被忽视的新闻先驱:郭嵩焘与近代新闻纸的进入

The Neglected Pioneer of Journalism: Guo Songtao and the Entry of Modern Press

在梳理晚清重臣郭嵩焘的日记、文集和相关书信的基础上,结合其与《申报》的一段名誉诉讼案,意在揭示郭嵩焘对近代新闻纸进入中国社会所起到的重要作用。作为开明士大夫的典型代表,郭嵩焘因其自身独特的政治遭际,特别是担任驻英法两国大使期间的所见所闻,使得当时以报刊为代表的新媒介,逐渐成为他不可缺少的一种信息方式乃至思考方式、生活方式,进而使得其培养出了超出同时代士大夫们的新闻认知:他意识到了新闻纸可以弥补传统书籍的局限,在传播的时效性和范围上发挥重要作用,如若运用得当,甚至可能帮助政府向导万民,造福社会。此外,在出访英法期间,他和《申报》的一场名誉纠葛,不仅体现出传统士大夫阶层和新型报人群体间的权力博弈,更在有意无意之间,推动了近代新闻纸在中国的进入与发展,并使之逐渐成为政治的"晴雨表"与"播种机",在嵌入文化实践的同时,开始重塑新的传播网络与社会权力结构,从而为第一次办报高潮的到来奠定了基础。

On the basis of combing the diary, anthology and related letters of Guo Songtao in the late Qing Dynasty, this article is intended to reveal the important role Guo Songtao has played on the entry of modern press into Chinese society. The article holds that, as a typical representative of the enlightened scholar bureaucrat, his unique political circumstances, especially what he saw and heard while serving as an ambassador to Britain and France, the new media represented by newspapers and periodicals at that time gradually became an indispensable way of information, even thinking, and lifestyle for him, which in turn allowed him to cultivate a news consciousness beyond contemporary scholar bureaucrats. He realized that newspapers can make up for the limitations of traditional books, and they are playing an increasingly prominent role in the timeliness and scope of communication. If used properly, they may even help the government guide people and benefit the society. In addition, during his visit to Britain and France, a reputation dispute between himand Shenbao not only reflected the flow of power between traditional scholar bureaucrat class and new type of journalist group, but also intentionally or unintentionally, which promoted the entry and development of modern press in China. Gradually, the modern press has become a " barometer" and " sowing machine" for politics, and were embedded in cultural practice. At the same time, it began to reshape the new communication network and social structure, thus laying the foundation for the arrival of the first newspaper climax.