Abstract: The current development of networks present a state of opportunities with challenges to the ideological and political education in colleges and universities. Facing the network environment, ideological and political educators in colleges and universities should strengthen the study on the network communication. The "5W" theory, proposed by Harold Lasswell, has formed an effective system through the information collection, information content, communication channels and communication effects. It provides an effective theoretical support for ideological and political educators to take an initiative guidance on the public opinion and innovate network ideological and political education in collages and universities.