WKWSCI SoJourners Discover Stories of Beijing's People and Culture

14 students from the Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information (WKWSCI) spent a week in Beijing as part of the Short Overseas Journalism (SOJOURN) practicum, led by Assistant Professor Lydia Cheng, exploring the city's people and culture while developing their journalism and storytelling skills. 

In partnership with Eastside, students explored Beijing through a storyteller's lens, engaging with locals from different walks of life and discovering stories behind the city's everyday practices and traditions. These conversations gave students insights into daily life in Beijing while sharpening their ability to ask thoughtful questions, listen closely and draw out personal stories. 

Cultural visits also showed how stories can be found in unexpected places. A food tour introduced students to the history of desserts once reserved for emperors, while traditional tea drinking and hanfu dressing sessions offered a closer look at Chinese cultural practices. These experiences helped students recognise interesting story angles while learning to document different cultures accurately and respectfully. 

Drawing on their experiences in Beijing, each student is now developing an individual lifestyle feature story as their final assignment, turning their observations and interviews into an engaging piece of human-centred storytelling. Students also have the opportunity to pitch their completed stories to media outlets, potentially reaching a wider audience and gaining experience preparing their work for publication. 

Through SOJOURN, WKWSCI students develop the curiosity, cultural awareness and reporting skills needed to uncover meaningful stories and tell them with accuracy and sensitivity. 

Follow our SoJourners on Instagram @sojourn.wkwsci to read their stories and see more highlights from the Beijing trip.