Debates Contribute to the Development of the Journalistic Science

Abstract

Seven major debates on journalism, which typify the Chinese journalism reform`s ideological and operational dilemmas, are discussed. These are: functions of journalism, the Party character and the people character, objective laws of journalism, guidance by public opinion and objectivity, socialist press freedom, criticism by the press, and guidance by the press. Although no conclusions have been reached, this article maintains that these debates have opened up Chinese journalists to alternatives and contributed to the development of journalism in China since reform was launched in 1979.