media - China's legal development and the media

The Columbia Law Review has some compulsory reading for both journalists and lawyers dealing with China. (Thanks China Digital News for the link!) Benjamin L. Liebman names his article "Watchdog or demagogue? The media in the Chinese legal system", but that sounds all too simple.

"A loosening state control over the media has facilitated the media's ability to engage in problem solving and to influence conflict resolution. ... the effectiveness of the media in these roles still stems primarily from the media's continued position as an arm of the Party-state. But media commercialization is dissolving the traditional pattern of media-state relations to appeal directly to, and create "popular opinion."

More as I move on to the chapters on the internet and the conclusions.