A Multi-National Intake: HKU JMSC Students Hail From Across the Globe

This year’s intake of masters students at the Hong Kong’s Journalism and Media Studies Centre (JMSC) make up one of the most diverse groups at The University of Hong Kong.

About 80 graduates enrolled in 2010-11 as both part-time and full-time students. The following map indicates their countries of origin:

In addition to classes and lab sessions, the JMSC programme emphasises internship and in-service training opportunities to provide hands-on experience. One such project is the JMSC-ABC on Campus reporting programme.

Click the picture below for the Bureau website and work examples.

The ABC on Campus Team 2010-2011

The interactive pie chart below indicates the diversity of MJ students’ nationalities.

Diverse Interests

Eldes Tran

Eldes Tran, 28, worked at the Los Angeles Times as a copy editor for four years before coming to JMSC. With the newspaper industry struggling, she wanted to join the Master’s of Journalism programme in Hong Kong to gain an international perspective.

“I want to broaden my journalism skills and also, coming to Hong Kong gives me a chance to know more about what’s happening in Asia. I would love to stay and work in Asia after graduation.”

Tran interned with the South China Morning Post (SCMP) during the spring and fall semesters. One of the live projects she spent time on was the interactive database, Who Runs Hong Kong, managed by SCMP journalist, Irene Jay Liu, who also teaches computer-assisted reporting at the JMSC. She said it was a great experience learning how to combine complicated data for investigative stories.

Chien Mi Wong

Chien Mi Wong, 25, worked in the banking industry for one-and-a-half-years before coming to JMSC. Seeking a career change, Wong wants to switch to journalism because she loves writing.

“I want to be a financial journalist because I have always loved writing,” Wong said. “And with my financial background, I hope to become a successful financial journalist someday, and JMSC is definitely a good place to start.”

Richard Schuster

Richard Schuster, 29, worked in the broadcast industry in Hungary for seven years before coming to JMSC. He was a news anchor for five years at TV2 and an assistant teacher at the University of Film, Theatre and Television in Budapest. Schuster decided to come to JMSC to gain an Asian perspective and enhance his journalism skills.

“JMSC is one of the best schools in the world, and Hong Kong is where everything is happening,” Schuster said. “Coming to JMSC, I hope to learn to become a creative storyteller.”

The JMSC can be followed at Twitter (JMSCHKU). View a sample of recent tweets: