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JMSC Masters of Journalism graduate wins third annual Mick Deane Scholarship

Zhang Hao presents a live report for the JMSC on Hong Kong’s elections. 

(May 29, 2017 – Hong Kong)  Zhang Hao, a 2017 Master of Journalism graduate from The University of Hong Kong’s Journalism and Media Studies Centre has been named the third annual recipient of the Mick Deane Scholarship for Video Journalism

Asia Pacific Vision (APV) established the scholarship fund in partnership with The University of Hong Kong’s Journalism and Media Studies Centre (JMSC) to honour TV journalist Mick Deane, who was killed while covering the Arab Spring in Egypt in August 2013.

The winner exemplifies the talent, skills and commitment to excellence in video journalism of the scholarship’s namesake and will be awarded HK$20,000 intended to fund an independent video project by the recipient.

The 32-year-old Zhang is from Yinchuan, capital of China’s Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. Before coming to the JMSC, she worked as a features writer, on-camera reporter and video editor in Beijing for the English-language channel of CCTV.com/CNTV Beijing.

“Shooting and editing are not easy work,” said Zhang. “It takes a combination of logical thinking, sharp observation and artistic tastes.  This award will serve as a boost for me to continue exploration in the world of filming,”

The award’s judging committee comprised APV co-founder Mark Erder, JMSC Director Keith Richburg and the school’s video production instructors.

“I remember screening Zhang Hao’s video about laughter yoga and I was stunned,  The whole class was stunned,” said JMSC Assistant Lecturer A.J. Libunao. “It was so good we had to watch it a few more times. Her shots focused on motion and sounds punctuated each sequence. And it was genuinely funny.”.

About Mick Deane:

Mick Deane was a veteran British cameraman who was killed by a sniper’s bullet at the age of 61 while covering protests in Egypt in 2013. Mick had previously worked in Hong Kong from 1988 to 1994 as ITN’s Asia cameraman. For the last 15 years of his life he worked for Britain’s Sky News, based in the United States and London before his assignment to the Middle East.

“I am so happy that we found such a worthy recipient of this award and I look forward to following her career as it further develops,” said Erder, a friend of Deane’s.

“Zhang Hao is a terrific choice for this third Mick Deane Scholarship,” Richburg said.  “Her features – especially her piece on laughter yoga – showed real grace, fluid storytelling and a keen eye.  We had a lot of very worthy nominees this year but her work really stood out.  I believe she is just beginning in video journalism and I know we are going to see a lot more from her.”

Past winners:

The inaugural Mick Deane scholarship went to Lukas Messmer of Switzerland, a JMSC Master of Journalism 2015 graduate and producer of the award-winning MSNBC documentary The Umbrella Movement. The scholarship’s second prize was awarded to Xu Xiaotong, a JMSC Master of Journalism 2016 graduate from Guiyang in Guizhou Province in southwest China. Xu produced a documentary that explored the challenges for Mainland Chinese students adjusting to life in Hong Kong.

About the Scholarship Partners:

Asia Pacific Vision (APV)

APV is a media and communications company specializing in video strategy, consultancy and production.  Established in 1991, APV’s services include branded content, corporate video production, media consultancy, broadcast management, outside broadcast production, crew and equipment hire and all phases of post-production. Headquartered in Hong Kong, APV has representation in Shanghai, Beijing, and Tokyo, and has an extensive network of resources throughout the Asia-Pacific region. For more information, please contact Mark Erder, +852 2827 2122, or mark.erder@apv.asia.

Journalism and Media Studies Centre (JMSC)

The Journalism and Media Studies Centre of The University of Hong Kong brings professional journalism education to Hong Kong’s premier university, creating an environment for vibrant interaction among students from Hong Kong, Mainland China, the Asian region and the rest of the world. For more information, please contact Keith Richburg, richburg@hku.hk.