Xiao Kui Huang Profile

Xiao Kui Huang reported for her first class at the University of Georgia Monday morning with myriad concerns. Her brown eyes wide, she revealed some trepidation as to her ability to “follow the program, not fall behind.”

To be sure, Huang’s non-native English and previous concentration in French present major obstacles for a student of journalism at an American university. However, the work she has completed to date—whether professionally or within her course of study—yields more relevancy than meets the résumé.

Huang completed her undergraduate study at Zhejiang University (ranked 3^rd in her home country of China) this past July with a major in French. For the conferral of her degree, Huang composed a 30-page thesis in French on Les Années culturelles sino-françoises, a program that took place between 2004 and 2006 in the countries of France and China, respectively.

In her thesis, Huang elucidated the positive effects of the program, which allowed artists and performers to showcase their talents in another country and continent. Huang noted political and economic improvements for both France and China as a result of Les Années. More importantly, however, she noted her own knack for reporting.

In Huang’s view, the zenith of journalistic education resides in the U.S, where reporting practices are both “more free” and “more structured” than in her native China. As for pursuing her journalistic education in France, in which she spent six months during her baccalaureate study, Huang laments the propensity of French publications to consider only the French point of view. To counter accusations of ethnocentricity towards American journalists, Huang asserts, “There is a reason why the United States thinks of themselves as the center of the world.”

To decide upon a particular American institution, Huang applied to the top 5 graduate programs in journalism. Having had a chance to settle in, Huang realizes that coming to Athens is as beneficial to her psyche as it is to her schooling. “The past two weeks here is more pleasant than my time in other countries,” she beams, lauding in particular the acceptance of differences on the part of locals.

Looking to the future, Huang sees herself bringing American journalistic practices back home. She believes that, as the eyes of the world turn to China, journalists can impact the country’s effectiveness. Huang explains, “Communication contributes to economics and policy; that’s why I chose to switch my major.”

However, Huang does not view journalist as her ultimate career goal. Having held internships at two Chinese publications, one in her hometown of Dalian and the other at the Hong Kong Commercial Daily, she recognizes her particular skill set as being compatible with the position of editor, ideally at a magazine.

Huang is confident that the knowledge of theory and journalistic experience she amasses here at Grady will see her to her goal. “Really, I like to write something that I actually experience, as opposed to something I imagine,” she explains. In order to become an editor, Huang starts now as a journalist. Wherever her studies at Grady will take her, Huang is certainly ready for the trip.