Red Net over China: China's New Online Media Order and its Implications

Abstract

A nation's media order is the fundamental structure, management strategy, and operational pattern of all the media organizations within one country. In this paper, through stylizing China's online media development in the past decade, and interviewing with insiders in several major online media in China, the author analyzed the evolution of China's new online media order and its major characteristics. The implications of this newly established online media order were also discussed.

Keywords:

• China
• Internet
• Media Order
• Online Media

Notes

1. From April 2003 to May 2004, the author of this paper conducted a number of telephone interviews with senior editors or chief managers of the following online media: www.xinhuanet.com, www.people.com.cn, www.sohu.com, www.sina.com.cn, www.eastday.com, www.qianlong.com. On the request of the interviewees, their identities will not be revealed in this paper.

2. Data retrieved July 29, 2003, from http://www.cnnic.cn/develst/2003-7/7-1.shtml

3. There is no explicit definition or requirement from the government with regard to how to identify or distinguish different types of online media. Here, the author introduced three slightly different media titles based on those online media's self-identifications.

4. News report on the People's Daily, October 14, 2003, titled ‘The Online Media Forum closed in Beijing’. Data retrieved August 10, 2004, from http://www.peopledaily.cn/GB/14677/22114/30056/30058/2133232.html

5. News report on the English version of People's Daily, November 9, 2000, titled ‘Regulating Internet news transmission’. Data retrieved August 10, 2004, from http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/english/200011/09/eng20001109_54742.html

6. Based on personal interviews with several commercial online media's managers or editors.

7. Based on personal interviews with several commercial online media's managers or editors.

8. Based on personal interviews with several commercial online media's managers or editors.

9. Based on a personal interview with a senior editor of www.peopledaily.com

10. Based on a personal interview with a senior manager of the www.xinhuanet.com

11. Based on several personal interviews with senior managers of www.people.com.cn and www.sina.com.cn

12. Based on a personal interview with a senior manager of People's Daily's website: www.peopledaily.com

13. Based on several personal interviews with a senior manager of the www.xinhuanet.com and a senior editor of the www.people.com.cn

14. The original policy can be accessed at http://www.gdca.gov.cn/zcfg/31.asp

15. Data retrieved May 2, 2005, at http://www.alexa.com/site/ds/top_sites?ts_mode=global& lang = none. The Alexa is one of several worldwide web trafficking auditors. It is in association with www.amazon.com

16. Based on a personal interview with a senior manager of the www.xinhuanet.com

17. Based on several personal interviews with a senior manager of the www.xinhuanet.com and a senior editor of the www.people.com.cn