Moving to Hong Kong in January!

Rumors have been swirling for some time, but now it's official. I've signed the contract. In January I will be joining the faculty of the Journalism and Media Studies Centre at the University of Hong Kong, where I will be responsible for teaching "New Media," among other things. (That picture there is the colonial-era building where the JMSC is located.)

I'm really excited about this. Being on the JMSC faculty will enable me to continue doing many of the things I'm already doing, but in a more structured and long-term kind of way, plus teaching.

I look forward to helping journalism students figure out what skills they need - not just technical, but ethical and intellectual - to lead their profession into new uncharted territory. Clearly the question of where journalism is headed, what students ought to be taught, and whether journalism schools remain relevant (if they ever were) is subject to much heated debate. (Yes, I will post soon with my own response to Nick Lemann's New Yorker "encyclical" - as Josh Marshall  Andrew Sullivan termed it - on citizens' journalism. [Thanks Sree for pointing out my initial brainfart there.]) I myself have questioned the point of journalism schools, and have written about the need to re-think journalism education.  But I do believe that while the emergence of citizens' media is exciting, important, and ought to be supported, the news business and journalism as a profession must also find a way to survive. Democracy is not possible without informed public discourse. That discourse, I believe, can be best served by a combination of professional journalism as well as journalism performed by concerned citizens. I look forward to challenging my students to think about how they as professionals can best serve this public discourse - and how they can work collaboratively with concerned citizens who have other day jobs but who are for the most part eager to contribute to the cause of a better informed public. The real threat to journalism does not come from amateurs: the real threat to journalism comes from information monopolies, propaganda, lies, censorship, surveillance, and ignorance. Journalists (and journalism professors) should spend more time fighting those true threats rather than wasting time arguing about whose journalism is more legitimate... but more about that in a future post.

... but that's not the only reason I'm excited! Being based in Hong Kong is a fabulous fit for my China and Asia expertise.  At Hong Kong U I hope to spearhead research about the landscape of online citizens media in Asia, how new media ecosystems are forming with traditional media, and what this means for journalism. I look forward to supporting and participating in new experiments in online citizens media locally in Hong Kong and around the region. And last but not least, Hong Kong is an ideal place from which to continue my work on related to online discourse and freedom of speech in China.

..and yes, I will continue to guide Global Voices Online as it continues to grow. Much of what I do for GVO will overlap with my work related to online citizens media at HKU. What's more, the plan is that GVO will increasingly be run not by myself and co-founder Ethan Zuckerman, but by people from outside North America and Western Europe whose voices GVO is meant to amplify. And yes, I will continue to be a Fellow at Harvard's Berkman Center for Internet & Society until the end of this year, after which point I look forward to joining the ranks of Berkman Affiliates who make up an amazing collaborative brain trust.

Now I just have to figure out where I want to live in Hong Kong. After a week of looking round, I'm torn between the convenience (but high rents and small apartment sizes) of the Pok Fu Lam area and Western Mid-Levels, or the cheap rents, seaside views, and proximity to nature (but longer commute) on Lamma Island. Any local Hong Kongers got any opinions for me?

Comments

[neha]

Wonderful! Congratulations on the move Rebecca. We've always known that "your heart is in China..."

[mahathir_fan]

Congratulations! If I recall correctly, Lamma Island is the birth place of Chow Yuen Fatt, the star of Shanghai Beach. Lo on pan! dang! de-dang! Lo an lau..dang! de-dang!

[oiwan]

hand made track back:
http://www.inmediahk.net/public/article?item_id=138672&group_id=31

as for your accommodation, you can also consider Aberdeen. it is near the sideside (southern part of hk island), and near hku and city center. from Aberdeen, there are ferries to southern part of lammar where you can enjoy a peaceful weekend with cleaner beaches.

the weekend in northern lammar (where most people stay, ferry to central) is too crowded and touristic. beach is also a bit dirty...

[Jay Rosen]

Rebecca: That is such cool news. It's a perfect perch for you. And they were smart to go after ya. Best of luck.

[myrick]

Congratulations. That's a great faculty to join. Welcome back to the time zone.

[Brandy]

Hi, I am a journalism student in the University of Hong Kong. Great to have you in our center:P

Recently, we are planning to set up a blog for JMSC. It would be nice if we can have your advice.

PLUS, actor Chow Yuen Fat was really born on Lamma. HaHa.. and he is going to act as a pirate who kind of ruled the coast of SE China in real history in the upcoming "Pirate 3"

Sorry for my randomness. But I believe many of us would like to talk to you before January 2007. Can we set up a causal meeting in late August???

[Rebecca MacKinnon]

Hi Brandy, great to meet you! I'd be happy to help out with your blog. Unfortunately I'm in the Hong Kong airport right now on my way out... I won't actually be moving to Hong Kong till January. But I'd love to talk to you guys. Please send me an email with your Skype and IM handles and we can at least communicate that way. Sorry I couldn't announce this earlier but we had to wait till the contract came through.

Oh and by the way, yes I heard something about Chow Yun Fat being born on Lamma. I've been a fan of his for a long time so that's definitely a point in Lamma's favor!!

[Portnoy]

It is great to hear this news. Expecting another meetup in Asia.

[Andrew Nachison]

Rebecca, this is wonderful news, congratulations.

[Luis]

Congrats and good luck, Rebecca!