The interaction between mass media and the internet in non-democratic states: The case of China

Lijun Tang*, Helen Sampson

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

<jats:p> The internet is widely seen to have facilitated social movement organizations (SMOs) by providing them with alternative media. In the western context, some authors suggest that additionally SMOs use the internet tactically as a tool to gain access to traditional news media. This usage is seen to reaffirm and reinforce the centrality of print and electronic news media. This article shifts the focus to China and examines the interaction between the internet and the traditional mass media in the unfolding of three internet incidents. It reveals that via the expression of public opinion on the internet ordinary people are able to collectively shape and even direct conventional news agendas. In China, where the role of the media is to ‘direct’ public opinion rather than to reflect it, this suggests that the interaction between the two forms of communication serves to challenge state control over the traditional media. </jats:p>
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)457-471
Number of pages0
JournalMedia, Culture &amp; Society
Volume34
Issue number4
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - May 2012

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