USC Annenberg Faculty and Centers Continue Focus on China

The USC U.S.-China Institute (USCI), headed by Clayton Dube, recently released the latest segment in their multipart documentary “Assignment: China.”

The segment coincides with the 25th anniversary of the June 4 demonstrations in Tiananmen Square and examines how American news organizations covered the tumultuous events of 1989 in Beijing. Over the past two months, USCI has held screenings of “Assignment: China – Tiananmen Square,” at numerous universities and organizations, including the Newseum in Washington, DC on June 8.

Last week, Dean Ernest J. Wilson III spoke at the Third Annual Conference of the Taihu World Cultural Forum in Shanghai, where he was joined by more than 500 prominent figures in academia, politics, business and media to discuss the importance of cultural soft power in promoting peace. Dean Wilson asked that delegates “reframe” the discussion of US-China relations and promote cultural understanding by focusing on new people, new programs and new platforms. His speech also outlined the findings of a joint report on building U.S.-China trust, published by USC Annenberg and the School of International Studies at Peking University. 

The USC U.S.-China Institute informs public discussion of the evolving and multidimensional U.S.-China relationship through policy-relevant research, graduate and undergraduate training, and professional development programs for teachers, journalists, and officials. It produces compelling public events, widely-viewed documentary films, and the popular magazines US-China Today and Asia Pacific Arts. USCI was established in 2006 by USC President C.L. "Max" Nikias (then provost). In fall 2011, USCI became part of the USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism, whose world-class programs include those on public diplomacy, new Chinese media, and economics reporting. USCI has been headed by Clayton Dube since its establishment in 2006.