Peking University, Nov. 6, 2013: The School of Journalism and Communication (SJC) at Peking University (PKU) finally welcomed the second dean–in place of the previous dual-power administration.
Lu Shaoyang, new dean of SJC (File photo)
Lu Shaoyang, 47, took office (by default, though) in front of all his 21 colleagues on October 29, succeeding the symbolic founding Dean Shao Huaze.
Aged 80, Shao is undoubtedly among the most senior journalists across the country, whose career started as early as 1964 from the army-run Liberation Army Daily. In 1993, he reached the climax as president of The People’s Daily, a print media giant and mouthpiece of the Communist Party of China (CPC). Along with other top propaganda officials, he was once elevated into the Central Committee of the Party. In China’s military system, he also attained the high rank as a lieutenant general in 1994.
Former Dean Shao Huaze (File photo)
Shao’s inauguration in 2002 ended a year of SJC’s dean vacancy. “Obviously, he will help the School expand the social bonds for more news practices and resources,” said then Executive Dean Gong Wenxiang about the token role of Shao–who would rarely work at the School, but spend more time on his sinecure in the All-China Journalists Association since his retirement.
Instead of Shao, Gong Wenxiang had taken charge of SJC’s routine work till 2006. Then it was Xu Hong, former Beijing Branch Chief of China News Service and a business news expert, who receives the allowance from China’s State Council.
Former Executive Dean Xu Hong (File photo)
Unlike these predecessors, SJC’s new incumbent seems to be “the only dean” in the true sense, although his own movie research deviates from journalism, the traditional focus of the School.
Graduated from Beijing Film Academy and the Central Academy of Drama, Lu started his career as a teacher and researcher at PKU Graduate School of Education in 1994. Eight years later in 2002–shortly after SJC was founded, Lu moved there and has worked ever since.
Besides his devotion to teaching, Lu is also a member of several authoritative movie-reviewing associations, such as the China Film Association and the editorial board of Film Art (a CSSCI Journal). In his publications, he suggested that the core value promoted in this era be blended with pop culture.
Compared with his counterparts at Tsinghua University and Renmin University of China, Lu lacks involvement in politics, but has advantage in frontline teaching experience. In 2002, he was among the “Top 10 Teachers” at PKU. “Although I am not a student of SJC, I know when and where to attend all courses he opens”, an English major said.
Lu’s personality and style have won the favor of many students. “Calm, composed and endurant–that’s the best description of him,” wrote a student ‘dellizheng’ in his blog after taking Lu’s course The World History of Movies.
“What they give me is far more than what I give them,” Lu talked about his relationship with his students.
At School’s staff meeting, Lu’s deputies were announced by Organization Department Director Guo Hai on behalf of PKU Administration: Chen Gang, Yu Hong, Liu Dehuan, and Wu Jing. Notably, none of the four was entitled “Executive” as Xu Hong or Gong Wenxiang.
Party Chief and Deputy Dean Chen Gang (File photo)
Chen Gang, the only remaining deputy dean, was also elected chief of the School’s CPC Committee.
Professor Chen used to lead “1/4 of SJC”–the Department of Advertising and the Institute of Modern Advertisement. In addition, he is now on the board of China Advertising Association, and once worked as media consultant for companies like China Telecom, CCTV, etc.
Chen has put forward a series of influential theories–including those about the mode of China’s advertising industry development–in his publications such as New Media and Advertising.
Deputy Dean Yu Hong (File Photo)
Yu Hong, an unusual “transferred administrator” this time, was beforehand on the counterpart position at the School of Arts. She is dedicated to the research of audiovisual communication art and its media influence.
Regarding to her job at PKU, the one of “Top 10 Teachers” (2007) once said: “PKU has given me so much trust, nurturing and happiness. It is such an enjoyment to give lectures to the students here, and I am constantly touched by the love they give me.”
Deputy Dean Liu Dehuan (sina.com)
Liu Dehuan completed all his education within the Department of Sociology at PKU. He is an expert in sociology and communication, especially dedicated to statistics and the Internet.
Liu was elected president of China Marketing Research Association in 2007, and was reappointed in 2011. He has published a pile of theses on the investigation of Chinese market and methodologies to conduct such researches.
Deputy Dean Wu Jing (sohu.com)
Wu Jing, Ph.D. from the University of Iowa, has been worked at SJC for 11 years. In her research, she mainly developed theories on social and cultural factors in the study of communication and their relations, as well as the newly arising field of visual culture, new media and civil society.
Wu’s cutting-edged publications, such as Visual Expressions of Cultural Modernity: Ways of Seeing and Communication, are found illuminating to many.
Reported by: Li Chiyang
Edited by: Arthars
