Teaching Journalism in China

We got a first hand look at journalism instruction at China’s best and most prestigious university, Tsinghua, Friday morning.  We attended Professor Li Xuguang’s class.  There were about 70 students, all second year college students, in this class, learning how to write.  The class is taught in Chinese and English.  The students started class critiquing stories from the New York Times and CCTV’s 7pm newscast.  Like many US college journalism classes, there were more women students.  Professor Li teaches journalism much like that taught in America.  Today he told them to be sure to prepare for interviews by doing as much research as possible, to avoid making up quotes and facts, to balance their stories and to be accurate without their opinion in the copy.  He assigned them to go to Beijing’s Hutong district, the oldest part of this capital city, to develop a story about the changing history of Beijing.  He wants them to build a story about Beijing’s heritage and changes.  The students will have to interview long time residents of Hutong.  This class ran slightly more than two hours.  The students get two ten minute breaks.  When Professor Li needs his students attention, or to get them to calm down, he rings a bell. 

Sophomore journalism students at China's Tsinghua University

UIUC graduate student John Paul with Tsinghua University journalism grad student Ling Yun. Tsinghua's Great Hall is in the background, designed to look like Foellinger Auditorium by a UIUC architecture graduate