[Expert Thinking].
In the early 20th century, overseas Chinese towns along the southeast coast, such as Xinning (now Taishan), Xiangshan (now Zhongshan), Guangzhou and other places, responded to the trend and published a number of newspapers and periodicals that were in line with the trend and advocated reform. A large number of people live abroad, so that some newspapers and periodicals in the hometowns of overseas Chinese quickly spread to the areas where overseas Chinese live abroad, and overseas Chinese gradually occupy the dominant position in their readers. These newspapers and periodicals published in the hometowns of overseas Chinese, mainly distributed to overseas Chinese, and mainly reported on domestic and overseas Chinese incidents, were the earliest overseas Chinese journals, and "Xinning Magazine" and "Xiangshan Xunbao" were typical examples.
* During the period, many villages, schools, and clans in the hometown of overseas Chinese founded newspapers and periodicals and sent them overseas to convey news of their home and country to overseas Chinese, including both grand national events and micro township trivia, which could let overseas Chinese know the situation of their hometown and soothe their homesickness; Overseas Chinese journals also report on overseas Chinese news from different countries and regions, forming an information exchange field for overseas Chinese in various countries and localities, which has gradually been compared to a "collective family letter." At that time, the founders of the Overseas Chinese Magazine Township News were the progressive forces in the hometown of overseas Chinese, and while communicating the feelings of overseas Chinese, they called on overseas Chinese to participate in the social governance of overseas Chinese and support national construction. During the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, the Overseas Chinese Magazine Township News encouraged overseas Chinese to unite with the domestic people and fight to the end.
In the 50s of the 20 th century, the Overseas Chinese Magazine Xiangxun publicized the new look of their hometown to overseas Chinese, and to a certain extent broke the information gap between overseas Chinese and China caused by ideology and world pattern. After the reform and opening up, the Overseas Chinese Magazine continued to play the function of "collective family letters", reporting on new people and new things in the hometown of overseas Chinese, publishing policies and measures for overseas Chinese affairs, telling the story of traditional culture, assisting relevant departments in attracting investment and intelligence, helping overseas villagers to trace their roots, and enhancing their emotional exchanges with their hometown and motherland.
After the 21st century, there is a dilemma in the hometown of overseas Chinese magazines: the traditional overseas Chinese journals and township news, which continue the historical way of running the journal and the narrative style, face problems such as insufficient funds, aging organizers, and shrinking audiences; The new type of overseas Chinese magazine Xiangxun, which is trying to take the road of commercialization, has been questioned as serious in marketization and lack of overseas Chinese flavor. There are many controversies about the way out of overseas Chinese magazines. In the new era, they are still an important medium to show overseas Chinese the achievements of Chinese-style modernization, and they are also an indispensable part of the cultural construction of overseas Chinese.
Over the past 100 years, the concept of promoting the progress of overseas Chinese and the country coincides with the theme of realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. Overseas Chinese Journals Township News originated from the people, rooted in the people, has a deep mass foundation among overseas Chinese and ethnic Chinese, and has rich resources for non-governmental overseas Chinese affairs, and many overseas Chinese magazines and hometown news were initiated and republished by overseas Chinese, and they can continue to attract overseas Chinese and Chinese to participate in the expansion of high-level opening up through non-governmental channels. These are the natural advantages of overseas Chinese publications.
The 60 million overseas Chinese can be divided into many different types of sub-groups, with different preferences. In order to continue to attract overseas Chinese, it is necessary to understand the needs of overseas audiences, focus on the concerns of the audience, listen to their voices, and use the language that the audience loves to spread and tell the Chinese culture and Chinese stories that they are interested in.
China is better integrated into the world, and the world needs to better understand China. For China's voice to be spread overseas, overseas Chinese and Chinese are important carriers. Overseas Chinese journals are an integral part of China's overseas Chinese affairs, and their compilation and distribution should follow the laws and requirements of China's overseas Chinese affairs work, unite the hearts and strength of overseas Chinese, and share the Chinese dream together. Overseas Chinese journals should be in line with the spirit of openness and inclusiveness of overseas Chinese and Chinese, take culture as the starting point, write village history, describe folk customs, interpret cultural heritage, and build "roots, souls, and dreams", so as to enhance the sense of identity of overseas Chinese and Chinese people in their hometowns and China, and at the same time, they should also spread China's voice to the world. At the same time, it is also necessary to broaden the pattern, publicize the dedication of overseas Chinese and Chinese to their hometowns and China, encourage them to contribute to the social economy of the country where they live and the friendly exchanges between China and the country where they live, let them share the dividends of China's development, and help China, the host country, and overseas Chinese and Chinese to achieve a "win-win" situation.
Author: Yao Ting, associate professor of Guangdong Institute of Overseas Chinese Culture, Wuyi University).
Project team: reporters Chen Zhiyin, Li Jian, Lu Jian, Wu Chunyan, correspondent Zhang Chunmei).