The Growth of News Media and Political Communication in China and Taiwan in the Early 1990s: A Comparative Study

The study starts with a comparative analysis of press development in China and Taiwan. Results indicate that news media of both sides of the Taiwan Strait benefited from the sweeping political and economic changes. The study further analyzes factors as influences on individualsʹ media use and found age and education as important demographic predictors in addition to political efficacy, attitude toward authorities, and political interest. Results also show that the democratic reform in Taiwan has created a favorable climate for demands of timely and diversified political in formation. People on the island with a participative attitude in political affairs tended to have a greater desire to seek information from the news media. Political efficacy, attitude toward authorities, and political interest emerged as significant influences on media use in Taiwan. But in China, despite the unprecedented economic reform and increasing commercialization of the news media, this is not the case.