近年来在美国蓬勃发展起来的华文媒体是华人移民社区内语言、文化 、制度 、社会经济运作模式多元化的一种反映 ,同时也是美国华人移民生活多重性的一种表现 。在本文中,我们尝试回答这一问题——作为一种制度机制的华文媒体,它究竟起到何种作用 ,是有助于华人移民逐渐融入美国主流社会 , 还是使移民更为自我封闭 、远离主流社会 ? 本研究依据两个资料来源, 一是对美国的华文印刷媒体和电子媒体 ,包括报纸杂志、电视节目、电台节目、互联网网页的内容分析;二是小样本调查和访谈 (从 2000 年底-2001 年春 ,我们在洛杉矶 、纽约 、华盛顿 特区等几个华人社区 ,对华文报社记者 、电视电台的节目制作人 、读者、听众、观众进行了广泛 的访谈)。

The rapid growth of the Chinese language media in the United States in recent years has been directly responded to broader demographic , social , and economic changes in America and in the Chinese immigrant community .As a social institution complementary rather than inharmonious to the host society and an economic enterprise , it serves as an important mechanism that helps shape individual orientation and community development .In this article , we first look at the driving forces behind the development of the ethnic media .We then provide a descriptive analysis of the ethnic media and explore what it offers to the immigrant community and what challenges it faces in a competitive environment .Finally , we examine how the ethnic media as a social institution influence the process of adjustment and assimilation of Chinese immigrants to American life .

周敏,蔡国萱

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