Economics - Theses

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A Chinese legal journal in transition

BENNEY, JONATHAN ( 2005-11)

In this thesis I examine the popular Chinese legal magazine Woodpecker, which has been published since 1981. Woodpecker combines crime and police fiction with factual accounts of current legal cases and issues. Woodpecker’s long history has meant that it has undergone a number of major changes. I argue that Woodpecker has made these changes in response to the increasingly competitive media market in China, but that at the same time it is also trying to maintain its traditional target audience. I argue further that these changes reflect the changing perceptions of law and rights in modern China. I begin by describing the political, economic and social context in which Woodpecker emerged. It began as a way of raising consciousness of the socialist legal and policing system as it developed during the reform period: at the same time, it reflected a wave of interest in culture and literature. Woodpecker started its life as a literary publication, but it has become less focused on fiction and more on factual articles aimed at the general public. The change to a bi-monthly publication at the start of 2004 exemplifies this. I argue that this transition has occurred both because of the changes in economic climate (where the Chinese media has expanded, and publications are expected to make profits), and because of the public’s decreasing interest in matters cultural. (For complete abstract open the document)