The Novelist Behind The Name Of The Newspaper

Zhang Henshui was a famous popular novelist of modern China. However, behind the famous writer’s identity, he was also a veteran journalist in the Republic of China. Zhang Henshui had worked thirty years for the press, from 1918 to 1948. Zhang Henshui formed his own unique view of newspapers which based on his thirty years’ working experience. He believed that the press should be the medium which focused on expressing their ideas,speaking on behalf of common people and sending message. He proposed that a straight news reporter should not disseminate facts honestly, but also need to learn a wide range of skills. He also described how to mobilize the masses in the war for national salvation in details. His supplement editorial thought, which refined from his working experience, showed us the newspaper supplement spirit in the Republic of China. Zhang Henshui thought that newspaper supplements should also work with current events, and posted comments on public affairs. His opinions about how to edit the newspaper supplement were stilling inspiring. There are a lot of researches about Zhang Henshui, however, the study of literature accounted for most of the content. Studies focused on the perspective of photojournalism seldom, which makes the reseach of Zhang Henshui’s news thought a lot of sense, because it will enrich our journalism history.Firstly, this paper reviews the life of Zhang Henshui’s News Events. The first section includes his starting period in press, edited period in Beijing, independent newspaper period and edited period in the war.The second section is the key chapter. It discusses the main contents of Zhang Henshui’ s news thought which includes views on the role of newspaper supplements, newspapers role in society, journalist’s qualities and war propaganda skills. Above all, views on the role of newspaper supplements are core content, views on newspapers role in society epitomize Henshui’s news ideal, views on journalist’s qualities explain what kind of skills that reporters should have when they face journalism, and war propaganda skills are special performance of special historical environment. The third section discusses reasons of Zhang Henshui’s news thought from three aspects, the impact of childhood education, encouragement from peer journalist and republican newspaper environment. The last section presents historical evaluation of his news thought, from both positive and negative perspective. I hope that through this article’s gradual discussion, we can get an clear understanding of Henshui’s news events and news thought.