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Media Professionals in Residence Programme

 

OPEN CALL NOW

The CUHK Media Professionals in Residence Programme brings industry practitioners to campus and offers a unique opportunity to bridge the gap between academic research and practice in the media industry. It aims to build a collaborative, critical, and convergent space that facilitates, produces, harvests, and amplifies multi-stakeholder conversations about emergent and future-forward challenges in the media landscape. By bringing together professionals and researchers, the Programme seeks to articulate, map, and blueprint desirable futures for the industry and society.

The Programme for the 2024-25 academic year now invites applications from forward-thinking media professionals around the globe with a demonstrated commitment to innovation, collaboration, and shaping the future of the media landscape. Residency fellows should possess a creative, inspiring, and critical approach to their work, and a strong interest in engaging in a collaborative environment with academic partners. Ideal candidates will have a clear vision for their residency, aligning their individual expertise with the Programme’s annual thematic focus.

 

The Hybrid Programme and the Theme

Starting from this year, the Programme will be a hybrid fellowship, combining an eight-week in-person residency component with a two-month remote residency component. There will also be a specific theme for each year.

For the 2024-25 Programme, the theme is “Living with AI.” Residency fellows are expected to develop projects that leverage artificial intelligence (AI) to address key challenges and opportunities in the media industry or to examine the multifaceted implications of AI on how we produce, consume, and interact with media. Some possible directions include but are not limited to:

  • Develop AI tools that solve specific problems in the media industry (e.g., misinformation, polarization, hate speech, low trust, revenue decline);
  • Develop responsible guidelines and best practices for the ethical use of AI in a specific area of the media industry;
  • Develop engaging and informative campaigns that educate the public about the use of AI in media.

The first two months of the residency will take place remotely in Term 1 (Fall 2024), providing a dedicated online orientation and co-creation space. During this period, fellows will host weekly learning calls, share their expertise, and collaboratively develop their projects. A group of teachers and students will participate in these calls.

Following the Lunar New Year, fellows will commence their eight-week in-person residency at the School (Spring 2025). The residency will culminate in the “Festival of Ideas” event, showcasing the fellows’ projects. During their in-person residency, fellows will also deliver public talks and guest lectures, host office hours, and participate in social events organized by the School.

 

Eligibility

The Programme invites applications from forward-thinking media professionals around the globe with a demonstrated commitment to innovation, collaboration, and shaping the future of the media landscape. Residency fellows should possess a creative, inspiring, and critical approach to their work, and a strong interest in engaging in a collaborative environment with academic partners. Ideal candidates will have a clear vision for their residency, aligning their individual expertise with the program’s annual thematic focus.

We seek individuals with a minimum of eight years of professional experience in a diverse range of media sectors, including but not limited to news media, advertising, public relations, digital media technologies, arts and cultural production, and communication departments within corporate and nonprofit organizations.

 

Support from the Programme

We will create a collaborative learning and working environment and match the fellows with our teachers and students to work on their projects together. We will also provide the necessary financial and administrative support for the “Festival of Ideas” event.

Each fellow will receive an honorarium of HK$90,000 for the entire residency. Assistance in visa application and accommodation booking can be provided. Fellows will have access to the university library during their in-person residency.

 

Application Materials

  • CV: A comprehensive CV outlining the applicant’s professional experience, education, skills, and relevant accomplishments.
  • Portfolio of previous works
  • Project Proposal: A written statement (maximum 1,000 words in English) pitching a project that aligns with the Programme’s annual thematic focus: Living with AI. In the proposal, applicants should address the following:
    1. Project Rationale: Explain the significance of your proposed project, how it fits the theme, and why you are passionate about pursuing it.
    2. Relevant Experience and Expertise: Highlight how your past experience and current interests equip you to undertake this project successfully.
    3. Potential Collaborations: Identify prospective partners within the School of Journalism and Communication or local communities with whom you would like to collaborate.
    4. Teamwork and Collaboration: Articulate your approach to teamwork and why you are eager to work in a collaborative environment.
  • Video Introduction: A 3-minute video briefly introducing yourself and your proposed project. The video can be in any style.

All participants are required to complete an online application form via https://shorturl.at/7yAmj and upload the supporting documents on or before 14 July 2024. Shortlisted applicants will be contacted for interviews in late July 2024.

Application link:
https://shorturl.at/7yAmj

Application deadline:
14 July 2024

Enquiry:
mediapro@cuhk.edu.hk