Journalistic Narration And Cultural Memory

When the timeliness of journalism has gained increasing attention in theprofessional circle, a long existed yet ignored "new phenomenon"——thehistory-oriented journalism which focuses on reporting on the past event——has beenflourishing. The exploration of this new phenomenon is inevitable after its emergence. Currently, there is a lack of a systematic discussion on this issue. Thus, this dissertation attempts to perceive this phenomenon in the perspective of scientific principle under the dimensions of theory and function, employing text analysis in Culture Study and other relevant methods. It argues emphatically that as an important branch of journalism, history-oriented journalism has the unchanging connotation of journalism and simultaneously it presents its specific features such as the characteristics in text narration. The revival of history-oriented journalism is based on a rich foundation of theory and practice, and strengthened by its inner multiple communicative values. The focal points are presented as follows:1. Construction of ConceptAs a new phenomenon, the construction of concept is the logical starting point for the formation of scientific principles. Before we probe into the connotation of history-oriented journalism, we cannot avoid the logical precondition of an overall examination for the concept of history-oriented journalism which is the traits derived from journalism. However, the academic and professional recognized concept that "journalism is the reporting on the fact that has newly happened" has lost its conviction, for it is unable to cover the various new types of journalism springing up at present. Therefore, taking into account the results of former research, the present dissertation examines and generates a fresh descriptive concept of developing "news": "journalism is the reporting on massages that the public wants to know, must know and yet unknown." This concept contains three dimensions of journalism: history-oriented journalism, present-oriented journalism, future-oriented journalism. Based on this concept, we construct the basic concept of history-oriented journalism: the journalism that reports on the fact that mainly happens in the past. Then it follows with the analyses of its specific connotations: static characteristic of reporting, revival by a news peg, clear cognition, etc. Through the construction of concept, an independent meaning is added to history-oriented journalism.The basic orientation of concept construction is from concept to motivation. From the perspective of theory, the integration in significance of history and journalistic view has provided the theoretical foundation. In the realm of history and journalism, everything is new if there is significance; if new significance is added, history is news. From the perspective of reality, the audience has become lonely nomads in the sense of spirit because of the consuming culture, but the sense of nostalgia relieves people's worries in reality. Therefore, people tent to ascertain their track of action nostalgically seeking after coordinates of history. Thus, the traditional value of journalism has changed without notice. Effectiveness for a given period of time is not everything. Significance and profundity have become the focus of attention among the professionals. Therefore, we can conclude that the changes in the value of journalism has provided the foundation of the revival of history-oriented journalism, and the fact that the media meet the demands of society has promoted the prosperity history-oriented journalism.2. Genre InvestigationAs a text of journalism, history-oriented journalism has both similarities and distinctions with other texts. From the perspective of genre investigation, the most typical text genres of history-oriented journalism are: decoding journalism and memorial journalism. Decoding journalism is explanation of long- veiled historical facts in a manner of decoding which presents comprehensively the feature of history-oriented journalism. Memorial journalism are, on the other hand, the time-equidistant reports via commemoration days. Although it shares common features of both history-oriented journalism and present-oriented journalism, from the current appearance of texts, it is rather about reporting on past events via news peg of current affairs. Hence, it is categorized in the type of history-oriented journalism. In terms of the media, different media presents different features of history-oriented journalism History-oriented journalism in newspapers has the advantages in written languages and in flexibility of manners of writing as well; history-oriented journalism in broadcast is expressive in voice and stresses colloquial language; history-oriented journalism in television vividly combines words, voice and picture; history-oriented journalism in internet is an integration of newspapers, broadcast and television, implementing a multi-media stereoscopic report and entrusting endless meanings to audience.3.Text NarrationThe purpose to carry on a meticulous and complete dissection on text narration of history-oriented journalism is to provide a paradigm for its production. The text of history-oriented journalism has fixed narrative structures which are mainly composed of general statement and news story. There is a major difference between texts of history-oriented journalism and other types. In the component elements of news story, scenes are composed of the close-scene (news peg) and the far-scene. In history-oriented journalism, the core fact mainly consists of the past event which is far from the present time, with the current event serving as a foil to the core fact. Thus, history-oriented journalism attaches importance on narrative strategies which include: multiple tones of the narrator, multiple perspectives of narration, keeping things new to audience via interaction of texts, maintaining audience's attention through suspense and delay, drawing audience's focus through presenting facts in details. By employing multiple narrative strategies, history-oriented journalism makes up its lack of effectiveness of time and adding more readability and profundity to the text.4. Multiple Communicative ValuesThe flourish of history-oriented journalism is not only based on its rich theoretical and practical foundation, but also strengthened by its inner communicative values. As a speech of journalism, history-oriented journalism is always constructing meanings. And the construction of meaning will be restricted by the order created by the dominant culture. Since history-oriented journalism emphasizes on a state or national spirit, it has achieved a common agreement with the official speech. History-oriented journalism has become a generator and assistant power for the construction of main-stream culture and its ideology. For professionals in journalism, another function of the history-oriented journalism revival is to carry on the missions of journalists. History-oriented journalism not only expands the information resources and promotes enlightenment of intelligence, but also displays the journalistic professionalism, practicing journalists' humanity in the trend of entertainment in communication. Furthermore, history-oriented journalism meets audience's demands for knowledge, becomes their coordinates of action, and satisfies audience's aesthetic expectations. In addition, as a cultural memory, history-oriented journalism truly arouses sympathy between journalists and audience. It disseminates culture and moreover releases and realizes the nostalgic mood of journalists and audience.5. Trend of DevelopmentIn the context of globalization and the immersion of multi-culture, with the change of communicative ideals, the "new phenomenon"---- history-oriented journalism will be more and more complete and systematic. Its formation and contents will be enriched and varied, and develops in an ecological manner. But it is still worth noticing that although history-oriented journalism has its creativity and vitality, it appears in an undeveloped form and still not prescriptive. Without protection, it would disappear in the corrosion of consuming culture like a bud in a storm. Therefore, the prospect of history-oriented journalism is not only a prediction in the sense of scientific principle, but also a quiet warning.In conclusion, the present dissertation constructs a theory and framework for core concept of "history-oriented journalism" from the dimensions of scientific principle and function and carries on an original and systematic research. Its significance for the theory of journalism is reflected in the construction of a new frame. Because this research is the first of its kind in this field, and the resources are rather limited, this dissertation cannot hope to present a comprehensive perspective with general representativeness.