Helen Cheng

I don’t have a religion, but I have faith in journalism.

My name is Cheng Zehang, but feel free to call me Helen Cheng. Originally from the Mainland China, I am currently enrolled in the postgraduate study of International Journalism in Hong Kong Baptist University.

Despite growing up in a family where parents were both educated in science, I developed my love for writing when I was very young. My first encounter with publishing happened at my 10 when I wrote a little story about my two pets. It appeared on a local newspaper, but I didn’t know until two weeks later.

Since then on, my passion for writing expanded. I joined the school newspaper in my high school writing editorials about the school’s uniform-for-whole-week policy, which contributed to a movement of letting students design our own uniform. That was the time when I realized writing was not just about expressing myself, but more about changing my surroundings.

Therefore, my interest into journalism was ignited. In order to familiarize with this industry, I obtained a chance to work as an intern in Hubei Daily during my undergraduate study in Wuhan, China. It was a summer when I was designated to gather information as an undercover journalist for a fraud investigation. This unique experience didn’t terrify me; instead because of the huge influence caused by that investigative report, I was so determined to pursue my postgraduate study in journalism.

I have always loved photography and filming. Studying in the journalism department of HKBU grants me various chance to write, shoot, and record. The courses here make me realize news-making can go beyond words, but the core is still journalism.

I am non-religious, but I do believe in journalism. It is around me every day, and I act it out as my ethical code. Journalism taught me too many things: how to respect people and how to gain respect, how to trust people, how to observe the world… In my life, journalism has become my career who keeps feeding me, my friend who keeps me accompany, and my mentor who guides me out of darkness.