TDG – Experiential Learning in an On-Campus News Bureau

Abstract

This project involved setting up an on-campus television news bureau, in collaboration with ABC News, an international media organization based in the United States. The news project served as a pilot programme in international collaboration, experiential learning and curriculum development. The Bureau engaged students in experiential learning opportunities and provided an integrated approach to achieving the following:

• A learning environment that enhances student development and capacities in meeting the six educational aims of the conceptual framework for the 4-year curriculum design.
• A curriculum for experiential learning in video and television production, which enhances students’ capacity in critical thinking, intercultural communication and the ability to tackle novel situations and ill-defined news stories.
• A flexible mode of learning in partnership with international senior journalists.
• Access to a high-profile international digital platform to showcase student work at HKU. The platform is hosted by ABC News.

The project engaged 14 JMSC students. They produced 9 video news stories and one written report which were aired / published by ABC News. This gives recognition to the quality of our students’ work at an international level. Field / reporting trips were organized to China, the Philippines, Cambodia, Vietnam and the US (NY), the latter being a visit to the headquarters of ABC News, Bloomberg News and NBC News. Students had the opportunity to see firsthand how journalism is practiced in the broadcast world, in financial news coverage and in online media. All students who graduated in 2010 and participated in this project have secured employment with notable news organizations, such as CCTV (Beijing), Thompson Reuters, TVB and NOW TV, to name a few. HKU is now listed as a partner on the homepage of ABC News On-Campus.

Deliverables