《报刊的四种理论》是媒介规范理论的开端,激发了媒介体制模式的讨论,在欧洲、美国、第三世界国家都对其进行了反思和完善。在变革中的媒体理论和政策环境中,新的起点是进行三个层面的分析:哲学取向、政治体制和媒介体制,也就是相应的规范传统、民主模式和媒介角色。公共传播的规范传统有社团主义、专业主义、社会责任论和公民参与,民主的模式有多元主义民主、行政民主、公民民主、直接民主,媒体的角色有监督的角色、推进的角色、激进的角色、协作的角色。这是超越四种理论的替代性路径。 “Four theories of newspapers and periodicals” is the beginning of the theory of media norms and stimulates the discussion of the media system model. It has been rethought and consummated in Europe, the United States and the third world countries. In the changing media theory and policy environment, the new starting point is to carry out three levels of analysis: the philosophical orientation, the political system and the media system, that is, the corresponding normative tradition, the democratic model and the media role. The traditional norms of public communication include corporatism, professionalism, social responsibility theory and citizen participation. The models of democracy include pluralist democracy, administrative democracy, civil democracy, direct democracy, the role of the media in supervising, the role of promotion, the radical Role, the role of collaboration. This is an alternative path that goes beyond the four theories.