MAP Summer Courses

The Media Academy for Pros is the JMSC’s learning programme for professionals and students keen to expand their media skills and knowledge.

Investigative Journalism in a Global World

MAP has been running study courses over the summer break.

The classes have had a good uptake and extremely positive feedback. Attendants included staff from media organisations such as the SCMP, Next Magazine, NPR and CNN International, as well as other working professionals and high school students.

Ten classes, ranging from practical production-related courses to more academic and theoretical courses, have been available.

Courses on offer have included Basic Online Media Skills, Video Editing on Final Cut Pro, Basic and Advanced Photography, Basic Video Shooting, Basic Audio Recording and Editing, Internet Strategy for News Organisations, Investigative Journalism in a Global World and Reporting Health and Medicine.

Basic Photography

“I learnt that there are so many tools out there and then what to do with them,” said a student on Diane Stormont’s Basic Online Media Skills class.

“This course opened a new world that is very exciting to me.”

Television production skills – both shooting, editing and presenting – are in big demand. The JMSC’s Honorary Lecturer and veteran TV news reporter and producer, Rob McBride provided television production classes.

“The content was well balanced, very practical and the teacher was very knowledgeable and entertaining,” said a student of the Basic Video Shooting and Editing class. “The teaching assistant Ka Ho Ng was also fantastic.”

One of the most popular courses was Investigative Journalism in a Global World taught by Sheila Coronel and Chan Pui King. Coronel is a Visiting Professor from Columbia University where she runs the Toni Stabile Center for Investigative Journalism. Chan Pui King is a veteran investigative journalist who was editor-in-chief of Next Magazine.

The course looked at how to go about writing about corruption, crime, environmental destruction, the flow of money, goods and people and cross-border issues.

“The course was way beyond my expectations; it covered so many areas in depth,” said one particpant. “Both Sheila and Pui King are really passionate teachers. They really cared about our learning, progress and interests. Hong Kong journalism needs more of this kind of course.”

Vienna Hui, Executive Officer at the JMSC, organised the MAP courses. She is particularly pleased about the take-up by high-school students.

“We had many enquiries from parents wanting summer courses for their children during the holidays. Quite a few young people joined the classes and used their summer in a really positive, productive and constructive way.”

For more information about MAP courses click here.