Walter Williams:Promoter Of International Communications Among Chinese Journalists

Walter Williams is an important figure in history of Chinese journalism and foreign journalism.He has visited China five times to help develop journalism education in China,which has been highlighted in previous studies.But the content about his promotion of Chinese journalists to the world has always been a blank field in the study of the history of journalism.The study of Walter Williams should pay more attention to the multiplicity of his identity.Williams is not only the initiator of journalism education in China,but also the promoter of Chinese journalists to the international community of journalism.This paper adopts the method of literature research.In addition to the Chinese historical newspapers,like Shen Pao,the paper attach great importance to English historical newspapers,such as Peking Daily News,the Weekly Review of the Far East and the North-China Herald and Supreme Consular Gazette.Through the analysis of a large number of historical materials,this paper restores early contact between Walter Williams and the Chinese press.In 1904,Williams invited the Chinese press to the World Press Parliament in the Louisiana Purchase Exposition.In 1908,Williams enrolled the first Chinese student,Hin Wong,and invited a Chinese journalist,Li Sum Ling,to lecture at School of Journalism,University of Missouri.The paper also reproduces the history of his invitation to Chinese press to attend the World Press Congress,and reproduces the scene of the participation of Chinese delegations in the World Press Congress.Without the help of Walter Williams,The Chinese press can not go abroad and integrate into the stage of world journalism.This paper explores the role of Williams in promoting Chinese press to go to the world.It is his advanced newspaper making concept,excellent social skills,extensive social network and unremitting efforts that promotes Chinese journalists to integrate into the stage of world journalism.At the same time,the presence of Chinese journalists at the World Press Congress,on the one hand,demonstrates the wisdom,open vision,responsibility and courage of Chinese journalists.On the other hand,it can also be seen that attendance at the World Press Congress is not a purely professional act,behind which there is a complex political impetus.