喉舌本位与自由本位——中西媒介理论传统比较

Tongue Standard and Freedom Standard——Comparison between Chinese-western Media Theory Traditions

媒介理论是一个国家赖以制定新闻政策、新闻法规的理论依据,是新闻工作的理论指导。中国的媒介理论中常用"喉舌"一词来形象表述媒体的根本性质和作用。中国的喉舌思想缘起于封建社会,到了近代上升为新闻理论。马克思列宁主义主张喉舌论。喉舌论是新中国媒介最根本的指导思想,媒介作为国家的"喉舌,"必须保证其社会主义性质,为社会主义政治、经济、文化服务。西方媒介理论经历了自由主义论到社会责任论的过程,但后者是对前者的改良而不是颠覆,目的恰恰是为了更好地维护新闻自由。追根溯源,中西媒介理论的形成和发展取决于各自的政治、经济、文化基础。

Media theory which guides the journalism is the theoretical basis for a country to enact the journalism rules of law and journalism polieies. In Chinese media theory,＂tongue＂is used to allegorize the nature and function of mass media. ＂Tongue＂ theory is the radical guidelines for Chinese media. As a ＂tongue＂ of the country media not only guarantee the nature of socialism, but also serve the socialist polities and economy. Western media theory has evolved from liberalism theory to social responsibility theory.The latter is not a rebellion but all improvement of the former which can protect the freedom of journalism better. Traced to the source, Chinese-western media theory traditions are determined by their respective politics, economy and euhure.