孙本文1925年撰写的博士论文《美国媒体上的中国》因为种种原因一直被中国的传播研究者忽略。本文通过分析其内容，认为这篇文章应该被看作中国最早的传播研究之一。结合孙本文的社会思想演变，本文试图回答：社会学家孙本文为何要做传播研究，后来为何又放弃了传播研究？同时，这篇论文的重新发现也有助于目前反思传播研究史封闭的线性叙事的问题。

For some reasons, Pen Wen Baldwin Sun’s PhD dissertation on the coverage of China by the American Press has been forgotten by Chinese communication scholars.In light of its content, this dissertation   should rightfully be recognized as one of the earliest communication research efforts by Chinese scholars. Through re-reading this dissertation in the context of Sun’s evolving sociological thought, this article attempts to analyze    what   motivated him to select   this topic for dissertation and why he ceased to do communication research after returning to China. Rediscovering   this paper serves to throw light on the enclosed and linear nature of prevailing narratives about the history of communication research in China.