Date: May 08, 2021

Source: Nanfang Daily

Author: Zhong Zhe, Wu Shaoming

Photographer: Shi Lei

When JNU's Journalism Department was established in 1946, it was one of the three journalism departments in China. In 2001 it was upgraded to the School of Journalism and Communication, and now it is known as the Academic Center for South China Media.

(Fan Yijin, honorary president, professor and doctoral supervisor in JNU's Journalism Department)

In Shanghai Ranking's Global Ranking of Academic Subjects 2019, JNU's journalism and communication program ranked fourth across China, after Communication University of China, Renmin University of China and Fudan University. That same year, this subject was listed in the national-level first-class undergraduate programs.

Known as the first person to incorporate the brand concept into China's newspaper industry, Fan Yijin, honorary president, professor and doctoral supervisor in the school, said it had recruited students from mainland China, Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan and overseas, carrying out in-depth cultural exchanges and cooperation with countries along the Belt and Road Initiative. It has also advanced the development of international journalism disciplines, enhanced JNU's characteristics as an overseas Chinese university and cultivated visionary media talents. The journalism major aims to cultivate a large number of application-oriented talents of good quality and with broad vision, equipped with academic research abilities. 

(Fan Yijin)

The school has cultivated over 6,000 talents from China and abroad, including Fang Jianhong, former director general of the Guangdong Department of Culture; Sun Konghua, former deputy director of the Guangdong Radio and Television Department; Zhang Huijian, former director of Guangdong Radio and Television; and Guan Yawen, deputy editor in chief of the Guangzhou Daily. 

Fang Yimin, a member of the class of 2002, has transformed herself from a current affairs news reporter for a traditional newspaper to start Becky 's Fantasy, a WeChat public account on fashion with more than 20 million followers. She was named one of the Top 10 Weibo Fashion Influencers 2017-2020, one of the Top 50 Key Opinion Leaders of China by Forbes and one of the 30 China New Growth·Innovation Figures of 2019 by Harvard Business Review. She was elected deputy secretary general of the Guangzhou News Union Association. Overseas graduates include Liang Haiming, president of the China Silk Road Valley Research Institute, who was named one of the Ten Outstanding New Hong Kong Young People of 2020.

Over 400 journalists in Hong Kong and 70 percent of journalists in Macao graduated from JNU. They have wide influence in the Chinese media industry.