From totalitarianism to hegemony: The reconfiguration of the party-state and the transformation of Chinese communication

This paper argues that negotiation and accommodation between the state and the media, with the latter having gained more bargaining power, should be considered in assessing the transformation of the Chinese media. It examines the discourses of media professionals on the coverage of the 2008 Sichuan Earthquake to reveal how they seized the opportunity presented by the well-received breakthrough in the coverage of the earthquake to bargain with the state for more autonomy. The purpose of the examination is three-fold. First, what drove the Chinese state media such as CCTV to risk breaking regulations? Secondly, how did the Central Government respond to the media-led breakthrough? Answers to these questions prepare the ground for the final one, and that is, how do media professionals bargain with the state for more autonomy?