A two-day event was held on November 28-29, 2007 at Tsinghua University in Beijing to mark the official launch of the Global Business Journalism (GBJ) Program, a joint initiative between the International Center for Journalists (ICFJ) and Tsinghua’s School of Journalism and Communication (TSJC). This unique initiative includes a two-year master’s degree program in global business journalism and training for professional journalists, and aims at bringing business journalism in China in line with top international reporting standards. The founding sponsors of the program are Merrill Lynch, the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, Bloomberg, and Deloitte and Touche.

The International Advisory Board of Tsinghua’s School of Journalism and Communication was inaugurated on November 28. TSJC’s Executive Dean Li Xiguang and Vice President of Tsinghua University, Dr. Xie Weihe, presided over the ceremony. President of Tsinghua University, Dr. Gu Binglin, presented certificates of appointment to the board members.

Among the advisory board members are ICFJ’s Chairman James Hoge, Editor of Foreign Affairs, Alberto Ibarguen, President of the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, Seymour Topping, former editor of The New York Times, Matthew Winkler, editor of Bloomberg News and Raymundo Yu, Senior Vice President and Chairman of Asia Pacific Region for Merrill Lynch. James Hoge presented the Tsinghua Global Leaders Forum Lecture titled “The Outlook for U.S.-China Relations.”

Matthew Winkler had an open discussion with the students of the Global Business Journalism on challenges of covering business and Seymour Topping chaired a round-table discussion on the future of journalism education in China. Other participants in these discussions included Admiral Joseph W. Prueher, former U.S. Ambassador to China and Merrill Lynch Board Member, Jason Wright, Senior Vice President of Merrill Lynch, ICFJ Vice Chairman Pamela Howard, ICFJ President Joyce Barnathan, and ICFJ Vice President for Development Vjollca Shtylla.

To see a slideshow of the event, click here.