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Sample Statement of Purpose for Mass Communication
“If a nation can be compared to a large vessel at sea, then the
journalists are its watch-keepers who timely report the treacherous
shoals and hidden dangers to ensure the safe journey of the vessel.”
This celebrated and thought-provocative motto by Joseph Pulitzer gives
a most vivid and profound elucidation of the crucial role that
journalists can play in contemporary social life. Regarding the role
of the watch-keeper, I have my own understanding. The career of being
a journalist entails “thinking allowed and thinking aloud.” He or she
should, first of all, be an active, sensitive participant of social
life and demonstrate independent and critical insights. Apart from
such qualities as courage, social conscience, objectivity, enthusiasm
and discretion, a journalist must have deep concerns for the destiny
of his/her nation and the welfare of its people.
I never cherish any blind faith in the accepted theories and teachings
but instead have endeavored to cultivate a skeptical attitude toward
what I am exposed to. In my notebooks are recorded not only what my
teachers have taught me but also my personal contemplations and
critical views. On many important issues I have the habit of
discussing with the most learned and inspiring teachers from whom to
seek enlightenment and to probe into the essence of the matter through
“collisions of ideas”. I have also devoted most of my spare time to
studying technical literature in the libraries, to keep myself
informed of the latest academic developments and to develop my own
academic perspectives from a wealth of information. In taking
examinations, I seldom confine myself to what is laid down in the
textbooks but instead try to present my own understandings,
observations and reflections. It is indeed not easy to be one’s true
self but the joy of exercising my own academic initiative and
exploring my academic possibilities has given me immense satisfaction.
In studying the courses in myself specialty, I have paid close
attention to laying a solid academic foundation. I have been
particularly fascinated by such courses as Mass Communication,
Theories of Journalism, Theories of Broadcasting and Television
Journalism, and History of Western Journalism, which have allowed me
to gain a deep understanding of the principles of journalism and to
examine journalism in a historical context. The world of journalism
represents an exciting world of ideas and ideals, a world of
variegated phenomena that make up the reality of our social life.
Apart from compulsory courses, I took a number of optional courses
like The History of Ancient China. This course has been very important
to me because, in order to understand how China’s mass communication
evolved in the contemporary period, it is necessary to gain insights
into China’s traditional cultural and historical legacy and how those
cultural and historical traditions shape the present and even the
future of the country.
“A true scholar must be well-read and well-traveled.” This well-known
Chinese saying points to two essential qualities that a successful
student and scholar must possess—ample book knowledge and practical
experience (the latter resulting from field trips far and wide). I
believe this principle holds especially true for practitioners of mass
communication because it is more of an applied academic discipline.
For half a year just as a freshman, I did internship at XX Television
Station—one of China’s major TV producer—where I performed two types
of responsibilities: translating English materials into Chinese and
editing news. The first responsibility exposed me to the standard
practices of western mass media while the second allowed me to obtain
practical work experience.
Later, working as an interning reporter at XX Daily, the largest
newspaper in the city, I concentrated on the issue of possible water
pollution in the Three-Gorge Region where the world’s largest
hydrological project is under way. For a whole month, I traveled to 10
counties and investigated the operation of the 19 water treatment
factories in this region. In addition, I interviewed 12
environmentalists and based on detailed facts and statistics I gave an
objective and detailed analysis of the possible negative impacts of
the project on the local water environment and urged the local
authorities to take concrete measures to guard against possible
consequences. My serial articles produced widespread sensation and
made the protection of water environment the hot subject of the time
in the local media. For me, this was a most important experience as a
feature story writer because for the first time in my life I made
extensive field trips and reported on the issues most closely related
to the welfare of the general public. This experience significantly
heightened my awareness of the social responsibility of the journalist
and of the role that a journalist can play in promoting the social
welfare of the people.
My independent thinking, sound academic performance and practical
media experience distinguished me from most of my fellow students and
came to the attention of Prof. XXX, a leading scholar on “cultural
communication” in my university. At his invitation, I became a key
member of his research team and served as his research assistant. I
read a number of leading academic journals including XX and analyzed
all the available American news programs recorded on videotapes. Based
on my research findings, I wrote a research paper entitled
Cross-Cultural Communication Significance of English News for
Developing Countries. The paper explores how developing countries
(whose native language is not English) can best employ English news
programs as an effective tool of communication with the
English-speaking audience in the world, with English language as the
dominant language of communication in the ongoing globalization
context. I also proposed specific steps how those developing countries
can promote the communication and the influence of their national
cultures in the international community and facilitate their social
and economic development. My paper was published in the national-level
journal TV STUDY, which indicates the rare achievement of an
undergraduate.
The publication of my research paper also testifies to my research
potential. The vice chairman of my department offered to be my advisor
of my graduation thesis. Under his guidance, I am researching on media
culture and constructing analytical models. So far, I have completed
the research on American mainstream media culture and its pluralistic
value system. My advisor has expressed considerable appreciation of my
research work so far.
XX University where I am studying is a key national university that
attracts best students from every part of the country. In fierce
academic competitions, I have managed to remain top-third in academic
performance and win scholarships throughout the years. I received the
honor of Outstanding Student of XX University and on account of my
distinguished English proficiency I won the third prize for my
university in the nationwide English Contest of University Students in
2002. In my extracurricular activities, I organized and participated
in several major events for such student organizations as “Galaxy”
Literary Society, “What’s New” Student Newspaper, and “Be Creative”
Association. As a result, my writing skills and journalistic
competence have been markedly improved.
Building on my educational background, my research experience and my
research interest, I would like to pursue a Master’s program in Mass
Communication. The courses that I plan to study include international
mass communication, mass media and culture, theories of mass
communication, methods of mass communication research, history of mass
communication, economic and political aspects of mass media. I wish to
obtain comprehensive and advanced education in mass communication and
seek opportunities to participate in workshops, seminars and projects.
If possible, I will continue my study toward a Ph.D. degree. I believe
that academically and experientially I am qualified for your
well-respected program. Therefore I wish that you would seriously and
favorably consider my application.
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