The University of British Columbia and the Sing Tao Foundation announced the
establishment of a new graduate school of journalism at UBC during a
ground-breaking ceremony July 24.
The Sing Tao School of Journalism will offer an integrated program that
combines graduate study in academic disciplines with advanced training in the
profession of journalism. It will be the first graduate school of journalism in
Western Canada and the only one in Canada to emphasize advanced academic
studies.
The founding of the school is made possible by a donation from the Sing Tao
Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Sing Tao, a Hong Kong-based media
corporation.
“There has been discussion about establishing a school of journalism at UBC for
at least 17 years but, until now, funding was simply not available,” said UBC
President David Strangway.
“The Sing Tao Foundation’s gift has made it possible to establish an important
new centre for the training of journalists in Canada,” he said.
The school will be housed in the first phase of the new Creative Arts Building,
to be constructed at the site of the old Armoury on West Mall between Memorial
and Crescent Roads. First phase construction is scheduled to begin this
summer.
The school will seek outstanding applicants from within Canada and from abroad.
About 15 students will be admitted annually. Those who complete the program
will receive a Master of Journalism degree.
The journalism program is intended for those who already have a bachelor’s
degree in an academic discipline, and either have extensive journalistic
experience or demonstrate superior research and writing ability.
Some of the program’s credits would be taken in regular academic courses
offered by other UBC departments. Other credits will be given within the school
and will be divided evenly between theoretical media studies and the practical,
technical aspects of journalism. Scholarly understanding, critical thinking,
and ethical responsibility will be emphasized.
The newsroom training aspect of the program will focus on achieving the highest
standards in research, writing and editing in the print media. Other aspects of
journalism may be added to the curriculum at a later date, but excellence in
journalistic research and writing skills and their application to specialty
areas will remain the core of the program.
Program curriculum will be approved by the faculties of Arts and Graduate
Studies.
