COLUMBIA — The Missouri School of Journalism will take steps today to formalize its agreement to send about 50 students to Beijing to work as interns/volunteers at the 2008 Summer Olympic Games.
Weijia Sun, director of media operations for the Beijing Olympic Organizing Committee, will sign a memorandum of understanding with MU Chancellor Brady Deaton and Margaret Duffy, the Journalism School’s acting associate dean of graduate studies, at 2:15 p.m. at the Reynolds Alumni Center.
Students participating in the program will earn journalism credit while working with the International Press Corps covering the XXIX Olympiad.
The program was born when the Olympic organizing committee contacted Chinese universities, who in turn contacted other international universities, including programs in Great Britain and Australia. China’s Renmin University contacted MU because of the MU’s well-established relationship and reputation, said Ernest Zhang, MU’s coordinator of China programs.
Program participants will act as volunteers with the Olympic News Service and gain experience by recording comments from coaches and athletes immediately following Olympic events. The ONS does not intend to complete the media’s work but rather to give represented media outlets the information they need to report Olympic news.
Participating students will not only get journalism experience but will also attend lectures about Chinese culture through Renmin University. Students will live in student apartments at the university for the duration of the program.
Sun will discuss details about the application process to interested students at an information session at 5 p.m. Thursday in Fisher Auditorium.