Hugo de Burgh

Hugo de Burgh (born 10 June 1949) is the founder of the China Media Centre at the University of Westminster. He previously directed the Centre for Media Research at Goldsmiths' College. De Burgh is a State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs Endowment Professor at Tsinghua University, an honorary fellow at the 48 Group Club, and a board member at the Great Britain–China Centre. ^[1] De Burgh is a member of the Social Democratic Party and was a candidate for the party in the 2024 United Kingdom general election. ^[2]

Background

Burgh began his academic career teaching history at Edinburgh University before working as an education correspondent and television producer for STV, BBC, and Channel 4. In 2004, he became a professor of journalism at the University of Westminster, where he established the China Media Centre.^{[ citation needed ]}

Thesis

De Burgh's research has focused on the social function of journalism as a reflection of culture. He has stated, "It is often said that journalism is the first rough draft of history; by contrast, investigative journalism provides the first rough draft of legislation..." ^[3]

In 2020, in China’s Media in the Emerging World Order, he posited that "the way the Chinese media work can be understood as a reflection of culture as much as of political economy." ^[4]

Chinese journalism

De Burgh has expressed particular interest in the reappearance of investigative journalism in Chinese since 1992, stating that this demonstrated that investigative journalism techniques apply in contrasting political cultures. ^[5]

It was a surprise to Western observers to find that the Chinese media (and investigative journalists in particular) are, despite limitations upon them, influencing public life today by introducing new and unconventional ideas, changing terms of reference, forcing the pace of reform, giving voice to concerns and calling attention to issues. ^[5]

Further reading

• China’s Media in the Emerging World Order, Hugo de Burgh, Milton Keynes: UBP, 2020. [2nd Edition]
• China’s Media Go Global, Hugo de Burgh co-ed with Thussu, Daya and Shi Anbin], London: Routledge, 2018.
• China’s Media in the Emerging World Order, Hugo de Burgh, Milton Keynes: UBP, 2017. [1st Edition]
• China’s Environment and China’s Environment Journalists, Hugo de Burgh co-ed with Zeng Rong, London: Intellect, 2011.
• Investigative Journalism: Context and Practice, Hugo de Burgh ed, London and New York: Routledge, 2008. [2nd Edition]
• Can the Prizes still Glitter? The future of British universities in a changing world, Hugo de Burgh co-ed with Fazackerley, Anna and Black, Jeremy, Milton Keynes: UBP, 2007.
• China: Friend or Foe? , Hugo de Burgh, Cambridge: Icon, 2006.
• Making Journalists: Diverse Models, Global Issues, Hugo de Burgh, London: Routledge, 2005.
• The Chinese Journalist: Mediating information in the world’s most populous country, Hugo de Burgh, London: Routledge, 2003.
• Investigative Journalism: Context and Practice, Hugo de Burgh ed, London and New York: Routledge, 2000. [1st Edition]
• Tiger Hunting by Hugo de Burgh.

References

1. Hamilton, Clive; Ohlberg, Mareike (3 September 2020). Hidden Hand: Exposing How the Chinese Communist Party is Reshaping the World. Simon and Schuster. p. 170. ISBN   978-1-78607-784-4. OCLC   1150166864.
2. "General Election Candidates". SDP. 14 July 2023. Retrieved 28 July 2023.
3. Investigative Journalism: Context and Practice, Hugo de Burgh ed, London and New York: Routledge, 2006
4. China’s Media in the Emerging World Order, Hugo de Burgh, Milton Keynes: UBP, 2020. [2nd Edition]
5. http://www.gbcc.org.uk/32article3.htm Archived 3 October 2006 at the Wayback Machine Tiger Hunting at Newsprobe, by Hugo de Burgh