The design of this research is based on the liberal pluralism belief that there should be various forms of alternative media co-existing with mainstream media, and the society benefits from having alternatives. The concept of alternative media refers to media that are independent from the political and market power. They deal with alternative topics, which are not covered in their mainstream counterparts. One of the traditions of alternative media research is to examine their potential in the formation of subaltern public sphere. / The core question of this research is to explore the usage of online alternative media, and the link between online alternative media and the ideal of subaltern public sphere, in terms of attitude towards difference, rational discussion and civic participation. Participatory observation, online survey and case studies were applied to find out the answers. / First of all, it is found that the usage of online alternative media is influenced by a number of factors. In addition to the gratifications sought from media usage, a heterogeneous online community is more likely to accept online alternative media, while intense use of alternative media in turn contributes to more tolerance of difference in society. / Secondly, this research examines the relationships between online alternative media and the elements of subaltern public sphere. As the research findings suggest, under high political and economic pressure, little space is left for mainstream public sphere, while subaltern public sphere is possible with the help of online alternative media. Non-hierarchically organized and depend on voluntary work, online alternative media partly escape from political and market pressure and become the birthplace of rational public opinions. Online alternative media contribute to democratic society as they generate public space for deliberation, and cultivate the culture of participation. / Finally, the significance of heterogeneity is emphasized. Online alternative media develop a group of media users who are sensitive to difference in online community whereas at the same time, having more tolerance for difference. This indicates a positive relationship between online alternative media use and the attitude towards a plural and tolerant society. / By bringing in alternative topics and developing a group of users who are sensitive to difference whereas having more tolerance to heterogeneity, online alternative media are gradually changing the media ecology in China. Admittedly, the position of alternative media in China is still somewhat vague, in terms of their actual relation to the political power and market. Despite this, the existence of online alternative media is still a meaningful attempt for the construction of public sphere in Chinese societies. / 自由多元主義相信價值的多元性和自由表達，並且我們的社會可以從中獲益。基於這樣的理論出發點，通過展示網絡另類媒體的產生和發展情況，本研究試圖說明在中國媒體環境中保持不同聲音的必要性與合理性。另類媒體是一類特殊的媒體，它們規模較小，相對另類於政治權力和市場經濟， 並因此可以使用不同於主流媒體的信息渠道和信息呈現方式，討論一些被主流媒體邊緣化的議題。 / 公民社會以及公共領域的理論，經常被用於研究另類媒體。主流公共領域的理想在中國難以實現，本研究因而使用次級公共領域的概念來尋找另類媒體在中國社會中的定位。研究的主要問題是人們如何使用網絡另類媒體，以及另類媒體和次級公共領域的聯繫。通過問卷調查，參與式觀察和典型案例分析，本研究結合定性和定量研究數據，展示了網絡另類媒體在推動中國公共領域形成過程中的關鍵作用。 / 首先，很多因素會影響網絡另類媒體的使用。除了從媒體使用中期待的滿足以外，異質化程度較高的網絡社群更願意接受網絡另類媒體；頻繁的網絡另類媒體使用則會反過來增加人們對於差異的容忍程度。 / 其次，通過逐個檢視網絡另類媒體與次級公共領域各要素之間的聯繫，研究發現網絡另類媒體在很大程度上符合次級公共領域的理想。由於受到較少的政治權力的壓力，並且未被商業化娛樂化控制，網絡另類媒體的討論和出版物的話語具有很高的互動性和反思性，成為理性公共意見的產生之處。另外，網絡另類媒體在促成有效的長期的公民參與方面，有不可取代的優勢。 / 最後，研究強調了差異的意義。網絡另類媒體培養了對差異有感知力，並能很好地反思和接納差異的網絡用戶群體。這個發現揭示了網絡另類媒體使用與一個多元、寬容的社會之間的關聯。 / 應該承認，中國的網絡另類媒體尚未成熟，強大的生存的壓力之下，有時與政治權力和商業機構的存在模糊不清的關聯。但這並不妨礙它們逐漸地改變中國的媒體生態，成為構建中國公共領域的有益探索。 / Wang, Jiayi. / Thesis M.Phil. Chinese University of Hong Kong 2015. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 133-139). / Abstracts also in Chinese; acknowledgement and appendix in Chinese. / Title from PDF title page (viewed on 05, October, 2016). / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only.