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Fourth, we optimized the content of existing many attendees, including students from HKU
core courses. For example, the mandatory and other institutions. I still remember the crowds
“Communication Research Methods” is now more queuing in the corridors of the Humanities Building’s
directly linked to journalists’ practical needs, such third floor.
as how reporters should interpret statistical reports,
use Excel for data in reporting, and understand Beyond public lectures, fellows held weekly two-
generative AI and large language models... hour office hours, with some fellows regularly
surrounded by students well beyond scheduled
Our curriculum optimization will continue. We will times. They also visited local media organizations
keep discussing optimization directions through and engaged in deep dialogue with local media
retreats and other formats. For instance, compared professionals.
to HKU’s MJ programme, our strengths lie in Chinese
news and local media connections, while our However, the first two years of the residency
weaknesses are in English news and international programme had one regret—nothing substantial
media connections. Given the industry’s overall was left behind after their two-month stays.
challenges, should we gradually strengthen English Although we encouraged them to bring their own
training and international media networks? We projects, without providing sufficient structured
have already begun exploring this—through an guidance, many left Hong Kong without truly
undergraduate alumnus’s introduction, we have launching a complete project.
established internship relationships with CNN, have
graduates working as CNN contributors, and CNN’s Starting its third year, the Media Professional in
former Hong Kong bureau chief will soon teach Residence Programme has been supported by all
for us. We hope to make more efforts to develop five taught programmes and emphasized project
international media career paths for students. development. I look forward to this programme’s
continued evolution and its contribution to building
Additionally, we designed and launched a new deep connections between the School and the
website, refreshing the programme’s public image. industry.

Establishing New Deep Connections with the Despite these accomplishments, I still maintain
Industry a strong sense of urgency, as the world changes
During my years as Programme Director, another so rapidly. For instance, regarding generative AI,
initiative I launched was the Media Professionals in we have not yet developed specialized courses,
Residence Programme. while HKU’s MJ has already established a stream
in this direction (Master of Journalism — A.I.
This type of programme is not our invention—similar and Innovation Concentration). How to continue
residency programmes exist as the Harvard-Nieman innovating while maintaining traditional strengths,
Fellowship and the Stanford-Knight Fellowship in and how to respond more swiftly within existing
the U.S., and at Sun Yat-sen University and Zhejiang frameworks remain significant challenges.
University in mainland China. However, among Hong
Kong’s journalism and communication schools, our In the coming years, global turbulence will likely
programme has been pioneering. continue. I hope we can keep steering this small
boat well, allowing it to navigate through the winds
The first batch of fellows arrived in Hong Kong in and waves toward its destination.
fall 2022, when the pandemic was not over yet,
requiring them to be fully vaccinated and masked.
Despite these inconveniences, perhaps because
similar programs were rare during the pandemic
and people’s desire for such interactions was high,
coupled with some fellows having their own fan
bases, the programme’s public lectures attracted

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