Before the Study Tour - by Zhen

As a graduate student studying media management, I really look forward to having different experiences about the media markets in various countries. This study tour seems to be a great chance. I hope to have some communications with the students in Krakow. They must learned different courses with different perspectives. After communication, we can learn something from each other, which may not be learned from our own courses.

Besides, the media market in Poland is continuously growing. Even during the economic crisis, it still has a better performance than other industries in Poland. It is interesting for me. The demand of media in Poland must be great. The specific situations of the media demand in Poland are the topic that I want to talk with the professors and students there.

Poland is a country which switched its political system from communism to capitalism. After the transformation, the country seems to have a better chance to develop itself. As an international student from China, I am interested in finding out how Poland made it. Moreover, are there any positive or negative impacts on the media industry after the transition? According to the lectures and readings at Fordham, the media industry in Poland in more open and market-driven. But some state owned companies still have some obvious competitive edges in the market. The media market there seems to be experiencing a stage of transition and trying to adapt to the new system. The lessons Poland learned from the transition are valuable and referable to the media market in China. Because Chinese market is much more open than before. Although the country is unlikely to change the political system, the media market has to confront and solve some challenges on the journey of reformation. Therefore, I'd like to learn the difficulties Poland used to face and how they are solved.

Moreover, we will have the chance to visit some media companies in Poland, including traditional media and new media companies. How the entrepreneurs find their market segments and compete with the big existing companies are issues I want to talk with them. And I look forward to gaining some special insights from them.

Lastly, this is my first time to Poland and Europe. I'd like to visit the famous places, view the beautiful sceneries and try the delicious foods.

Look forward to having a successful tour, making new friends and learning new things!