Press Release

HKBU Professional Journalism Fellowship invites applications for the 5th Cohort

Wednesday, 11 February 2026

Application for the 5th cohort of fellows of the HKBU Professional Journalism Fellowship (PJF@HKBU) scheme starts today (11 February). Successful applicants will receive a stipend to take a break from their professional duties and attend various courses at HKBU, enriching their knowledge and perspectives to foster the long-term development of journalism in Hong Kong.

Initiated and solely funded by Professor Raymond R Wong, widely regarded as the “Godfather of Hong Kong TV Journalism”, the PJF@HKBU scheme is the first-of-its-kind in Hong Kong which aims to elevate the standards of the journalism profession. Selected fellows will have the privilege of studying at HKBU as full-time students for one or two semesters, and they will be able to attend any undergraduate and postgraduate courses, subject to prior approval from the course instructors. They may also participate in HKBU’s events and activities, and will have access to on-campus learning resources and amenities. Furthermore, the PJF@HKBU scheme offers a stipend that corresponds to the fellows’ income and work experience.

The 5th PJF@HKBU scheme’s application deadline is 13 April 2026. The scheme welcomes applications from full-time journalists employed by established news organisations based in Hong Kong, with a minimum of five years of journalistic experience. Details of the scheme are available on its website.

The three Fellows selected in the fourth cohort of the PJF@HKBU scheme in 2025 have completed their studies in December of that year. They are Mr Shao Zhijie, Journalist of BBC News Chinese; Ms Natalie Wong, Senior Correspondent of South China Morning Post; and Ms Cissy Zhou, Senior Business Correspondent of Nikkei Asia. The courses they undertook covered a wide and diverse spectrum of subjects, including artificial intelligence, data science, anthropology, religion, psychology, counselling, sports science, the Japanese language, film, music, politics, economics, history, and philosophy.

The Fellows expressed their heartfelt gratitude to Professor Raymond R Wong for founding the PJF@HKBU scheme. They thoroughly enjoyed the transdisciplinary and immersive learning experience at HKBU which upgraded their professional knowledge and broadened their personal perspectives, as well as enhanced their competitiveness in a rapidly changing industry. They strongly encourage their peers in the journalism industry to join the scheme, thereby enriching their personal knowledge and providing the momentum for their ongoing career growth. Sharing links of the 4th cohort of PJF@HKBU Fellows: Mr Shao Zhijie, Ms Natalie Wong, and Ms Cissy Zhou.

Professor Raymond Li, Head and Professor of Practice of the Department of Journalism at HKBU, stated that so far, a total of 12 outstanding journalists from local television, print, and online media have been selected to participate in the scheme. He described the initiative as an important bridge connecting HKBU students and faculty with the wider journalism industry. He remarked: “Through the PJF@HKBU scheme, the Fellows can acquire new knowledge and skills on the HKBU campus, while at the same time share their valuable insights and experiences from the industry with our students and colleagues. This creates a platform for mutual inspiration and collective growth, from which both sides can benefit.”

Professor Raymond R Wong, founder of the PJF@HKBU scheme, encouraged media organisations to actively nominate their staff to take part in this year’s scheme. He emphasised that the challenges facing journalism are fast-changing, and can only be addressed agilely through continuous learning. He said: “This scheme enables journalists to return to campus to recharge, acquire knowledge from diverse fields, and cultivate transdisciplinary thinking. This not only benefits their personal and professional growth, but also allows them to give back to the industry, broaden news perspectives and raise innovation levels when they resume their professional roles. In doing so, they will bring fresh energy into Hong Kong’s media landscape and help drive the long‑term development of the journalism industry in Hong Kong.”

Professor Raymond R Wong is a recipient of HKBU’s doctorate degree in Social Sciences, honoris causa, and the Honorary University Fellowship. He is also an Honorary Permanent President of the HKBU Foundation. During the 1970s, Professor Wong served as the second 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 Hong Kong TV Journalism”. He was awarded the Silver Bauhinia Star by the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administration Region in 1998.

In 2020, Professor Wong made a generous donation of HK$50 million to the School of Communication at HKBU. 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. The PJF@HKBU scheme is one of the strategic initiatives launched in 2022 supported by this Memorial Fund, marking a significant milestone for the School. Since its inception, the initiative has become an important driving force in advancing Hong Kong’s journalism industry, demonstrating an enduring and far-reaching impact.

-End-