.

Despite the strict ideological control of the Chinese media, some media institutions still show a degree of democratisation. For example, The Paper emphasises fact-checking and in-depth reporting, and it combines new media forms such as audio and video to enhance user experience, and it promotes transparency through open data. This practice demonstrates a high level of professional media spirit. Zhihu‘s user-generated content provides the public with a space for open discussion and improves the quality and credibility of information by inviting experts to answer hot topics. In addition, internet platforms offer new possibilities for democratisation. Short video platforms such as Douyin encourage users to post diverse content and offer a variety of formats. However, these platforms remain regulated, and certain controversial topics may not be adequately discussed. Carah (2021) points out that collaborative filtering recommendations of digital platforms may exacerbate the problem of information cocooning. In the case of Douyin, the platform pushes content based on user interests, which improves the experience of using it but may also lead to limiting users’ exposure to information and diminishing diversity.

The future development of China’s media will continue to be influenced by a combination of technology, policy and the market. Under the current paradigm, the media is expected to be further democratised by increasing transparency of content, encouraging open discussion and enhancing public trust in the media. Optimise collaborative filtering recommendations at the technical level to avoid single information dissemination and provide a broader perspective. Balance policy control and freedom of content creation to create more space for diversified expression in new media. Chinese media as a complex system, under the influence of the socialist market economy system, is very different from Western media. Although it still faces challenges, technological advances, policy adjustments and market demand will provide more possibilities for its future development.