New Information Technologies and Mass Communication in Shanghai

This paper addresses the issue of the relationship between new information technologies, especially the Internet technologies, and media practice in Shanghai, focusing mainly on the past five years. Through indepth interviews with institutions, online observations of the web sites of these media institutions and library and online research of some related literature, it studies the responses of Shanghai and its major mass media institutions to the challenges and opportunities presented by the new communication technologies. In addition, it explores the implications of the application of new communication technologies for Shanghaiʹs mass communication, and analyzes the key factors underlying the adoption process such as policy strategies, the worldwide trend towards building the information superhighway, and economic strengths that sustain media development.