A historical overview of the social responsibility of journalists in China

this paper provides a comprehensive study of the evolution of the concept of social responsibility among journalists in China, viewed through the prism of deep historical transformations and current challenges of our time. This analysis allows us to trace the complex and multifaceted path that Chinese journalism has taken and identify the key stages of its development. At the initial stage, in the period before the start of the policy of reform and openness, the social responsibility of a journalist was almost completely identical to high political responsibility. The media functioned as an integral part of a centralized state system, and the main task of journalists was to act as a mouthpiece for the party and the government, providing ideological support and mass mobilization. Responsibility to society was understood as responsibility to the state and its goals. However, in recent years, in the context of a radically changing global and domestic media environment, there has been a process of revival and rethinking of social responsibility. The development of the Internet, social networks, and citizen journalism has destroyed the monopoly of traditional media on information, creating a highly competitive field where audience trust is becoming a key asset. Against this background, professionalism, reliability and adherence to ethical principles once again come to the fore as a necessary condition for the survival and successful functioning of the media. The work highlights the crucial importance of the social responsibility of journalists in the new era. Its adequate implementation is the key to strengthening trust in the media, serves as a barrier to the spread of misinformation and contributes to the implementation of the most important ethical standards of the profession.

social responsibility, journalism in China, reform, ethics, media environment, information oversight