GLOBAL BUSINESS JOURNALISM NEWSLETTER
August 2023
1. ONE BIG THING: THE HOTTEST BUSINESS JOURNALISM BOOK OF THE YEAR
Two professors with Global Business Journalism connections have teamed up to co-edit what is shaping up to be the most highly anticipated business journalism book of 2024. Global Business Journalism program co-director Rick Dunham has partnered with University of Nebraska-Lincoln journalism professor emeritus Joseph Weber to co-edit a volume of essays on business journalism. It contains contributions by more than 40 international academics and working journalists about the history of business journalism, the state of business journalism around the world today, and the future of business journalism and business journalism education.The book is scheduled to be published by Routledge in early 2024.
The Tsinghua connection:
Professor Weber was a visiting professor in the Global Business Journalism program in 2011.
Professor Dunham has been co-director of the program since 2013.
A power team in business journalism circles:
The co-authors were colleagues at BusinessWeek magazine for 15 years in the 1990s and 2000s. Weber was chief of correspondents and bureau chief in cities including Chicago and Philadelphia. Dunham was White House correspondent, national political reporter and Washington Outlook editor.
Professor Weber is the author of an acclaimed biography of former United States Trade Representative Clayton Yeutter.
Professor Dunham is the author of the authoritative textbook "Multimedia Reporting" that is used in GBJ's Multimedia Business Reporting course in the fall semester.
2. GBJ WELCOMES WANG FENG, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF OF FT CHINESE, AS FALL SEMESTER VISITING PROFESSOR
The Global Business Journalism program has attracted another prominent international journalist to train our students from China and around the world. Hong Kong business journalist and educator Wang Feng is joining the Tsinghua School of Journalism and Communication faculty this fall as a visiting professor.
What he'll do:
Professor Wang will teach Basic News Writing.
He also will offer seminars and lectures open to the broader Tsinghua community. The first will be an assessment of how generative artificial intelligence will affect the journalism industry.
He will be available to offer advice to Tsinghua journalism students and GBJ alumni.
Professor Wang has an impressive CV:
He has been the editor-in-chief of the Financial Times Chinese-language edition since 2015. He manages an editorial team of 30 in FTChinese staffers in Beijing, London, Shanghai and Hong Kong.
He was in charge of editorial content on all digital platforms at the South China Morning Post from 2012 to 2015.
He was an editorial board member of the Society of Publishers in Asia from 2016 to 2019.
Earlier work experience: Reuters, Caijing, China Daily and Xinhua News Service.
Previous academic experience:
Adjunct Lecturer, Journalism and Media Studies Centre, University of Hong Kong, 2022
Adjunct Professor, Center of Data and Public Opinion Research, Hainan University, 2020-2021
Bachelor's degree, Peking University; master's degree, University of California, Berkeley
3. GBJ HAS BECOME A GLOBAL HUB FOR JOURNALISM SKILLS TIPS
Need some tips to improve your interview skills? Write a feature story? Cover environmental issues? Enhance your knowledge of earning reports or markets? The Global Business Journalism website has a tip sheet for you.
The GBJ website has become an international hub for aspiring journalists, with a specialties in business journalism and combatting disinformation. You can find articles that will help you in your classes or your careers.
The Global Business Journalism "Journalism Tips" homepage was designed with GBJ students and alumni in mind, but it is a free resource for journalists and aspiring journalists around the world.
Bookmark it here.
Check out the latest post from our co-director: "Professor Rick Dunham's concise guide to writing concise stories."
4. WHY GBJ? EVENDER HSU OF MALAYSIA EXPLAINS HER DECISION TO ENROLL IN THE GLOBAL BUSINESS JOURNALISM PROGRAM.
Evender Hsu (Hsu Zi Qian) is a first-year Global Business Journalism student from Malaysia. She earned her undergraduate degree in economics from Tsinghua University. But she's not studying 24/7. "I’m a '01 baby with a love for exploring cafés and trying out new locations for desserts," she says. "Recently, I've also embraced the thrill of snowboarding and I'm excited about this new adventure. You might also find me at the gym too, trying to stay active and healthy."
Evender recently explained why she chose Global Business Journalism:
"The Global Business Journalism program perfectly aligns with my aspirations. It offers an unparalleled opportunity to bridge my economics background with practical, real-world insights into international business practices, reporting, and communication. I believe that by combining my quantitative analytical skills from economics with the program's emphasis on effective storytelling and cross-cultural communication, I will be better equipped to not only interpret market trends but also communicate them in a compelling and informative manner. This program represents a crucial step towards fulfilling my ambition of contributing meaningfully to the global business discourse while offering me a unique platform to explore the intersection of economics, journalism, and global affairs.”
5. GBJ JOURNALISM SPOTLIGHT: GBJers DISCUSS KOREAN POLITICS AND K-POP WITH A KOOKMIN UNIVERSITY PROFESSOR
Each month, we highlight journalism work created by Global Business Journalism students.
The "Hot Topics in the Global Economy" course tackles some of the most important and complicated issues in global economics. There are at least 12 guest speakers during the semester who discuss hot topics from diverse perspectives. The class has an opportunity to question and interact with these prominent journalists, educators and policymakers.
Each week, students write news stories about the guest lectures. The best stories are posted on GlobalBusinessJournalism.com's news feed.
GBJ reporter Michael Ma wrote a perceptive analysis of a lecture on Korean peninsula developments by Peter Kim, a professor from Kookmin University in Seoul.
The popularity of the South Korean entertainment industry has become the nation’s means of soft diplomatic power. Kim informed the students that South Korea lacks natural resources and minerals. To counter that disadvantage, South Korea excels in using soft power to influence other countries culturally, economically, and diplomatically.
6. MEET THE STUDENTS: SHIRLEY CHEN OF CANADA
"In my journey, I live by the creed of unwavering self-belief," says Xiuyi Chen (修怡), also known as Shirley. "I believe that the GBJ program will enable me to foster both my journalistic skills and self-assurance, paving the way for personal and professional growth."
Shirley is from Toronto, Canada, and recently received her bachelor's degree from the University of Toronto with a double major in Economics and Book and Media Studies. Global Business Journalism was a natural fit for her. She wanted to study for a master's degree in China, dreamed of attending Tsinghua University, and sought an English language program that allowed her to expand her expertise in both business and media.
Global Business Journalism was the perfect match for the next stage of her life. But there's more to her thinking.
"Beyond academics, I view this journey as an opportunity to immerse myself in Chinese culture and lay the groundwork for future endeavors in China," she explains.
Shirley is the first to admit that moving halfway around the world is a big challenge.
"Transitioning to Beijing represents a significant step for me," she says. "I don’t know the city well, and I've yet to establish a social circle there. Nevertheless, I'm eagerly anticipating the chance of getting to know each unique individual, meeting our esteemed professors, and collectively experiencing diverse perspectives."
Get to know Shirley. You'll be glad you did.
7. BY THE NUMBERS
Nationality of GBJ top academic honors recipients, 2017-2023
o Asia (not including China) 42%
o China 26%
o Africa 16%
o North America 11%
o Australia 5%
Share your GBJ stories with us. We'll include as many as possible in future newsletters. Contact us at GBJprogram@gmail.com or tsjcws@mail.tsinghua.edu.cn.