全文共分三個部分：第一部分是對計劃體制時期中國大陸新聞傳播和新聞學研究基本特點的簡要回顧。與當時社會政治架構下新聞實踐的「新聞事業的國家化、新聞報導的宣傳化、輿論表達的一元化、角色扮演的『喉舌性』、運作指向的非市場化」的特點相適應，作為指導新聞實踐的新聞學說便也相應地具有這樣一些特點：一，「放之四海而皆準」的理論追求；二，外延不大，但卻「精耕細作」的研究領地；三，「遇到問題從領導人講話和經典作家著作中尋找答案」的演繹式研究模式；四，「同根相煎」的理論學派。 第二部分是對九十年以來大陸新聞傳播狀況基本特點的考察。面對市場經濟的滲透，大陸新聞傳播既往的行政導向單一控制的局面已經被打破，新聞媒介的現實運作進入準市場化階段；其次，傳統機關報的「霸主」地位已經而且將進一步被削弱，若干後起之秀尤其是那些具有局部人群或局部地區覆蓋優勢的新興報紙的「領地」，已經並且還將得到進一步的擴張；再次，「眼睛向下」的「讀者本位觀」已越來越多地成為新聞媒介現實運作的基本價值取向。 第三部分以國家教委「八五」社科規劃課題（新聞學）和「九五」社科規劃課題（新聞學）指南所提供的個案為例，來粗略地窺視進入九十年代以來新聞學研究發展的總體狀況和趨勢特點：一，新聞傳播學的學科「盲點」已越來越少；二，重視和強調「學以致用」的實用化傾向；三，研究方法的多樣化、綜合化、實證化；四，研究重點已從傳媒的政治屬性轉向其文屬性和經濟屬性。 1949年以來，中國大陸新聞傳播和新聞學研究的發展，大體上可以分為三個階段：一，計劃體制階段（1949年∼1982年）；二，後計劃體制階段（1982年∼1992年）；三，市場體制階段（1992年至今）。這與大陸社會發展的階段劃分大致吻合。有人認為，後計劃體制階段應從1978年中共十一屆三中全會算起（童兵，1994）。但事實上，從「文革」結束到1982年，大體上可以用「撥亂反正」來概括那一時期社會發展的基本特點。所謂「撥亂」是指對「文革」的清算，而所謂「反正」則是對「文革」前十七年的復歸，其基本參照系是向後的，而不是向前的。只有從1982年開始，隨著農村聯產承包責任制的成功，市場因素開始在社會生活方面孕育出現（其標誌是城市經濟體制改革的開展），計劃體制不斷遭到挑戰和滲透，中國進入「後計劃體制階段」。到1992年，鄧小平南巡講話及隨後召開的中共十四大，正式確立了中國走社會主義市場經濟的發展道路，這無疑是二十世紀九十年代中國大陸最具深遠影響的事。由是，中國大陸的市場體制階段開始起步。

　　　　　The first part is a general review of journalism and communication research on the mainland of China under the `planned system.' In the social and political situation of that period, “national ownership of mass media, propagandization of news unification of public opinions, ‘mouthpiece’ role of media, non-market-oriented management “were the distinguishing features of journalistic practice. As a guide to practice, journalistic theory had the following characteristics: (1) pursuing universal principles; (2) making detailed research in rather narrow areas; (3) using deductive research method by looking for answers from speeches of leaders and masterpieces of famous authors, and; (4) making arguments among researchers themselves. The second part is an analysis of the basic situation of journalism and mass communication since 1990. Under the system of market economy, administrative instruction is no longer the only factor which controls journalism. Preliminary marketability characterizes the actual operation of the mass media. The leading role of traditional official newspapers has been, and will be, further weakened. many newly established newspapers, especially those targeting at certain groups of audience, have strived to share the market. The needs of readers become an important factor taken into consideration by the press. Based on analysis of the research topics for the 8th five-year-plan (1991-1995) and the 9th five-year-plan (1996-2000) of the State Education Commission, the third part drew a conclusion of journalism research since 1990 and made a prediction about research in the near future: (1) “blind spots” in the research subject have been reduced; (2) “study for the sake of application “stand out as an outstanding characteristic of journalism research; (3) verification and diversification of research methods are taking place; (4) the focus of research has transferred from studying political attribute of media to its cultural and economic attributes.