Prestigious foreign journalists discussed tricks of the trade with RUC professors and students on November 1.

Australians Stephen Wayne Pennells and Trent David Dalton, winners of the Walkley Award 2016, presented their award-winning production and how it was made. Then they had a discussion with nearly 30 professors and students.

Stephen Wayne Pennells

Trent David Dalton

Jacqueline Patricia Park,CEO of the Walkley Foundation, said she was pleased to have the opportunity to discuss the art of doing journalism in China. The Walkley Award is regarded as the highest honor Australian journalists can receive.

Jacqueline Patricia Park

The attending students were divided into two groups to enable personal interaction with the two journalists on feature writing, interviewing, and other topics.

The event, entitled The Craft of Journalism in a Global Context, was organized by the All-China Journalists Association, the Australian Embassy in Beijing and RUC’s School of Journalism and Communication.

After the discussion, the journalists thought highly of the students’ ability of speaking English.

Students were enthusiastic too. “I am impressed by the rich experience and unique perspective of the journalists,” said Li Haowei, a student in the MA program in International Journalism.

In attendance were, among others, Senior Public Affairs & Culture Officer of the Australian Embassy in BeijingJoanna Bayndrian, Liu Rui of the International Department of All-China Journalists Association, and professor Zhang Huifeng, the Vice Dean of the School of Journalism and Communication. The discussion was hosted by professor Jia Wenshan.