南京國民政府是一個弱勢集權專制政府。在這個弱勢的集權專制政府下，雖然執政黨的黨媒在資源獲取上佔有絕對優先權，但是民營報刊還有相當的生長空間。因此，報刊生長和發展呈現多元狀態；干政這一重要的報刊功能尚能發揮，顯示出中國書生辦報的精彩；報紙和報人能夠通過艱苦的鬥爭爭取到幾分新聞自由，為新聞界平添幾分活力。

The Nanjing National Government was an autocratic government. Unlike other powerful totalitarian political organizations, it was a weak centralized government. Under the control of such a vulnerable regime, the newspaper publishing companies belonging to the ruling party received absolute priority in resource acquisition; for example, these companies were granted generous subsidy funds, the right to interview government personnel, and advertising resources. However, the private and commercial newspapers still had considerable space for development. Therefore, the growth and development of newspapers varied during the first decade of the Nanjing National Government. Newspapers could intervene in the government’s decisions and affect policies; this function was effective during the first ten years, which demonstrates the brilliance of scholar-run newspapers. Newspapers and journalists obtained some press freedom by engaging in difficult battles against the authorities; they employed various approaches to resist government censorship, and some people even sacrificed their lives. All of these factors vitalized journalism.