MA in International Journalism Studies

MA in International Journalism Studies
The MA in International Journalism Studies degree is an internationally recognised, full-time one-year course offered by the Department of Journalism at Hong Kong Baptist University.

THE Universtiy
Hong Kong Baptist University is a public institution with a tradition of liberal education.It offers a broad range of postgraduate and undergraduate honours degrees programmes under four faculties,two schools and one academy covering subjects in Arts,Business,Chinese Medicine,Communication,Science,Social Science and Visual Arts.The full-tine studeng enrolment is about 6,000.

About Us
Hong Kong Baptist University has taught international journalism for more than a decade as a branch of its Journalism degree, which started in 1968 as the founding programme of what is now the School of Communication. The course has become well known as an excellent preparation for a career in the news media, where many of our graduates hold senior positions. The Department of Journalism is staffed by academics with extensive experience in international media and/or in university teaching, and who regularly publish scholarly research. The Department maintains good relations with international news organisations, and is active in overseas exchange programmes with partner universities in the United States, Britain, Australia, Canada, the mainland China, Europe, Singapore and Taiwan.

Course Aim and Structure
The course provides academically based professional postgraduate studies in international journalism with a particular emphasis on Hong Kong, mainland China and East/Southeast Asia. More specifically it aims to:

(a) provide an opportunity for working journalists to reflect on their profession and develop conceptual and analytical skills to inform their work;
(b) provide the basis for a future career in journalism, particularly in the international field; and
(c) bring diverse perspectives to the field of international journalism studies.

The Course is designed to combine theory and practice. All students are required to complete a total of 24 units for the award of the degree. The 24 units consist of 15 units of core subjects and 9 units of elective subjects. All subjects are taught in English.

Core Subjects (for all students): 15 units
International Relations Theory and Practice 3 units
Introduction to Comparative and International News 3 units
Research Methods in Media and Communication 3 units
International News Laboratory 3 units
*English Newsgathering for International Practice 1 3 units
**Advanced English for Journalism 0 units

Electives (students choose three electives): 9 units
Theories of Journalism and Communication 3 units
Current Issues and Case Studies in International Journalism 3 units
International News Translation 3 units
English Newsgathering for International Practice 2 3 units
Reporting International Conflict 3 units
International Business and Financial Reporting 3 units
Project or Dissertation 3 units
Total 24 units

*Students with strong journalism experience will be exempted from this subject and will take an extra elective instead.
**Students with mother-tongue level English will be exempted from this subject.

Pulitzer Prize Winners Series Workshop
This new annual event, the first of its kind in Asia, will run alongside the MA in International Journalism programme. Three Pulitzer Prize winners will be invited from the United States every year to give lectures and talks and to conduct various forms of sharing with students, media professionals and the general public. The Pulitzer Prize is the most respected journalism award in the world. The objective of the Workshop is to enhance the quality of journalism practice and education in Chinese societies. It provides a setting for exchanges of views and ideas among journalism students and professionals in the greater China region and beyond.

Admission and English requirements

Applicants should :

(a) hold a Bachelor's Degree from a recognised university or comparable institution; OR
(b) have at least seven years' experience as a journalist or in another related profession that, in the view of the Journalism Department, constitutes a level equivalent to a first degree in subjects relevant to the MA course, and must show evidence of academic aptitude and achievement; AND
(c) be able to communicate in English at an advanced level, possessing one or more of the following qualifications:
(i) Grade D or above in AS Use of English (HKALE), or
(ii) A minimum score of 580 (paper-based) in TOEFL, or
(iii)A score of 6 or above in the International English language Testing System (IELTS), or
(iv) Band 6 or above in College English Test in mainland China, or
(v) An equivalent qualification as judged by the Department of Journalism.

Applicants should submit the following documents for assessment:

(1) one original copy of their academic transcript;
(2) two reference letters from people familiar with their academic performance and/or professional work (referees must be able to speak of the applicant's ability to undertake academic work at an advanced level); and
(3) a 500-word self-statement in English outlining their academic interests and objectives, or a sample of a piece of journalism or research paper or similar written by the applicant in English.

Short-listed applicants will be interviewed.

Tuition Fee and Scholarship
The course fee is HK$88,000 per student for the one-year full-time programme. This covers tuition fees, field trips, heath insurance and library fees. Students are expected to cover all other costs.

Merit-based Scholarships are awarded to students with outstanding academic performance in the MA programme.

International advisory team and adjunct fellows
the program is supported by a strong team of advisors and adjunct fellows:

Rose Luwei LUQIU
· Executive News Editor for Phoenix Satellite Television
· The first and only female Chinese reporter to cover Afghanistan after the collapse of Taliban (2001)
· The first Chinese journalist to report the war on Iraq (2003)
· Covered international affair, political and economic issues related to China over 10 years
· Harvard University Nieman Fellow (2006)

Eric HALL
· Reuters Editor for North Asia
· The first foreign correspondent to create an internationally-focused economic news file from China
· Chief Correspondent for the Gulf and Iran during the period of the first Gulf War
· Former Chief News Editor for Reuters in Asia

Dr. Lifen ZHANG
· Editor of FTChinese, Financial Times' Chinese language website
· Worked for the BBC World Service for more than 10 years,was Mandarin News & Current Affairs Editor, also worked as a Senior Trainer in Journalism and Production at the BBC World Service Training.
· Won the prestigious BBC Onassis Travel Bursary in 2002

Joseph KAHN
· Beijing bureau chief of The New York Times
· Part of the team of Dallas Morning News reporters who won the Pulitzer Prize (1994) for International Reporting
· Won the Robert F. Kennedy Journalism Award for international reporting and received a citation from the Overseas Press Club in 2004
· Won the Harry Chapin Media Award in the newspaper category in 2005 and received citation from the Overseas Press Club
· Awarded the Pulitzer Prize for International Reporting (with Jim Yardley, 2006)

Shuli HU
· The founding editor of Caijing, China's leading finance and economics magazine
· Former Chief reporter for the "China Business Times" China Business Times
· Awarded "Star of Asia" by "BusinessWeek" BusinessWeek magazine in 2001 and named the "most dangerous woman" in the China securities market
· Named International Editor of 2003 by the World Press Review Ms.Hu
· World Press Fellowship (1987) and Knight Fellowship at Stanford University (1995).

Professor John KAPLAN
· Pulitzer Prize for Feature Photography (1992) and named Photographer of the Year in the annual Pictures of the Year (POY) contest
· Received the Robert F. Kennedy Award, twice
· Founded an International reporting program known as the Florida FlyIns
· Teaching international journalism, photojournalism and design at the College of Journalism and Communications of University of Florida.

Application procedures and further information
Application Period : early January - March 15, 2007 (main round), May 31, 2007 (final deadline)

for admission procedure,please direct all enquiries either to the department of journalism,or the office of the graduate school,Hongkong Baplist University,HongKong.

Please go to the website:www.hkbu.edu.hk/~maijs
Tel:(852)3411 5078
Fax:(852)2336 1691
Email:maijs@hkbu.edu.hk

Course Director
Prof. Huang Yu
Email: 03033@hkbu.edu.hk
Tel: 852-34117382

Associate Director
Dr. Judith Clarke
Email:jlc@hkbu.edu.hk