论媒介技术演化和媒介制度变迁的内在关联

On the Interrelationship between Media Technology Evolution and the Changes of Media System

在媒介技术与媒介制度的关系上,技术决定论与制度决定论都失之片面。由于媒介技术的演化,媒介政策会随之调整。媒介技术的发展使新的媒介形态演化出来,加剧了不同媒介形态之间的竞争,成为媒介制度变迁的动力机制之一。新媒介的出现使传播渠道、传播主体、传播功能与传播效果都发生了巨大的变化,信息的生产、传播和过滤成本发生改变,也能够影响到媒介的制度安排。由于媒介技术的进步,国际和国内这两种制度体系的比较与交流变得更为明显和迅速,其溢出效应同样会影响到媒介制度变迁。从长远来看,人们有理由对媒介新技术与社会民主之间的关系保持乐观。但媒介技术本身是价值中立的,它不能决定是促进还是延缓媒介制度的变迁,关键还得看这项技术掌握在谁的手里。

On the media system technology and media relations, both technique determinism and policy determinism are one-sided. With the evolution of media technology, media policy would be adjusted. The development of new media forms has exacerbated competition among the media, becoming one of the driving forces for media system changes. The emergence of new media has caused tremendous changes in communication channels, the main transmission, dissemination and communication functions, which can also affect the media＇s institutional arrangements. With the development of new media technology, both international and domestic systems of comparison and exchanges become more visible and rapid, and its spillover effect will also affect the media system changes. In the long run, people have every reason to be optimistic about the relationship between new media technology and democracy. However, media technology itself is neutral, it can not decide or delay media policies. The key to this technology is its belonging.