Description

Heavy-handed government regulation of the traditional media was mainly used by the Chinese Party-State as a tool to shape social thinking and political ideology in the Chinese society, thus not fundamentally based on the rule of law. The emergence of the Internet, however, has significantly changed the landscape of the media. The rise of We-media (自媒体) has provided a platform for the public to voice their opinions and even for social mobilization, which is further changing the traditional media by compelling the regulator to rely more on legal rules to regulate the media. The seminar will examine the recent changes in the regulatory environment of Chinese media, and discuss the legal challenges faced by the media.

About The Speaker

Dr Zhou Zhao Cheng is the Editor of Zaobao.com cum Editor of Crossroads with Lianhe Zaobao. He joined Lianhe Zaobao, Singapore Press Holdings’ Chinese flagship paper, in 1999. Dr Zhou is also the Chairman of Social Affairs Committee with The Singapore Federation of Chinese Clan Association and a Committee member of Media and Community Working Group of National Integration Council Singapore. He is an Adjunct Associate Professor with Nanyang Center for Public Administration, Nanyang Technological University, Adjunct Professor with Institute of Arts and Humanities, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Academic Board member of Master of Arts in Contemporary China Program, NTU and Academic Board member of Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce & Industry Institute. Dr Zhou is also President of Singapore Society of Asian Studies. His research interest covers New Media Development, Media and Public Policy as well as Government Crisis Management, and he has published several books in these areas.