The study of the media in China is a subject of increasing interest and debate among several disciplines, from media to international relations studies. Indeed, the use of new and powerful technologies in the media has contributed to revolutionizing the world of Chinese communication.

The latest evolution of Chinese media system and its revolutionary character have implications both at a national and at a global level. Over the past 70 years, the People’s Republic of China has experimented with new technologies and forms of communication that have initiated an ever-evolving process of strengthening national identity.

In this process, factors related to population control, market needs and identity implications have shaped a new use of the media. The lecture is divided into three sections. The first part highlights the relevance of media history as a discipline applied to frame the Chinese case. The second section suggests a reconstruction of the history of Chinese media including newspapers and radio, television and cinema, social media and apps, since the founding of the People’s Republic of China to date. The main argument of this part is that Chinese media system has contributed to the construction of national identity. Finally, the last part provides a critical analysis of the phenomenon of convergence both at the domestic and international level.