China's top journalism educator calls for new directions in media education

By Wang Xiaoli

Professor Li Xiguang, President of Tsinghua International Center for Communication Studies and founder of Tsinghua University Journalism Program, gave a keynote speech on global journalism education reform on July 31, which kicked off the Global Media Education Summit held in Salzburg Global Seminar.

"Journalism education is confronted with a very serious problem," Li said, "Journalism graduates can hardly fulfill the requirements of society. Few of them can become really qualified journalists."

He said: "Journalism schools should cultivate students' sense of responsibility and news consciousness, improve their ability of learning and creativity, while the ultimate goal is to cultivate excellent journalists."

Ten Chinese Deans from top Journalism Schools of Beijing, Shanghai, Chongqing and Hongkong along with journalism deans form America, Europe, Africa, Latin America and the Middle East attended the 3-days Summit on New Directions in Global Media Education: Challenges, Opportunities and Connections from July 31 to August 2.

The Salzburg Global Seminar regularly holds seminars on economics, politics, and other issues for future political, economic, and business leaders around the world. It aims to "challenge current and future leaders to develop creative ideas for solving global problems." The seminars are held at the Schloss Leopoldskron, a rococo palace in Salzburg, Austria. It is famous for being the shooting place of the film The Sound of Music.

Li Xiguang, who co-founded of the Global Media Literacy Workshop in Salzburg Global Seminar in 2007, leads a group of Chinese students to attend the workshop every year.

"Thanks for the excellent contribution from Chinese Deans," said Stephen L. Salyer, the chairman of Salzburg Global Seminar, "I hope to further strengthen the cooperation on education programs with Chinese universities, and I would like to invite Chinese students to Salzburg every year to attend the Global Media Literacy Workshop."