University News

Tang: Among Top 50 Journalism Professors

June 26, 2012

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MACOMB, IL – Western Illinois University Assistant Professor Yong Tang has been named one of the Top 50 Journalism Professors in 2012 by journalismdegree.org.

"What a terrific honor, especially in my first year of teaching. I want to thank everyone for making this possible," said Tang.

Tang has been an assistant professor of journalism and mass media law in Western's English and journalism department since 2011. He has done extensive research in mass media law and also in the areas of international journalism and global media studies. Before becoming an assistant professor, Tang worked for newspapers in China and Washington, D.C.

During his childhood in China, Tang faced severe daily food shortages, and he was the first member of his immediate family to move beyond middle school. He received his bachelors' degrees from Sichuan International Studies University and the China School of Journalism; his master's degree from the George Washington University and his doctoral degree from the Communication University of China. He is working toward another doctoral degree in mass communications at the Pennsylvania State University.

Tang went on to be an award-winning journalist for the "People's Daily," the largest and most politically influential newspaper in the People's Republic of China. During that time, as a residential correspondent in Washington, D.C., the list of his interviews includes former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, former Secretary of State Colin Powell and General Motors CEO Rick Wagoner.

Tang said that he spent more than 10 years as a journalist covering breaking news and interesting people.

"It is really rewarding sharing my real life stories with my journalism students. I really want to spend the rest of my life being covered as an internationally recognized journalism teacher and scholar," Tang said. "This honor seems a good beginning in that direction."

Tang's list of honors includes the Top Faculty Paper Award from the Communications Law and Policy Division, AEJMC (the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication); AEJMC's Best Research Scholar-to-Scholar Presentation Prize; the Penn State University Graduate Fellowship; the George Washington University Freeman Fellowship; and the China Journalism Award.

For more information on Tang's award, visit journalismdegree.org/top-professors.

Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
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