Hugo de Burgh

Hugo de Burgh (born 10 June 1949) is the founder of the China Media Centre at the University of Westminster. He previously ran the Centre for Media Research at Goldsmiths College. de Burgh is State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs Endowment Professor at Tsinghua University, honorary fellow at the 48 Group Club, and board member at the Great Britain–China Centre. de Burgh is a member of the Social Democratic Party and will be standing as a candidate of that party at the 2024 United Kingdom general election.

Background
de Burgh started in academic life teaching history at Edinburgh University before working as an education correspondent and television producer for STV, BBC and Channel 4. In 2004, he joined the University of Westminster as a professor of journalism, where he set up the China Media Centre.

Thesis
His original focus was the social function of journalism as a reflection of culture. He has said "It is often said that journalism is the first rough draft of history; by contrast, investigative journalism provides the first rough draft of legislation..."

In 2020 in China’s Media in the Emerging World Order, he argued that "the way the Chinese media work can be understood as a reflection of culture as much as of political economy."

Chinese journalism
Of special interest is the reappearance of investigative journalism in China since 1992. He said this showed that the supposedly western techniques of investigative journalism apply in contrasting political cultures.

"It was a surprise to Western observers to find that the Chinese media (and investigative journalists in particular) are, despite limitations upon them, influencing public life today by introducing new and unconventional ideas, changing terms of reference, forcing the pace of reform, giving voice to concerns and calling attention to issues."