A Study On The Empowerment Of New Media And The New Generation Of Peasant Workers

In 2010,it was clearly claimed in Central's “No.1 Document” that particular measures should be taken towards issues of new-generation rural migrants,which tells the central government's special concerns on them.Since then,more focus from the entire society has gone to them.Meanwhile,Significant changes have also taken place in their empowerment in terms of the general attitude,types of benefits,means of expression,and modes of practice,which can be proved by a series of strikes-----despite of their results-----happening in those companies chronically: in 2010,Honda Foshan Strike;in 2011,Modern Precision Plastics and Mould(ShenZhen)Co,Ltd,and Japanese Crown Star precision bracelet factory at Shenzhen;in 2012,Shenzhen Om Electronics;in 2014,Dongguan Yue Yuen shoes factory and the old water pond Shengmei factory in Guangzhou;in2015,Jingcheng Technology company and Xinchang Shoes Factory in Zhongshang.In this thesis,it studies via a series of methods: document analysis,Questionnaire,Content analysis,anchoring on the concept: new media's empowerment on migrant workers.Therefore,based on qualitative analysis,and accompanied with quantitative analysis and empirical study,this thesis is able to present a profound analysis and thorough research.Its main content includes five parts: first,it elaborates concepts of empowerment: telling from power,no-power and empowerment,meanwhile discussing New Media issues like personalized communication of media,diversity of audience and information source,ending with the empowerment analysis statement for rural migrants in terms of economy,politics,and society;second,it analyzed rural migrants' new media context and communication,further exploring influences on rural migrant workers with new media empowerment,through questionnaires on the penetration of media tools,features of media-use,demands and feedbacks for new media;third,it studies difficulties in empowering on today's rural workers from perspectives of non-subjectivity in power ideology,non-institutionalization in rights protection and illegalization in interests articulation,to find a way out for them: an integrated function of individuals,communities,official and social institutions;fourth,it continues discussing methods of appropriate empowerment for rural workers by researching on active expression for interests from new-generation Labor Union,exploitation of media to struggle for individual rights,and types of new media empowerment,with a result that empowerment should be practiced in 3 ways: to motivate their pursuit for rights by gaining resonation cognitively and emotionally,to empower in complicated issues through online self-launched organizations and coordination,to win public recognition by learning from the examples of media empowerment;fifth,based on precedent research and new studies on this topic,from the lens of new media communication,it analyzed problems in rural workers empowerment: deficiency in media supervision,non-specialty in new media in formation,and less concerns on empowerment issues.From these points,new media's role in empowerment can be improved form four aspects: decentralization of information control,quality promotion of citizens,enhancement of online leadership,and online real-name registered system,so as to truly benefit rural workers in protecting their rights and live as a member of the society,with the help of media.In conclusion,this essay shows that rural workers' ability of getting and spreading information has roared as new technology is pervading towards the lower class.New media provides them with more diverse source of information,and broadens their social network,which helps them empower themselves to a certain extent when facing threatens for their rights,thus better adapting to urban life.However,those workers benefiting from new media cover only a small portion.For the majority of rural workers earning a living in cities,problems still exist and there is a long way to go.Deficiencies in this essay lie insufficient study on rural workers' marriage,education,working categories and hours under the context of new media's empowerment.The last two topics are hardly mentioned in precedent studies,and they should be the ongoing direction for this essay.