Three of our students from NM3211 (News Reporting and Editing) won all of the Top 3 places in an international competition for aspiring journalists “Future News Competition” and will be headed for a three-day, fully-paid journalism conference in Edinburgh in September. There, they will meet leading journalists and learn more about multi-media reporting and editing. To win all three top positions at a global journalism competition is unprecedented.

We are grateful to attract to CNM faculty members such as Ms. Ee Lyn Tan, an award winning journalist covering the health beat who joined us after having worked  at Reuters. In 2009, she received an Asia Human Rights Press Award for an article on maternal mortality in Afghanistan, and her students reflect Ee Lyn’s high calibre work in journalism. The work of the students can be accessed at the publication attached to the Module “Campus Eye.” The link to Campus Eye is here: http://blog.nus.edu.sg/nm3211/. Congrats Ee Lyn!

Here is some details about the Future News Competition from their media statement:

“Inspiring the next generation of global citizens – Future NEWS 2015 aims to inspire talented young people with media ambitions to become journalists with a passion for freedom of the press and a belief in media integrity.

It will expose over 100 undergraduates aged 18 to 25 to leading international media figures in areas from editorial management to news, sports and business reporting and give them hands-on practice in everything from video to writing and social media.

The delegates are from 20 countries with varying levels of media sophistication and editorial balance. Given the rigorous selection process, many can be expected to become the editors and opinion formers of the future in their countries with an understanding of ethical standards and an appreciation of and affection for British values. These participants’ mere attendance will bring extensive coverage in local media.”

The event in the Scottish Parliament building on September 4-6 is unique in the international media calendar. It will help secure Britain around the world as a centre of excellence in media values and training.

Future NEWS 2015 is supported by the British Council, international media company Reuters, the main British university journalism schools along with a large partnership of international and British media organisations.

The conference is organised by the Scottish Government, the British Council and Reuters. It is backed by the following media companies – Herald &Times Group, Newsquest Media Group, Tinopolis

Interactive, Reuters, STV, DC Thomson and CNN – as well as the following Schools of Journalism  – Cardiff University, City University, Glasgow Caledonian University, Queen Margaret University, Strathclyde University, Napier University, Bournemouth University.

Of these three students, two – Desmond Koh and Celine Leong – are NM majors and one – Chng Yan – is from law. In fact, you can see their work on Campus Eye.

I am thrilled beyond words because they didn’t just win, but they scooped the top three places.

CNM joins the NUS and Singapore community to mourn the loss of Lee Kuan Yew, the founding father of modern-day Singapore. Through his life and in his leadership, Lee Kuan Yew demonstrated the idea that communication is a powerful resource in bringing about change, inaugurating on the world stage an “Asian values” conversation that would serve as a harbinger for the change to come. He seriously introduced the conversation on culture in the global arena, seeding the spaces for other imaginations. We are grateful for his leadership that inspires us to imagine different possibilities. We express our sincere condolences to PM Lee, Mrs. Lee, and the Lee family.

Prof. Mohan J. Dutta, Head, Communications and New Media, NUS

We are blessed to have so many great teachers in the department who continue to push the boundaries of communication and new media.

Our staff Mdm. Norizan Binti Abdul Majid and Ms. Gayathri Dorairaju won the Faculty Service Award for their amazing service to the Department and to the Faculty. Thanks Norizan and Gaya!

CNM was blessed with the presence of Minister of State Ms. Sim Ann, and Guests of Honor Ms. Georgette Tan and Mr. Pang Lim!

Random Blends 2014 will be held from 1 March to 6 March at the ArtScience Galleries, ArtScience Museum at Marina Bay Sands.

Entry to the ArtScience Galleries (Level 4) is Free of Charge for Random Blends 2014. Enquire at ArtScience Museum’s admission counter. Opening hours: 10am to 7pm daily

The continued global presence of CNM is catalysed by the multi-disciplinary conversations, the convergences across areas, and the continued emphasis on creative expression!

This is an excellent opportunity to talk with Audrey Tan, NUS alumnus and Co-Founder of Playmoolah, Jim Giles, Co-Founder of MATTER, and others from media startup companies this week (Wed, Thursday and Friday) from 9-noon in the CNM Playroom.  These guests are participating in Professor Howard Sypher’s workshop.  They will be telling their stories (in person or via Skype) as well as answering questions regarding the challenges and opportunities in the media space today.

 The first guest is Audrey Tan on Wednesday. An NUS alum, Audrey is co-Founder of Playmoolah and was recently was recently honoured with a Young Women Innovators Award at the 2013 Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Women and the Economy Forum (WEF) held on 6-8 September 2013 in Bali, Indonesia.

 Other workshop guests this week (via Skype) include:

 Jim Giles is co-founder of MATTER, a long form technology journalism startup out San Francisco that was just acquired by Twitter Co-Founder Evan Williams.

Jay Fehnel is VP for Development for RedBox, a US based entertainment delivery media company that competes with NetFlix.

Frank Gruber is co-founder of TechCocktail, a media startup company that partners and hosts large technology networking events primarily in the US.  Frank formerly held the title of “Tech Evangelist” for AOL.

Congratulations Dr. Basnyat for your amazing teaching and for your stellar contribution to learning at NUS. The letter issued to Dr. Basnyat from the Dean stated: “Your winning is a testimony to the work you have done and the intellectual growth you have helped foster in our students.”

CNM continues to lead in excellence in pedagogy in the Faculty!

It is my great pleasure to welcome Prof. Barbara Sharf and Associate Prof.  Marlynn May to the Department of Communications and New Media.

Prof. Sharf joins CNM as a Distinguished Visiting Professor.

During her stay in CNM, Professor Sharf will be offering University-wide lectures on narrative theory and health, will be offering guidance on research projects, and will be conducting an intense two-week workshop.

We are very much looking forward to your visit Barbara!

This last week, we had students from the University of the Free State who visited us. This was their 3^rd visit to the department, the group comprising of 18 students, mainly 3^rd  years, with three honors students, and the team was led by Rentia Engelbrecht.

They sat in for the following classes last week.

I had a great time learning about culture, community and participation through my conversations with our visitors from the Free State.

Our classrooms were enriched by the depth and diversity of their contributions. Thanks to all CNM colleagues and students, to CNM society, and to Gaya for organizing the event.

Every year Emerald invites each journal’s Editorial Team to nominate what they believe has been that title’s Outstanding Paper and up to three Highly Commended Papers from the previous year (2012). Her paper entitled “The view from within: internal publics and CSR” published in Journal of Communication Management has been chosen as an Outstanding Paper Award Winner at the Literati Network Awards for Excellence 2013.

The award winning papers are chosen following consultation amongst the journal’s Editorial Team, many of whom are eminent academics or practitioners. Her paper has been selected as it was one of the most impressive pieces of work the team has seen throughout 2012.

Further information regarding the Awards for Excellence can be found at the following site:

www.emeraldinsight.com/literati<http://www.emeraldinsight.com/literati>

 Congratulations Ganga!

We surprised Seow Ting with a gypsy dress although I guess she already had a sense that this was coming, given my poor acting skills:)

We have to plan more extreme surprises for the P&T parties as these are now getting pretty much the norm!

Welcome all your ideas and thoughts for the ones to come.

For now, let’s all celebrate the success of Seow Ting. We are so proud of you!