Construction Of The Authority Of The ¡¤ Consultation Specification - The U.s. Media Have Criticized The Interpretation

Regarding media criticism as a kind of narrative, the present dissertation has examined American media criticism from the perspective of critical narrative as related to journalistic profession. First, the dissertation analyzes the narrating nature and morality of media criticism, the characteristics of which have made media criticism a dialogic platform for social actors. Based on this viewpoint, the dissertation concentrates on the relationship between media criticism and journalistic professionalism. The theoretical and case studies in the dissertation reveal the actions and counteractions of narrative media criticism as shown in the construction process of professional authority of journalism in the US. The dissertation also takes the historical perspective to examine the relationship between US media criticism and journalistic standards, to analyze the functions of media criticism in the dialogic and negotiating process of social actors as well as in the construction and destruction process of professional journalism norms. To wind up, the dissertation explores the expectations we should have of media criticism.The dissertation's above examination and analysis of media criticism is based on the following two reasons: First, the purpose of media criticism is not to construct a theoretical system but to promote the development and reform of media and to better the services of media to the society. Therefore, the core of media criticism study is to analyze the relationship of media criticism and criticized targets. Second, the study on media criticism does not aim to criticize media directly but to grasp the essence of media criticism.This study shows that American media criticism has two predominant features: (1) Some themes of media criticism are always repetitive, but the criticized phenomena are still in existence and never really disappear; (2) The demands and expectations of media as shown in media criticism are always mutually contradictive and conflicting with each other, thus creating confusions for the criticized. It is necessary to find a proper niche as well as useful theoretical framework to study the American media criticism, which is prosperous in the surface but disordered in nature. Theories of narrative and professionalism that have been used in this dissertation have provided a brand new perspective and framework for the present research and have demonstrated its unique power and effect in understanding and evaluating American media criticism.Media criticism is defined as interpretation and evaluation of media practices in this dissertation. The subjects of media criticism include media, academic research areas on media, and public, social institutions and groups etc as consumers of media. The targets of media criticism are the behaviors and products of journalists and mass media. As a kind of narrative, media criticism reflects not only the expectations of media's social roles but also the demands of this private-owned assets to serve the public. Meanwhile, media criticism is part of the larger social narration, reflecting the personal situations and standings of those who criticize. Therefore, media criticism can be viewed as the discourses among social actors, while the narrating nature of media criticism, on the other hand, requires people (including media) to face it with an equal, open and tolerant attitude.But, as a social profession, the media industry must also maintain its legitimacy and authority, and it is especially necessary when continuous media criticisms start to damage the authority of the journalism profession. From this perspective, the history of American journalism can be seen as a history of constant struggle and dialogues between journalism and other social actors, in which media negotiate its own positioning, establish the unified norms and the authority of media in the society.On one hand, as the most important part of self-regulation of media industry, media criticism mechanisms of the US media (for instance, press councils, internal ombudsmen, jo...