Press Release

Four media professionals named fellows for the 5th HKBU Professional Journalism Fellowship

Thursday, 13 August 2026

The School of Communication at Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU) announces the selection results of the 5th Professional Journalism Fellowship (PJF@HKBU) scheme. Four Hong Kong-based media professionals — Ms Sylvia Chang and Mr Chen Yan, Journalists of BBC News Chinese; and Mr Chung Cheuk-hei and Ms Alice Tse Yuet-ching, Senior Reporters of TVB News & Information Services Division — have been awarded the fellowships.

Under the scheme, they will join HKBU as full-time students and attend courses at undergraduate or postgraduate level for one semester during the 2026/27 academic year. They will also have the opportunity to participate in HKBU’s events and utilise its extensive learning resources and facilities.

Established through the generous donation of Professor Raymond R Wong, famously known as the “Godfather of Hong Kong Journalism”, the PJF@HKBU scheme is the first-of-its-kind initiative in Hong Kong. It aims to elevate journalism standards by offering practising journalists a sabbatical opportunity for academic enrichment at HKBU.

Professor Raymond Li, Chair of the PJF@HKBU selection committee and Head of the Department of Journalism at HKBU, noted: “Now in its fifth year, the value of the PJF@HKBU scheme lies not only in offering fellows space for personal and professional growth, but also in bringing their wealth of frontline experience and unique perspectives to HKBU. The four fellows selected this year possess diverse and extensive expertise, spanning major international and cross-strait news, local livelihood issues and in-depth feature reporting. HKBU faculty and students eagerly look forward to exchanging ideas with them on the evolving role of journalists in the AI era, and exploring the future of journalism together.”

Professor Raymond R Wong remarked, “The future of journalism hinges upon a commitment to lifelong learning and professional ethics. It brings me great joy to see this year's fellows return to campus with such a thirst for knowledge. I hope they will leverage HKBU’s rich academic resources and transdisciplinary strengths to acquire new knowledge and broaden their horizons. When they return to the newsroom, may they continue to excel and contribute to the long-term development of Hong Kong’s media industry.”

The four selected fellows expressed their gratitude to Professor Raymond R Wong, noting that, at a time when AI is reshaping newsrooms worldwide, the PJF@HKBU is especially meaningful in driving industry transformation and promoting lifelong learning. They said they greatly value this unique opportunity to step away temporarily from their busy work, return to campus to acquire transdisciplinary knowledge and skills, and explore innovative forms of storytelling. They also look forward to engaging with HKBU scholars and students aspiring to pursue careers in journalism. They believe the scheme not only fosters personal and professional growth but also serves as a vital platform to push the boundaries of journalism.

Professor Raymond R Wong is the recipient of HKBU’s doctoral degree in Social Sciences, honoris causa. He is also an Honorary University Fellow and an Honorary Permanent President of the HKBU Foundation. He was Head of the Department of Communication of the then Hong Kong Baptist College in the 1970s, and Principal Lecturer of the School of Communication in the early 1990s. Professor Wong has devoted over five decades to the journalism industry and media education. He was awarded the Silver Bauhinia Star by the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in 1998.

In 2020, Professor Wong generously donated HK$50 million to establish the Dorothy Shen Wong Memorial Fund in memory of his late wife, supporting the strategic development and journalism education of the School of Communication. It is the largest single donation ever received by the School.
The PJF@HKBU is one of the strategic initiatives launched in 2022 supported by this Memorial Fund. To date, five cohorts comprising a total of 15 fellows have been selected, reflecting the scheme’s expanding impact and commitment to advancing journalism in Hong Kong.

More details about the selected fellows under this year’s PJF@HKBU:

- Ms Sylvia Chang, Journalist of BBC News Chinese [Video: Words of gratitude]
- Mr Chen Yan, Journalist of BBC News Chinese [Video: Words of gratitude]
- Mr Chung Cheuk-hei, Senior Reporter of TVB News & Information Services Division [Video: Words of gratitude]
- Ms Alice Tse Yuet-ching, Senior Reporter of TVB News & Information Services Division [Video: Words of gratitude]

More information about the PJF@HKBU scheme is available on the website.