Nuove teorizzazioni, vecchie contraddizioni: il giornalismo cinese in crisi di identità

China’s journalism sector is undergoing a period of profound transformation marked by technological disruption, economic decline of print media, and tightening political control over the profession. Within this context, Chinese scholars are increasingly engaging with the Party-endorsed project of building an "autonomous knowledge system in journalism and communication studies". This article examines how this agenda aims to redefine journalistic principles and values at the national and international level by moving away from Western-derived concepts towards theories grounded in Chinese ideology and practice. Drawing on a preliminary review of recent Chinese academic literature, this paper highlights a focus on methodological approaches rather than substantive conceptual innovation. It argues that, despite the ambition to "deWesternise" journalism, the field remains caught between political imperatives and professional norms. At the same time, it raises concerns that the ongoing redefinition of the discipline may ultimately align it with Party-oriented theories and norms.