American pragmatism and Chinese modernization: Importing the Missouri model of journalism education to modern China

The Missouri model of journalism education was transplanted to Chinese universities in the early 20th century. This 'paradigm shift' originated when the US, as an emerging power in Asia, advocated an open-door policy to vie for influence in China with other Western powers. Chinese intellectuals, who saw American pragmatism as a powerful vehicle to modernize a weak and poor China, embraced the model of professional journalism taught at America's first journalism school at the University of Missouri, seeing it as an embodiment of the pragmatic values of democracy and progress. This paradigm shift was both philosophical, accepting Missouri's emphasis on ethics and social responsibility, and practical, finding Missouri's vocational orientation to be an easy-to-learn 'exemplar'. Walter Williams, the charismatic dean of the Missouri Journalism School, played a key role in this process, as did Missouri alumni who established most of China's journalism programs following the pattern of their alma mater. © 2009 SAGE Publications.