To advance journalistic education and practice in the Greater China region, the Department of Journalism under the School of Communication invited six winners of the US media industry's most prestigious award, the Pulitzer Prize, and two guest speakers to share their insights with University members, students, media professionals and the public at its 5th Pulitzer Prize Winners Workshop from 19 to 24 November.

The six Pulitzer Prize winners are Mr. Clifford J. Levy, 2003 winner for Investigative Reporting and member of the 2011 winning team for International Reporting; Mr. Craig F. Walker, 2010 and 2012 winner for Feature Photography; Ms. Paige St. John, 2011 winner for Investigative Reporting; Ms. Sara Ganim, member of the 2012 winning team for Local Reporting; Mr. James V. Grimaldi, member of the 2006 winning team for Investigative Reporting; and Mr. Bill Adair, member of the 2009 winning team for National Reporting. The two guest speakers are Ms. Julie Dressner, documentary filmmaker, and Ms. Jamie E. Cotton, freelance photographer.

Mr. Stephen Young, Consul General, US Consul General to Hong Kong; Mr. Wilfred Wong, Chairman of the Council and the Court, HKBU; and Professor Franklin Luk, Vice-President (Academic), officiated at the opening ceremony on 20 November.

In his speech, Mr. Wilfred Wong thanked the media professionals and friends of the University for joining the event as this demonstrated their support to the University. Mr. Wong encouraged students to look up to Ms. Sara Ganim, who won the Pulitzer Prize in her early 20s, as an example. He said the School of Communication is well known around the world. Recently, it was named by the website Asian Correspondent as one of the best journalism and media universities for Asian students. Mr. Wong said the School depends on its faculty and students to uphold its reputation.

Mr. Young praised HKBU for providing Communication education of supreme quality. He said freedom of speech is cherished in both Hong Kong and the US. He hoped the participants would benefit from the workshop.

The opening ceremony was followed by a forum on "Quality Journalism in the Digital World" moderated by Mr. Lau Chi-kuen, Principal Lecturer of Journalism, and Ms. Bonnie Chiu, Senior Lecturer of Journalism. Several Pulitzer Prize winners shared the challenges they face when working with digital media and how they make use of new media and new technology to enhance the efficiency and quality of their work.

(HK Edition 11/30/2012 page1)