本文從政治學「新制度論」的角度來探討兩岸新聞採訪交流從一九七九至二○○一年的發展與變遷，核心問題在於為何兩岸記者能夠或不能夠到對岸採訪。其論點在於，兩岸關係、政治結構的民主化因素以及媒體競爭市場共同構成了兩岸新聞採訪交流的三個環境，而這三個環境因素又分別影響了政府與媒體之間正式與非正式的制度性關係，使得這個制度性關係在「管制」與「開放」之間轉換。最後，這些「管制」或「開放」的制度關係便影響了兩岸新聞採訪交流的發展特性。

　　　　　This article will analyze the development and change of media exchanges across the Taiwan Strait in terms of the framework of New Institutionalism to explain media development. I argue that cross-strait relations, political regime (democratic or authoritarian), and the competence of media market together constitute the environment of media exchanges across the Taiwan Strait. Moreover, the environment will affect the government-media institutional relation on both sides and transform the institutional relation into a "regulated" and "open" one. Finally, the norm of institutional relations will determine the character of media exchange.