Press Release

HKBU Professional Journalism Fellowship invites applications for the 4th Cohort

Wednesday, 12 March 2025

The HKBU Professional Journalism Fellowship (PJF@HKBU) scheme is now open for applications for the 4th cohort of fellows, commencing today (12 March). Initiated and funded by Professor Raymond R Wong, PJF@HKBU is the first-of-its-kind in Hong Kong, aimed at elevating journalism standards by offering practising journalists a unique opportunity to take a break from their professional duties and immerse themselves in full-time studies at HKBU. The scheme invites applications from full-time journalists employed by established news organisations based in Hong Kong, requiring a minimum of five years of journalistic experience.

The selected fellows will have the privilege of studying at HKBU for one or two semesters, and they will be able to attend any undergraduate and postgraduate courses, subject to prior approval from course instructors. Furthermore, the PJF@HKBU scheme offers a stipend that corresponds to the fellows’ individual income and work experience, ensuring financial support is available throughout their study period.

Over the past three years, nine distinguished journalists have participated in the scheme, representing a variety of news organisations across Hong Kong, including television, print media, and online media. During their three-month study at HKBU, each fellow engaged in a diverse range of courses, covering topics such as artificial intelligence, data science, fact-checking, business, brand marketing, journalism, public relations, advertising, psychology, Chinese medicine, history, humanities, creative writing, visual arts, film, culture, and languages, among others. 

Mr Francis Ng, Fellow of the 3rd Cohort and the Head of Yahoo Hong Kong’s Homepage, News and Media Partnership, noted that the new knowledge he acquired at HKBU, along with the sharing and discussions he had with journalism students, brought significant inspiration and assistance to his daily work. Another Fellow from the same cohort, Mr Jeff Cheng, Photojournalist of HK01 and Former Chair of the Hong Kong Press Photographers Association, highlighted that through his interactions with faculty and students, he gained fresh ideas and perspectives. 

Professor Raymond Li, Professor of Practice and Head of the Department of Journalism, described the PJF@HKBU scheme as a win-win initiative. On one hand, the Fellows have the opportunity to recharge and acquire new knowledge and skills on the HKBU campus. On the other hand, these experienced media professionals share their extensive practical insights with the HKBU community, greatly benefiting both faculty and students.

Professor Raymond R Wong, Founder and Donor of PJF@HKBU, strongly encourages media organisations to nominate their employees for this year’s scheme. “I hope that journalists in Hong Kong can take this opportunity to return to campus, and learn new knowledge and skills beyond journalism.  Upon their return, I believe they can apply these learnings to benefit their organisations and contribute to the advancement of the Hong Kong media industry as a whole,” he remarked.

Professor Raymond R Wong is a recipient of HKBU’s doctorate degree in Social Sciences, honoris causa, and Honorary University Fellowship. He is also an Honorary Permanent President of the HKBU Foundation. During the 1970s, Professor Wong served as the Head of the Department of Communication at the then Hong Kong Baptist College, and later became the Principal Lecturer of the School of Communication in the early 1990’s. With over five decades of dedication to journalism education and the media industry, he has earned the well-deserved title of “Godfather of TV Journalism.” He was awarded the Silver Bauhinia Star by the HKSAR Government in 1998.

In 2020, Professor Wong made a generous donation of HK$50 million to the School of Communication. This substantial contribution was used to establish the Dorothy Shen Wong Memorial Fund, honouring his late wife. This remarkable gift stands as the largest single donation the School has ever received, fuelling its strategic development and reinforcing its pursuit of excellence in journalism education. PJF@HKBU is one of the strategic initiatives launched in 2022 supported by this Memorial Fund, marking a significant milestone for the School.

The 4th PJF@HKBU application deadline is 12 May 2025. Details of the scheme are available on its website.

The video interviews with the fellows from past cohorts can be viewed here.