Journalism and Media Studies Center

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The Journalism and Media Studies Centre (JMSC) was founded in September 1999 at the University of Hong Kong. The center is part of Faculty of Social Sciences in HKU. Educational programmes in JMSC include graduate and undergraduate courses, seminars, workshops and courses for news professionals at all levels of expertise.

1 Mission
2 Academic Programs
3 Admissions
4 Faculty
5 Views of JMSC director professor Chan
6 See also
7 External links

[edit] Mission

The mission of JMSC is dedicated to the pursuit of excellence in journalism and fostering Asian voices in the international media.

[edit] Academic Programs

Reporting and Writing Program
Media Law Program
China Program
Business and Financial Journalism Program

[edit] Admissions

The minimum admission grade for Use of English must be C
Students will have to attend interviews.

[edit] Faculty

Yuen-Ying Chan Professor and Director
David Plott Deputy Director&Associate Professor

[edit] Views of JMSC director professor Chan

In an interview given to Ljubisa Bojic professor Yuen-Ying Chan explains some of her perspectives.

Q: You returned from the States to found Journalism and Media Studies centre at HKU. What is your vision for this place?

We have very clear vision from the start of the center. We are very clear that we have to promote journalism standards in Hong Kong, China and the region. We also want to promote Asian voices in international media and we think that is very important. Because the issue is who is telling our stories, stories of China, Hong Kong and Asia. We need to train our generation of journalists to tell those stories to the world. So since the creation of the centre we are very clear that this is professional program. We are training students for the real world. We are preparing them to work in local but also international media. We teach fact-based journalism, we teach very hands-on. Our faculty are all very experienced journalists who came to this program with experience of twenty or thirty years in the industry. They were able to impart not only skill but also passion in orientation of our students.

Q: How do you see future of mass media?:

We are in trend more international media expanding their power and their reach. But on the other hand I think it is encouraging because more people now are doing journalism. Now anyone can become a journalist. They open up channels and alternatives for other voices. But it also means that we have to promote professional standards and even better training for what we call now citizen journalists. Everyone can become a journalist and that’s empowering! For that we have reasons to be very optimistic despite the multinationals. Now you have a chance to talk back.

Q: Will we have alternative TV programs broadcast on Internet as well?

I think that’s entirely possible because now you can pose videos, news on the Internet, accessible worldwide. Traditional and mainstream media pay more attention to alternative media. Smart international are seeking help from citizen journalists. If you are on location when news happens you can capture the story and you can feed it to internationals. And it has happened like in the London bombing or like in various breaking news events. You have the tools. But we have to prepare ourselves. We have to be better in our skills, in our delivery. We also have to be very mindful of ethical standards. I think the same standards like in [traditional journalism]] apply to alternative media. It is about going for the truth, balance and telling an interesting story.

Journalism is just not a job, but its a job to communicate with the public