Covenant Journal of Communication (CJOC) Vol. 1, No. 1 (Maiden Edition), July, 2013 18 Covenant University Journals BILINGUAL JOURNALISM EDUCATION IN CHINA AND NIGERIA: A CASE OF TWO OPPOSITES Professor Abiodun SALAWU, Ph.D. Mazisi Kunene Chair School of Arts, College of Humanities University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa. Abstract While bilingual journalism education in China aims at training students to be professionals with the ability of communicating in a foreign language, English, a similar kind of training in Nigeria purposes to train students to be professionals in the media with the ability of using an indigenous language, Yoruba. Acquiring a foreign language to reach a wider audience is not a problem in Nigeria; English is already dominant in the media of the country. The struggle is to ensure the survival of the indigenous language, and to make attractive its learning, especially at the University level. In China, the indigenous languages are dominant; the purpose of the BJE therefore is to reach an international audience. While BJE in China has been in existence for decades, it is just about ten years old in Nigeria. This paper examines the two BJE models in China and Nigeria, and draws out their similarities and differences as well as implications for journalism education. Keywords: Bilingual Journalism Education, Indigenous Language, Journalism Education, China, Nigeria INTRODUCTION Language, either spoken or unspoken, is essential to communication; it is the vehicle on which communication moves. The choice of what language to use depends on a number of factors, among which are: the ability of the Source, the nature and ability of the Receiver, and the purpose for which the communication is made. The essence of language in communication is to create meanings, without which communication is meaningless. The purpose of communication is very important in the choice of language use because it would determine the kind of audience we direct our messages to. Therefore, the nature and linguistic ability of the audience would determine the choice of language used by the Source. Bilingual Journalism Education is given in two languages. This kind of journalism education is necessary in a situation where at least two languages are in use for socio- politico-economic activities. This happens in cases where there is an interference or dominance of a foreign language in the life of a community, and where there is a need to interact with external communities with different languages. In China, Bilingual Journalism Education is given in both Chinese and English. The purpose of the training in English language is to be able to communicate with the wider world community because of “English dominance in the area of international communication” (Chen and Guo, 2004). Conversely, the bilingual journalism education in Nigeria exists to bridge the gap created by “existing 19