George Chen, former star Reuters reporter, wins US fellowship

Award-winning former Reuters reporter George Chen (photo), has been named a Yale World Fellow.

Shanghai-born Chen, 34, is currently financial editor and a columnist at Hong Kong’s South China Morning Post. He worked for Reuters in both cities from 2005 to 2011, becoming Reuters Company News Reporter of the Year in 2006 and winner of the Company News Scoop of the Year in 2007.

Chen will join 15 other candidates in August for a four-month programme of intensive leadership training and academic enrichment at the university’s New Haven, Connecticut campus. He was chosen from a pool of more than 4,000 applicants and is the sole fellow from the Greater China region this year.

“I hope the fellowship programme could help George broaden his horizons and hone his expertise in international affairs, and in turn contribute to the Post’s coverage of China and the world,” said Wang Xiangwei, SCMP editor-in-chief.

“Like prior cohorts, the 2014 Yale World Fellows are dynamic, high-impact practitioners committed to effecting positive change,” said Yale World Fellows director Michael Cappello. “Chen fits that mould perfectly and will bring immense talent and vision to the group.” ■