Abstract

The denouement of the democratic movement in Tiananmen Square in 1989 shocked the whole world. Complex social, political, economic reasons precipitated this tragedy. This thesis attempts to explore the tension between economic liberalization and political totalitarianism, and how it caused increasing contradictions in China's broadcasting system. 'Building socialist broadcasting with Chinese characteristics' was created as a creed of faith to stifle broadcasting reform. The content, the ideological and theoretical bases of this concept will be disclosed. By using the integrative model of media and culture, broadcasting reform from 1978-1994 will be analyzed within the context of political and economic integration as a whole. The critique is mainly based on the libertarian theory of the press. Much attention is paid to the influence and determination of political power on broadcasting policy making. The main points of this thesis are as follows: The Chinese Communist Party's monopoly of and autocracy in broadcasting has become an obstacle to broadcasting reform; has been shaken by the tremendous economic decentralization, and should be replaced by libertarianism so as to meet the people's demand for information and to regain its credibility

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