JOURNALISM and communication should not only focus on reporting and informing the masses on happenings, but include specialist coverages on a wide range of issues, including business and furthermore, serve as a bridge between “different civilizations, different nations and even different eras.”
These were the words of China’s Tsinghua University’s Dean of the School of Journalism and Communication, Zhou Qing’an when addressing visiting international journalists on Thursday 8 May.
Tsinghua University, one of the most prestigious universities in China, is situated in northwest Beijing. The university was established in 1911, whilst its School of Journalism and Communication was set up in 2002.
“Our school is quite young. We just set up the school in 2002 and just celebrated our 23rd anniversary.
“Though we are very young, we are ranked A+ by Times University ranking. We are rated first in media studies in Mainland China by QS World University ranking.
“We believe in our internationalization strategies. Our school has the characteristic of internationalization.
“We believe that through journalism and communication, we will chart a new balanced journalism and communication that focuses not only on reporting, which is still very important, but also specialist coverages of quite a lot of more issues, including business,” he said.
Prof Zhou said Tsinghua’s School of Journalism and Communication also believes that journalism and communication should also serve as the bridge between different civilizations, different nations and even different eras.
He said the new balanced journalism and communication approach pursued will give the masses an in-depth and comprehensive understanding of issues, shaping a better world.
Prof Zhou said because of this strategic focus, most of the university’s School of Journalism and Communication alumni in the past 23 years are now working for a number of major media organization such as CGTN (China Global Television Network), China Daily, People’s Daily, Xinhua News Agency, Bloomberg News, Associated Press, China Space News and South China Morning Post.
Others hold Communications positions with Oglivy China, Edelman Public Relations, Lenovo, the United Nations, the Environmental Protection Bureau and the Bank of America, Prof Zhou said.
“We have more than 600 international alumni from 73 countries in the past 23 years and with their employment with various news organizations and institutions, we are quite internationalized.”
Prof Zhou said Tsinghua’s School of Journalism and Communication continues working to make more make friends and cooperations in different countries.
Tsinghua University’s School of Journalism and Communication offers an intense two-year master’s program in Global Business Journalism (GBJ), and its founding sponsors include Bloomberg, Bank of America Merrill Lynch, the Knight Foundation and Deloitte. Global Sources has also been a major sponsor.
Apart from Bloomberg and the Associated Press, the Tsinghua School of Journalism and Communication also has a long history of cooperation with major international media and financial-information organizations such as Thomson Reuters, Business Week, the New York Times, Financial Times, CNN and others.
These partners have contributed talent, equipment, and financial support to the program, while several have provided internships for students.
By DELI-SHARON OSO
In Beijing, China
