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Behind the ‘Great Firewall’

Decoding China's Internet Media Policies from the Inside

San Francisco State University, USA

This study examines China's current internet media policy in terms of the nature of the policy, the policymaking process, major forces driving the policy and future trends. Through face-to-face, in-depth interviews of 19 high-ranking Chinese policymakers, this study provides unusual insight on these issues from an inside perspective. A ‘push and control’ internet policy suggests that the leadership has relaxed in its ideological claims, yet still wants to control online content. China has also shifted the media policymaking process from the Party to government operation. The Party's road map for economic prosperity has been a key driving force in this shift and ensures that internet policy is heading in a positive direction, though it is not straightforward. Finally, the policymakers’ attitudes toward the new media and value transformation have had a significant influence on policy formation. The study proved premises from both communication and development and media dependency theories with regard to the case of the internet in China. It is the first research project of its kind on the topic.

Key Words: China • internet media policy • new media • online content regulation • policymaking

Convergence: The International Journal of Research into New Media Technologies, Vol. 12, No. 3, 271-291 (2006)
DOI: 10.1177/1354856506067201


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