CV

Education

PhD (2009), Journalism and Media Studies Centre, The University of Hong Kong

MA in Social Sciences (2001), School of Humanities and Social Science, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology,

MPhil in Electrical and Electronics Engineering (1995), Department of Electronic & Computer Engineering & Hong Kong Telecom Institute of Information Technology, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology

Bachelor of Engineering in Electrical and Electronics Engineering (1993), HKU

Honours and Awards

Fulbright-RGC Hong Kong Senior Research Scholar in 2016-2017 (10 months stay at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology)

China US Scholars Program 2021-2022 (10-month fellowship at the Boston University)

Knowledge Exchange Award (Non-Faculty Unit) in 2016, The University of Hong Kong

Research title: Weiboscope: Open Data, Data Analysis, and Visualization of the Chinese Social Media

Research Grants

Peer-reviewed international competitive research grants (PI or Co-PI only)

Principal Investigator, Project title: "WeChatscope: ‘hacking’ China’s online censored messages", Open Technology Fund 2018-2019 (US$121,800)

Co-Direcrtor, Project title: “Online public opinion in Greater China: Similarities, differences, and mutual influences”, Chiang Ching-Kuo Foundation Research Grant 2015-2017 (US$60,000)

Peer-reviewed local competitive research grants (PI or Co-PI only)

Principal Investigator, Project title: "Diffusion of Social Topics and Political Information on Chinese Microblogs: A Network Perspective", Hong Kong Research Grant Council General Research Fund 2015-2016 (Project Code: 17402314, HK$286,366)

Principal Investigator, Project title: "Development and Evaluation of a Theory-guided Mental Health Promotion Program for Enhancement of Help-Seeking Behavior and Attitude in Hong Kong", Hong Kong Research Grant Council General Research Fund 2010-2011 (Project Code: HKU 744410H, HK$413,187)

Co-Principal Investigator, Project title: " Learning and Assessment for Digital Citizenship”, Hong Kong Research Grant Council Theme-based Research Scheme, Nov 1, 2016 to Oct 31, 2021 (Project Code: T44-707/16-N, HK$22,22M)

Principal Investigator, Project title: "Can Online Opinion Reflect Public Opinion? An Investigation into the Interplays between Online Opinion, Public Opinion, and Mass Media ", Public Policy Research Fund, Central Policy Unit, Hong Kong Government 2014-2016 (Project Code: 2013.A8.009.14A, HK$556,888)

Principal Investigator, Project title: "Associations between Emerging Political Ideology, Political Participation and Social Media Use: Making Sense of the Connections between "Localism", "Populism", and Post-materialism in Hong Kong", Public Policy Research Fund 2017-2018 (Project Code: 2016.A8.055.17A, HK$780,234)

Teaching Record

JMSC0103 Fundamental of Data Journalism

JMSC0072 Digital Media and Society

JMSC0065 Media research: an introduction

JMSC6046 Media research: concepts and methods

JMSC6116 Social media analytics for journalists

CCGL9011 Media in the Age of Globalization

Knowledge Exchange

Research Assessment Exercise 2020 Impact Case Study: Impact of Social Media Analytics on Journalistic Practice and Think Tank’s Research about China

• Principle Investigator, Weiboscope

  • • Deploying a set of software tools to collect, analyze, and visualize social media data in China;

    • Extensively covered by international and local media: CNN, The Economist, Al Jazeera, Wall Street Journal, The Guardian, The Global Times, The Telegraph (Australia), Apple Daily, BBC Chinese channel, as well as the HKU Bulletin;

    • The project makes 226 million posts collected in 2012 open access for scholars and the public.

• Principle Investigator, WeChatscope

  • • Collecting data from a selected panel of WeChat public accounts;

    • Extending the systematic and scalable method of data collection and “big data” analytics to investigate WeChat public account;

    • Extensively covered by international media: CNN, SCMP, CNBC, The Times, The Guardian, Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Columbia Journalism Review, Nieman Journalism Lab etc.

• Principle Investigator, ANTI-Extradition Law Amendment Bill Research Data Archive

  • • Mass media contribution and commentary: (selected list of international and local media) CNN, New York Times, Financial Times, Bloomberg TV, Associate Press, South China Morning Post, Radio Television Hong Kong, Free Radio Asia, BBC World Service, Business Insider etc.

Community and Professional Service

International

Member, Global Future Council on Media, Entertainment and Culture, World Economic Forum, 2019-2020

Contributor, Preventing Suicide: A Resource for Media Professionals (2008 edition), World Health Organization & International Association for Suicide Prevention;

Editorial Board member of the media guideline Suicide and the Media: Recommendations on Suicide Reporting for Media Professional;

Deputy Lead Judge 2014-2019, The Society of Publishers in Asia (SOPA) Awards

Local

Honorary Fellow, HKJC Centre for Suicide Research and Prevention, HKU

Member, Mass Communications Training Board, Vocational Training Council, 2012-2015

Adjudicator, Consumer Rights Reporting Awards 2014-now, Consumer Council.

Member of Standing Committee, HKU Convocation 2017-2020

Convenor, University affair sub-committee, HKU Convocation 2017-2020

HKU Court Member (2018-now)

Deputy Director, Journalism and Media Studies Centre 2016-now