Winkler, Barnathan Plan GBJ's Expansion as Tsinghua Program Marks First 10 Years

Bloomberg News Co-Founder Matthew Winkler joined multiple events marking the 10-year anniversary of Tsinghua University's Global Business Journalism program, including a "Lessons in Leadership" panel and GBJ Alumni Association reunion.

Professor Chen Changfeng, executive dean of the School of Journalism & Communication, also hosted Winkler for a keynote speech to students, where the American media icon said the most challenging task of his career was starting Bloomberg News in 1990 with just a handful of reporters and editors -- who had to compete with the century-old networks of Reuters and Dow Jones.

Bloomberg's Editor-in-Chief Emeritus also said that the need for skilled and ethical journalists is increasing in a world where the Internet, Twitter and other social media have made it difficult for audiences to determine between truth and lies.

Winkler wasn't the only VIP at Tsinghua. Joyce Barnathan, president of the International Center for Journalists, flew from Washington to mark GBJ's first decade and plan the program's expansion with Dean Chen, Associate Dean Shi Anbin, GBJ Co-Director Professor Hang Min and Mr. Winkler.

"GBJ now boasts more than 400 graduates, who have brought a new level of professionalism, business expertise and writing skills in covering the dynamic Chinese economy," she said. "Graduates are covering this country in more sophisticated and reliable ways than ever before. They have landed jobs at the China Daily, Xinhua News Agency, CCTV, Global Times—as well as Bloomberg News, to mention only a few."

This diversity was on display at the 10-year reunion dinner, with graduates who entered Tsinghua in 2007 meeting peers from every year since, as well as faculty including Bloomberg Editor-at-Large Lee Miller and GBJ Co-Director Rick Dunham, and Bloomberg Executive Editor for Greater China John Liu.

In between handshakes and toasts, Winkler was busy autographing copies of "The Bloomberg Way," the best-selling journalism guide he authored.

Alumni Association Chairman Stephen Tan, who works at Bloomberg News, and Vice Chairman Liu Shaohua of the People's Daily, were emcees of the event, where graduates shared stories of their student days, current jobs and, in some cases, photos of their children.

During his trip to Beijing, Winkler also moderated the "Lessons in Leadership" discussion to more than 200 journalism, management and international-relations students at the new Schwarzman College on the Tsinghua campus. Panelists Catherine Cai, chairman and head of China Investment Banking for Citigroup, and Jinqing Cai, president of Christie's China shared advice on careers and how to successfully balance responsibilities of work and family. GBJ's Professor Hang hosted the Q&A session.