Jeremy Paxman (principal news and current affairs presenter, BBC), Wang Hui (Head of Communications, City of Beijing) in the chair, Bai Yansong (principal news and current affairs presenter, CCTV)

Jeremy Paxman and China’s leading current affairs presenter and writer Bai Yansong joined Paul Jackson and David Morgenstern, from the UK television industry, at the the Future of Public Media workshop organised by the China Media Centre of the University of Westminster and the Communications University of China. The event took place in Beijing, China, on 12 January 2012.

The full-day workshop explored common experiences and challenges facing public media organisations in China and the UK. Contributors came from academic, journalistic, policy and business backgrounds and investigated where common interests and potential partnerships can exist despite real differences in media systems, giving participants the chance to identify areas of common interest and build the foundations for future partnerships.

The four visiting British speakers at the conference, with the Conference Director, Professor Hu Zhengrong. (From left to right: David Morgenstern, Paul Jackson, Professor Hu, Jeremy Paxman and Professor Hugo de Burgh)

Key speakers attending the workshop included:

From the United Kingdom

• Jeremy Paxman, the UK’s leading current affairs presenter.
• Paul Jackson, an outstanding UK TV producer, former executive producer of BBC and ITV’s entertainment departments.
• David Morgenstern, former director of BBC’s entertainment programme development department, currently Director of 10 Star company’s Programme R & D Department.
• Prof Hugo de Burgh, Director of China Media Centre, University of Westminster.

From China:

• Prof Hu Zhengrong, Deputy President of Communications University of China, Chairman of Chinese Media Research Association and the Honorary Doctor of the University of Westminster
• Bai Yansong, China’s leading current affairs presenter and writer.
• Yang Hua, Deputy Director of the CCTV News Centre
• Zhang Haichao, Deputy General Manager of China International Television Corporation (CITVC)
• Ren Xue’an, Deputy Director of CCTV Channel 1

The city is a physical entity, a place of human inhabitation and a center of economy, politics and culture. The city represents a network of interaction and communication, and the indicator of human living conditions and the pattern of their relationships as well.

From the beginning, communication and the city associated with each other, constituting an integral co-structural relationship. The city changes in time and space, which in turn restructures the communicative and interactive relationships. The significant change of interaction and communication pattern, is undoubtedly adjustment and representation of the city and its internal and external relations. In short, the city is the carrier and network of interaction and communication which  is the pattern of the city and its resident’s living. Therefore, the research of the city and its resident cannot go without the perspectives of interaction and communication.

In the current context of globalization, digitalization and informatization, re-assessing the relationship between the city and interaction and communication, is not only a practical and significant subject concerning human existence but the cornerstone of communication theory and practice as well.

The Center for Information and Communication Studies, Fudan University, will focus on “urban communication” in its future research, re-examining the relationship between communication, the city and human beings, in order to fulfill three purposes: On the level of social function, to help build up “communicable city”; on the level of humanity idea, to contemplate human living conditions and problems in modern cities from the perspective of communication; on the level of disciplinary level, to build a new theoretical ground of communication research, connecting humanities and social science based on of communication.

The theme of “Communication and China • Fudan Forum” (2011) is determined as

Interaction and Communication: The City in Transition

“Communication and China • Fudan Forum” (2011) calls for papers from domestic and foreign scholars. In view of the wide scope of the topic, we suggest three dimensions so as to make our discussion more focused and to the point.

1. Interaction and communication as the main function of the city. For example: the relationship between interaction and communication and different urban groups; urban communication and political and economic changes in cities; public crisis communication and urban governance; community communication and neighborhood; information monitoring, public security and civil rights; urban change and building up urban media systems; interaction and communication and urban cultural identity.
2. The city as the network of interaction and communication, for example, urban space presented by interaction and communication; virtual and physical urban space and interaction and communication; transition in ways of communication and relationships and urban change; the expression of ideas in urban architecture; urban lifestyle and cultural heritage in interaction and communication; the relationship between suburban and urban distribution and interaction; political relations in urban interaction and communication; urban markets, commodity exchange and interpersonal interaction.
3. Interaction and communication as the way of city residents’ existence, for example: the transition of interaction and communication and human existential experience; interaction and communication and people’s perception of the city; urban interaction and communication and people’s daily life, urban interaction and communication and manifestation of Renqing, urban interaction and communication and individual subjectivity.

The title of the paper can be decided by the author. One can choose whatever research orientation, methodology and approach one finds appropriate. All submissions must be based on empirical evidence and not purely descriptive narrative. Empty talk should be avoided.

Date: December 28-30, 2011 in Shanghai, China

Deadline: October 31, 2011

Email: cics@fudan.edu.cn

Phone: 86-21-65643743

Fax; 86-21-65643743

Date: 6 April 2011 6.00pm – 6 April 2011 7.00pm
Location: The Old Cinema, University of Westminster, 309 Regent Street, London W1B 2UW
Speakers: Professor Hugo de Burgh

Hugo de Burgh is Professor of the Study of Journalism at the University of Westminster and Director of the China Media Centre. The Chinese Ministry of Education has appointed him a Professor at Tsinghua University under the PRC Government’s 985 Programme.

The lecture will be followed by a drinks reception in Fyvie Hall.

RSVP to: Register online on <http://www.westminster.ac.uk/about/news-and-events/events/2011/to-the-yellow-crane-pavilion-with-our-leaky-umbrella-reflections-on-the-future-for-chinese-media-the-inaugural-lecture-of-professor-hugo-de-burgh>

Beyond the university, attendees heard from top advertising and PR experts, as well as from the people who handle communications in London (including Westminster, the area which includes most of central London’s attractions), Glasgow and Belfast. Field visits were made to destinations across the UK, with opportunities to see the reality behind the UK’s most notable “city brands”.  The course concluded with discussion of the delegates’ experiences during their time in the UK, and they had an opportunity to put their questions to a panel of experts from the worlds of media and branding.

Seminars were led by Edelman’s new Chief Content Officer and former BBC Director of Global News Richard Sambrook,  Crisis Communications expert Mike Regester and Director of Communications at the Department for Business, Innovation and skills Russell Grossman. Barclay’s Corporate Affairs Director Howell James and the BBC’s Senior Communications Advisor Donald  Steel hosted sessions, as did senior officials at the Central Office of Information and senior partner at Portland Communications, Martin Sheehan. The Office of the First Minister in the Welsh Assembly Government organised a briefing for delegates in Cardiff on the management of  communications and media relations in a devolved administration, and delegates also met the All Party Parliamentary China Group in Parliament.

Professor Colin Sparks, director of CAMRI, the university’s centre for global media and social change, introduced the UK media system, while Professor Hugo de Burgh, founder and director of the China Media Centre, lectured on the representation of China in the UK media.

Delegates were all ministerial spokespersons – officials who represent their Secretaries of State and Ministers in public and are themselves senior career politicians.

The two-week course was designed and led by former BBC Director of Communications Sally Osman in partnership with Dr. Zeng Rong of the China Media Centre. Project organisation was by Alja Kranjec.

 China Media Centre has designed a suite of courses which are especially, though not exclusively, designed for Chinese applicants.

 This year we have held two separate sessions of our course ‘INNOVATION AND CREATIVITY IN THE UK MEDIA’ and two of ‘CITY BRANDING AND INTERNATIONAL COMMUNICATIONS’. They are aimed at mid-career professionals in, respectively, the broadcast industry and the public spokesperson track within regional and city government administrations.

 Certificate ceremony March 2010; CMC INNOVATION2 coursE

 Each course includes a few days out with London; in Scotland, a programme introducing the visitors to Scottish public affairs has been hosted several times by John Brown, the PR expert who is brother to the recent Prime Minister. One of the courses for government officials visited Northern Ireland and the next one will be briefed in Cardiff on Welsh devolution.

Certificate ceremony March 2010; CMC CITY1 course; Ms WANG Hui, Director of Information Office of Beijing Municipality, receiving the certificate from Geoffrey Davies, Head of the Department for Journalism and Mass Communications, and Prof Hugo de Burgh, Director of China Media Centre.

 We are also recruiting to 3 summer schools for Chinese media undergraduates in July and August; applications received so far come from students at universities as diverse as Shandong University (where the Director is an Honorary Professor), Renmin University, Communications University, Guangzhou University of Foreign Studies and Shenzhen University.

Also planned for this year is a course ‘THE ORGANISATION AND SKILLS OF UK PUBLIC COMMUNICATION ‘, aimed at national level media specialists, and indications so far are that it will be attended by high ranking civil servants and the heads of public affairs of some of China’s largest state-owned corporations. 

 ACADEMIC CONFERENCE

 In April 2010, CMC also held its annual academic conference at Regent Campus, this year titled CHINA’S SOFT POWER. Delegates attending from all continents engaged keenly with the topics under discussion.

 The dramatic economic growth in China has meant a renewed international influence. President Obama’s recent visit, and the effective establishment of the “G2,” marked international recognition of the fact that China is, today, a central actor in the world economy. Historically, economic power has always been accompanied by increasing international cultural influence – soccer, Hollywood and karaoke are just some of the things bequeathed by other big economies to the rest of the world. It is certain that China’s economic stature will also be reflected in the diffusion of Chinese culture.

This reality is already recognised by many in China and outside. The Chinese government has a “going out” strategy, aiming to make the Chinese language, Chinese culture, and the Chinese media more visible internationally. At the same time, broadcasters who were once content to buy programmes and copy western models are today planning to enter the international market place as sellers of their own products. 

TEACHING THE MEDIA-a course at Chongqing’s XINAN UNIVERSITY OF POLICY & LAW

 Geoffrey Davies, Head of Department of JMC, will lead a delegation of 4 lecturers to address media teachers from all over SW China in workshops to be held in early July. Prof Jeanette Steemers is a world expert on children’s’ television, David Dunkley Gyimah a specialist on New Media and Anthony McNicholas, who runs the BBC-History discussion list and is a specialist on Media and Communications.

 LECTURE

 The Director gave the opening address at a conference at Wolfson College Oxford on 10-11 June, AFRICA, CHINA AND THE WEST MEET: TOWARDS NEW FRAMEWORKS FOR MEDIA DEVELOPMENT. Among the very scholars from many countries giving papers were UW colleagues Dr Xin Xin and Dr Winston Mano. 

 Prof Hugo de Burgh will give a keynote speech at the 11th All-China Communications Conference, to be held at Peking University 9-12 July.

China Central Television was the venue for a 2-day Workshop on British journalism organized by China Media Centre in October 2009. Speakers were Hugo de Burgh, CMC Director, Kevin Sutcliffe, C4’s Head of Current Affairs, Steve Hewlett, presenter of BBC’s The Media Show, Zhang Jie, Editor of CCTV’s News Investigation and Yang Rui, Presenter of CCTV’s Dialogue.

A one-day CMC seminar was held in the Houses of Parliament to address the implications of China’s management of its environmental challenges for government policy and British business. It was hosted by the All Party Parliamentary Group on China and sponsored by Norton Rose. 170 people attended, from business, the policy world and media.

One of CMC’s research themes, along with regulation, journalism and innovation in the media, is the relationship between media and environment. This seminar is one of several initiatives connected with this theme, including a workshop at Caijing magazine in  Peking, producing a report on journalism and the environment for International Media Support and being knowledge partner for the October Wilton Park Conference on China’s environment.

• Programme: 090625OnDayProgramme2x
• 306009 Speakers biographies

This is a conference of the China Media Centre for the APPCG, with Knowledge Partner, Norton Rose LLP. With assistance from the Chinese Embassy and Chinadialogue http://www.chinadialogue.net/

Representations of China in the UK Press

Speaker: Prof. Colin Sparks
Date: Wednesday 18th November, 2009
Time: 2.00-4.00 pm
Venue: MHW_A4-4 Harrow Campus,
University of Westminster

Abstract:

The Chinese government, together with many ordinary Chinese people, particularly students, are frequently angered by the way in which China is portrayed in the western media. This anger, however, is a response to the coverage of particular incidents and is not based on real knowledge of how China is covered on a day to day basis.

This presentation reports on a project that made a start on a more systematic study of the subject. The analysis covers the UK national press reporting of China during 2008 and presents data on the frequency and distribution of stories. It also reports a more detailed qualitative study of China in the elite and popular press, demonstrating that analyses concentrating on small-circulation up-market newspapers risk seriously misrepresenting the ways in which China is portrayed in the press. The seminar will be in English but some of the material is available in translation.

Biography:

Prof. Colin Sparks has worked with and advised the European Union, Unesco, the Open Society Foundation, the Rockefeller Foundation, the British Council, Universities in the US, Europe and East Asia, and many other organisations, academic, official, and non-governmental. He was one of the founders of Media, Culture and Society, and he continues to play an active role as managing editor, as well as editing issues on a regular basis. He was also a founder of the European Institute for Communication and Culture. He has organised several of its colloquia, and edited themed issues of its journal Javnost/The Public.
His current research interests include the comparative study of media systems undergoing rapid change. He is particularly interested in comparing the media systems of post-communist countries with those of other societies that have moved away from different forms of dictatorship towards more democratic forms of political rule. His other major current interest is in theories of media and communication.

(more about Prof. Sparks, see http://chinamediacentre.org/about/staff/colin-sparks/ )
If you have any inquiry about CMC events,  please contact Miao Mi at m.mi@my.westminster.ac.uk.

China Media Center 2008 Autumn Term Seminars

Culture and Corruption in Contemporary China

Speaker: Dr. Katie Hill
Date: Wednesday 10 December 2008
Time: 2-3.30 pm
Venue: Room A3.16, Harrow Campus, University of Westminster

Dr. Katie Hill is Senior Lecturer in Contemporary Chinese Art at the Center for the Study of Democracy (CSD) at the University of Westminster. She is currently developing the Contemporary Chinese Visual Culture Project, a new resource base that will comprise a website, a bibliographic database, and an archive of all aspects of visual culture in China, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia and the Chinese diaspora. This initiative will build on the Chinese Poster Collection at CSD (of which Dr Hill is in charge), a collection of more than 600 posters from China, 500 of which are available online.

In this seminar, Dr. Hill is hoping to raise ways of thinking about the notion of corruption in the Chinese cultural context, so she will welcome at least twenty minutes of discussion around this theme.

If you have any inquiry about CMC events, please contact George Dawei Guo at georgedawei@yahoo.com.cn or call 020 8357 7354.