Bridging different perspectives: Science Communication in the Mediatized Age: Challenges and Strategies

Abstract

In the mediatized age, science communication has evolved into a critical bridge connecting technological innovation with societal understanding. This review examines Jian Rui's Science Communication in the Mediatized Age: Challenges and Strategies (2025), a work that systematically addresses both theoretical and practical dimensions of science communication within the Chinese context. The book constructs three theoretical bridges: between critical and strategic science communication; between science communication and mainstream communication theories; and between Western theoretical traditions and Chinese indigenous practices. Practically, it identifies core challenges facing Chinese science communication and proposes a "socialization pathway" mobilizing diverse actors—an approach aligned with recent national science policy. The book further demonstrates pedagogical value through systematically organized discussion questions and representative case studies. While engagement with critical perspectives remains limited, this limitation does not diminish the work's overall contribution to repositioning science communication within communication studies.