Spring Term to feature course on China

Reynolds Professor of Business Journalism Pam Luecke will lead students to China for a Spring Term course called The Changing Face of Chinese Journalism.

As the nation prepares to host the 2008 Summer Olympics, outsiders, including the international press, are focusing on its remarkable economic transformation from the days of strict Communist rule. Students on the trip will be required to take a Business Administration course as well.

After a week on campus, students will spend five weeks in country, learning about the relationship between China's emerging businesses and its journalistic community, which is increasingly independent yet far from free. Stops will include Shanghai -- the country's financial capital -- Hangzhou, Wuhan and Beijing.

Traditional classroom studies will be interspersed with field trips, guest speakers, a boat trip on the Yangtze River and cultural activities. The group will also visit businesses and meet with Chinese and Western journalists.

Luecke has directed the department’s Reynolds Program in Business Journalism since 2001. She is a 30-year veteran of the news business who came to W&L from The Lexington (Ky.) Herald-Leader, where she was editor and senior vice president. She has supervised two Pulitzer Prize-winning projects.

The China course will be co-taught by Professor of Business Administration Kip Pirkle.