Bulletin Spring‧Summer 1991

Silver Jubilee of the Department of Journalism and Communication Established in 1965, the University's Department of Journalism and Communication was the first department ever in Hong Kong to offer degree courses in journalism. Apart from engaging itself in teaching, research, and serving community needs ， it has also been a key centre for journalism and communication studies in Asia. Brief History Plans for setting up a department of journalism were drafted in 1964 by Prof. Frederick T.C. Yu of the Graduate School of Journalism at Columbia University, and the department was formally established in September of the following year, wit h Prof. Charles C. Clayton of Southern Illinois University as visiting professor, Dr. Tchang Pi-kai as founding chairman of the department, and Dr. Michael T.K. Wei as lecturer. In the first few years the department accepted only those students who had completed their second-year studies at the University. To ensure the high quality of its graduates, the department selected candidates very carefully and admitted only six students in 1965, to be followed by eight in 1966， and nine each in 1967 and 1968. In September 1974 ， the department was renamed the Department of Journalism and Communication, and the programme of studies was extended from two to four years. The number of new students admitte d each year also increased to 20. Postgraduate programmes were first introduced in 1977 ， when Prof. Wilbur L. Schramm, an internationally-renowned authority in the field of communication, was invited to be Aw Boon Haw Professor of the department. Four graduates were admitted to pursue courses leading to the degree of master of philosophy in communication. By 1991 ， the department has 164 major students, 71 minor students, 15 graduate students, eight full- time teachers, 10 part-time teachers, and six clerical staff. It is a youthful and energetic department with a vigorous plan to contribute to the development of the mass media in Hong Kong. Cu r r i cu l um Development From the very beginning, the department has aimed at striking a balance between theoretical and professional courses in its curriculum design. Undergraduate students are required on the one hand to take general courses in journalism and communication theories as well as politics, economics, psychology, sociology, history, and philosophy, which are designed to produce all-rounded students with th e power of analysis and a sense of social responsibility. On the other hand, they have to take part in practical work related to journalism and communication, which is designed to cultivate their professional skills. A student checking her script for a broadcasting programme The two-year undergraduate programme ottered from 1965 to 1974 comprised news reporting, editing, and translation; the history of mass communication; communication theories and research; and principles of advertising. In 1974 when the programme was extended to four years, new elements of broadcasting and television studies were introduced. In 1981 advertising courses were also brought in. There are now four major categories of courses offered by the department: studies in communication, news reporting, studies in broadcasting, and advertising Silver Jubilee of Department of Journalism & Communication 20