Our man in China wins top Provincial Award

By UKJournalism

Matt Horn, International Journalism course leader for UCLan at Guangdong University of Foreign Studies (GDUFS) has won a leading provincial award.

The Friend of Guangdong award is given out by the province itself and is the highest award any foreigner can receive. Only 20 are bestowed each year to people who have performed exceptionally well in their own special area, be it business, education or culture.

The citation reads: "In order to thank and commend you for your outstanding contribution and dedication to Guangdongís construction and development, the Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs of Guangdong Province decides to confer you the "Guangdong Friendship Award", having considered the recommendation from both your work unit and its superior municipality concerned."

He received the award on December 19 at a big banquet dinner hosted by the Governor of Guangdong Province Huang Huahua.

Teaching journalism

Matt has been teaching journalism at GDUFS for nearly three years, having arrived in the middle of the SARS crisis. He has been working for UCLan since the new course started in September.

In addition he hosts a weekly radio chat show on Radio Guangdong, edits and reads new for Guangzhou TV, and he has been a writer for a number of magazines in the city. He also helped the city in their preparation for the successful bid to host the 2010 Asian Games.

"Obviously receiving this award is a great honour, and also a great shock," he explained. "I had no idea that I was being recommended for it and so am very flattered to have been considered a worthy recipient.

ìI have formed a very deep personal attachment to both the city and the province, so to get this award really is special. I will only find out the full reason for the award on the big night but just being selected is fantastic."

Matt, who studied journalism at in the Department 16 years ago, left his career as a football reporter in the UK to join his partner, Alison Roberts, who had gone to Guangzhou to head the EIB franchise programme.

Incredible experience

"Coming to live and work in China has been an incredible experience," he said. "It is an amazing country and a very exciting time in its history. I have loved teaching journalism to the students here who are very talented in many ways, in terms of English level, intelligence and thirsty for knowledge.

"The first cohort of UCLan students is a joy to teach and I know they will make a real impact in Preston when they arrive for their third and final year in the summer of 2007. After such a positive first semester, I am confident the course will go from strength to strength in the years to come.

"Both Alison and I have also enjoyed working alongside our Chinese colleagues, who are not only very dedicated but also very interesting to know and learn from.

He has really got into life in Guangdong and talked enthusiastically about what is going on there and his many roles: "The whole experience has been very positive and I love the fact that my working life is so varied," he admitted.

"First and foremost I still consider myself a journalist so it is great that I can keep doing that type of work. It also allows my students to see that their teacher is still writing and editing in the real world.

"I have covered stories ranging from internet dating to the recent Hong Kong Golf Open and I can honestly say no one week is the same out here."

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