A Cycle of Sixty Years:
The People, Events, and Sentiments of CUHK’s School of Journalism and Communication

Sixty years, precisely one jiazi cycle, is a moment to reflect on the past, summarize the present, and look to the future. This year, the School of Journalism and Communication at The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK Comm) joyfully celebrates its 60th anniversary. Over this jiazi cycle, countless unforgettable people, events, and sentiments have accumulated, carrying many shared memories. While sharing these memories, with what mindset should we approach the future?

The pioneer of tertiary journalism education in Hong Kong can be traced back to the Department of Journalism established by New Asia College in 1965. In fact, journalism education in Hong Kong had already taken shape as early as the 1920s, with courses offered by newspaper organizations. In 1949, the Cultural College, originating from Canton Cultural University, established a school in Hong Kong and opened a Department of Journalism. In 1956, this school merged with four other private institutions to form United College. The writer Ni Kuang enrolled in the Department of Journalism at United College in 1957 but dropped out after just one year.

New Asia College, founded in 1949, also established a “Department of Journalism and Sociology” in 1950, but it was discontinued a year later due to insufficient campus space. In 1959, when United College was preparing to join the soon-to-be-established Chinese University of Hong Kong, its Department of Journalism did not receive government funding and thus continued operation as a private evening school. Consequently, the Department of Journalism at United College was temporarily suspended until New Asia College took over and re-established it in 1965.

At its inception in 1965, the New Asia Department of Journalism had only two teachers and six students. Today, the total student population across all CUHK Comm programmes has reached 800, with over 30 teaching staff and more than 9,000 alumni.

The 60 years of CUHK Comm can be broadly divided into seven stages: the “Founding Period” of the 1960s, the “Formative Period” of the 1970s, the “Fluctuating Period” of the 1980s, the “Stable Period” of the 1990s, the “Development Period” after the millennium, the “Mature Period” of the 2010s, and the “Challenging Period” since the 2020s.

When established in 1965, the Department was named the “Department of Journalism”. It was renamed the “Department of Journalism and Communication” in 1974, and changed its undergraduate programme from a two-year to a four-year system in 1975. In 1976, the “Shatin News Incident” occurred: the Department’s internship publication, Shatin News, faced pressure over its report on CUHK graduates performing poorly in the Administrative Officer examination. The publication was ordered to cease, and four teachers were reprimanded. A year later, Shatin News was replaced by New Shatin.

In the early 1980s, affected by the twists and turns of the Sino-British negotiations, the Department experienced frequent personnel changes, with the headship changing hands four times between 1982 and 1986. It was not until the mid-1980s, when local young scholars joined one after another, that the situation gradually stabilized. In 1994, due to the “4-to-3” academic structure reform at CUHK, curricula required significant adjustments, and the undergraduate intake doubled from 30 plus to more than 60 students per year. In 1995, the magazine U-Beat was launched, replacing the community newspaper New Shatin. A greater change came in 1999 when the Department was upgraded to the “School of Journalism and Communication”.

Around the millennium, the School launched several taught master’s degree programmes. In 2003, to celebrate CUHK’s 40th anniversary, the School organized the “CUHK Journalism Award”. Subsequently, it established research centres and published Chinese and English academic journals, further connecting with the international academic community while serving the local society. Throughout the 2000s and 2010s, the School continually strengthened its academic infrastructure, revamped undergraduate programmes, added postgraduate programmes, expanded student enrolment, and extended student exchange programmes.

The social events of 2019 had a huge impact on the CUHK campus, staff, and students. Journalism students at the time persisted in reporting, while teachers, concerned for their safety, specially acquired protective gear. The ensuing Covid-19 pandemic forced all classes online, requiring the School to urgently purchase relevant equipment. However, some production courses were difficult to conduct fully online, so the School applied to the University to allow students limited access to campus facilities. Summer internships were also affected, necessitating flexible arrangements to ensure students could graduate on schedule.

After the pandemic, changes in the social environment and campus atmosphere, coupled with increasing severity of student emotional issues, have brought mental health into focus. How can we help our students? The School hopes to create an environment that motivates students and has therefore launched small grant schemes encouraging students to apply independently to realize various projects.

Regarding personnel, there have been 19 Department Heads and Directors over the 60 years. In the early years, most were scholars from Chinese Mainland or Taiwan; from the 1990s onwards, local faculty gradually took over. Foundational scholars in the 1960s and 1970s included Yu Teh Chi Frederick, Wei Michael, Yu L. M. Timothy, Chu Li Leonard, and Lee Chin Chuan. In the 1980s, a new generation of Hong Kong scholars such as Leung Wai Yin Kenneth, Lee Siu Nam Paul, Chan Man Joseph, So York Kee Clement arrived successively. Later additions included Leung Louis, Fung Ying Him Anthony, Lee Lap Fung Francis, Lee Lai Chun Hing Annisa, and Chu Shun Chi Donna. In recent years, more young teachers have emerged and too numerous to list. Furthermore, the School has gathered scholars from Chinese Mainland, Taiwan, Korea, Europe, and the US, and currently has over 60 seasoned part-time lecturers from the local communication industry.

The content of communication studies must respond to societal needs. The undergraduate curriculum has gradually expanded from its early focus on print journalism to include broadcasting, television, advertising, and public relations. In recent years, multimedia production has been added while responding to the wave of artificial intelligence.

In 2012, the School launched a double degree programme in Journalism and Communication and Business Administration, and began a double major programme with the Department of Sociology in 2013. In 2017, alongside the original Journalism and Communication major, a “Global Communication” major was added. For practical courses, besides the existing U-beat, Varsity and Pinpoint, Creative Media Laboratory was added in 2014.

Around the millennium, the School launched five taught master’s programmes covering Journalism, Advertising, Corporate Communication, New Media, and Global Communication. CUHK Comm was also the earliest among Hong Kong institutions to offer MPhil (1977) and PhD (1993) programmes in Communication.

In recent years, student exchanges overseas have become increasingly common. Institutions with student exchange agreements with CUHK Comm span the US, UK, Netherlands, Spain, Japan, Korea, Thailand, Taiwan, and more. With the continuous expansion of exchange programmes in recent years, students have more opportunities to explore the world.

Regarding academic development, the School recently founded two academic journals: Communication and Society (2006), co-published with HKBU’s School of Communication, and the English-language Chinese Journal of Communication (2008). Both journals quickly achieved success and being indexed in major international citation databases. The School established the Centre for Chinese Media and Comparative Communication Research in 2012, complementing the functions of the School’s Centre for Communication and Public Opinion Survey.

The School’s international rankings concretely reflect its academic and educational quality. Over the past decade, CUHK Comm has consistently ranked within the global top 30 in the QS World University Rankings by Subject for “Communication and Media Studies”. In 2025, it jumped to 12th globally, 2nd in Asia, and 1st in Hong Kong. In the 2024 ShanghaiRanking’s Global Ranking of Academic Subjects, CUHK ranked 16th globally in the field of “Journalism and Communication”.

For the 60th anniversary, the School interviewed 40 alumni from different eras. After graduation, they entered various industries, including not only journalism and communication but also business, education, government, academia, and cultural arts. Below are their firsthand accounts to share their feelings about majoring in Comm, how it influenced personal growth, and helped their careers.

Some alumni’s work remains closely related to communication. Former journalist, entertainment executive, and gallery director Cheung Po Wah believes these three industries all revolve around communication, and her Comm training “installed a very durable, powerful battery.” Counsellor Yang Pei Betty said Comm equipped her with many problem-solving skills. While her current counselling work emphasizes listening more, her aspirations are still related to communication. Multimedia production company producer Siu Yat Long believes life is inseparable from communication; studying Comm in the past aligns with his current work helping clients communicate messages to audiences.

Comm people excel at storytelling. Opera enthusiast Cheung Ching Man believes her undergraduate studies were about modern communication, while opera is ancient communication. She simply shifted from news communication to cultural communication, with the constant being telling human stories. RubberBand lead singer Mau Hou Cheong stated that Comm helped him understand himself and discover his greatest interest lies in human stories. Senior News Editor Tam Hio Tung always wanted to be a “storyteller”. The resilience and problem-solving abilities cultivated during undergraduate internships support her in facing challenges head-on.

Secondary School Principal Chan Shin Kwan said her Comm training made her understand that the perspectives and values behind every story can influence others, which aligns with educating students. Insurance Director Chan Fun believes he learned storytelling ability at the School, applicable to different jobs: simplifying complex matters and adding warmth to cold facts. He also learned to hold firmly to goodness at Comm. Independent singer-songwriter Wong Hoi Yat shares this sentiment, stating that after entering Comm, his imagination broadened, he had space to try creation, and understood life is full of possibilities.

Life’s orientations and principles often stem from Comm training. Brand Communication Director Yip So Kei said Comm cultivated her curiosity. PR Consulting Group Chairman Tsang Lap Ki Richard said adhering to the principle of seeking truth is crucial, which was the original intention for many entering the School. Former journalist and current SFC CEO Leung Fung Yee Julia stated she was initially attracted to Comm by its spirit of seeking truth. Being close to the pulse of society helps reflect social conditions and cultivates a heart to serve society. Radio DJ Leung Chi Kin learned the social responsibility of media professionals at Comm; even hosting entertainment programmes should benefit society.

The attitude of Comm people lies in striving to adapt and remaining flexible. Hotel Group Vice President Koo Man Kit said university teaches not only professional knowledge and problem-solving skills but also adaptability, which Comm cultivates in students. Technology E-commerce Company CEO Zhou Hui Jing stated that although her industry may not directly relate to her undergraduate studies, she always upholds the “give it your all” Comm spirit.

University education focuses on cultivating the ability to think and question, maintaining a spirit of skepticism. Young communication scholar Mak Ka Fai Macau said studying Comm trained him how to think about problems while learning to maintain human touch. Screenwriter Chan Hing Kai agrees university is not vocational training; the focus is not on equipping skills but on cultivating journalistic standards and beliefs. Therefore, when teaching students, he emphasizes the “height of thinking”.

Post-secondary College President Chan Cheuk Hay said Comm taught him independent thinking, believing that deep and quality thinking enables asking good questions. Librarian Chang Hok Yan is also active in Chinese music and cultural circles. He described his undergraduate studies as an “enlightenment process”, cultivating social awareness and concern, analytical thinking skills, learning to distinguish right from wrong, holding firmly to goodness, establishing a positive outlook on life, and tempering resilience in life.

Studying Comm aims to build a solid foundation and establish oneself. Veteran journalist and current tertiary educator Chiu Ying Chun Ronald said communication education helps build a foundation, not just language expression skills but also analytical thinking abilities, while broadening horizons and cultivating the pursuit of facts. Life education facilitator Lam Chau Ha described her undergraduate studies as a process of “cultivating both internal and external qualities”: “internal skill” is the spirit, focusing on “creating something from nothing”; “external skill” is ability, meaning media training and techniques.

Many alumni harbour dreams. Creativity-loving Ng Chun Ning entered the advertising industry after graduation, practicing “dreaming pragmatically”. Filmmaker Cheng Lai Chun is grateful for the opportunities Comm gave her, allowing her to devote her life to film—a precious gift in life. History Professor Ching May Bo perfectly embodies the saying “journalism is the first rough draft of history”, bridging the two different yet related fields of journalism and history.

Comm people often possess distinctive personalities. Secondary School Principal Ho Lik Ko said Comm people tend to have quirkier ideas, making the school atmosphere more lively. Divinity School Director Yip Ching Wah Francis maintains his concern for society, believing his undergraduate studies taught him to value the audience, thus keeping him grounded. This will influence future pastors, thereby impacting society. So the distance between Comm and theology is not as far as imagined.

CUHK Comm has an orderly inheritance and a long-flowing warmth, possessing core traditions while demonstrating diverse development. Strong professional consciousness and identity, combined with efficient administration and a harmonious atmosphere, are some of its characteristics. The School logo launched in 2013 emphasizes adhering to a people-oriented approach and valuing three ‘I’s: Inherit, Innovate, and Inspire.

The 60th-anniversary theme is “BeCOMM and Beyond”, representing both the journey the School has taken and its aspirations for the future. The School specially invited CUHK alumnus Cao Yuqian to write a couplet for this theme: “The future is already here, a path of ten thousand miles lies ahead; Guides lead the way, sixty years of passing the torch have found their method”. The couplet was kindly inscribed by former CUHK Vice-Chancellor Professor King Yeo Chi Ambrose and printed as a New Year souvenir earlier this year as a gift to the alumni.

CUHK Comm uses “COMM” as its disciplinary marker. Graduates, whether working within communication fields upholding the professional spirit of COMM, or developing in other areas, all demonstrate how Comm education transcends boundaries and pursues excellence in vision. “BeCOMM” explores the diverse stories of Comm people, while “Beyond” witnesses the multifaceted achievements of alumni outside the communication industry. CUHK Comm stands at the forefront of education, committed to continuing to guide the future for new generations.

The social environment constantly changes, digital media continues to transform, and future development is full of uncertainty. Cultivating students’ adaptability and resilience becomes even more crucial. How to let students learn and grow in a safe, comfortable environment, adhering to core values and seeking opportunities amidst difficulties, is the challenge bestowed upon us by the times.

The 60th-anniversary celebrations feature a series of events, culminating in the “COMM is Here: Cheung Lo’s Landing” held on November 1st. The newly published 60th-anniversary commemorative book, COMM 60: Gathering Records, Passing the Torch, aims to recollect the past, record history, and pass on the flame. This article is precisely a condensed introduction to that special book.

So York Kee Clement is Senior Research Scholar, Faculty of Social Science, CUHK; Former Director, School of Journalism and Communication, CUHK

This article was originally published in Ming Pao Daily News, Supplement “Century” Page C4, November 3, 2025 (in Chinese)