On June 22, 2024, at the 74th Annual Conference of the International Communication Association (ICA) held in Gold Coast, Australia, Professor Zhang Guoliang from the School of Media and Communication at Shanghai Jiao Tong University was awarded the B. Aubrey Fisher Mentorship Award. Professor Zhang is the second Chinese scholar to receive this prestigious award and the first from mainland China.

The B. Aubrey Fisher Mentorship Award, established by the ICA in 1988, honors outstanding scholars, teachers, and advisors who have made significant contributions to the field of communication through their exemplary academic, teaching, and mentorship work. The awardees are recognized not only for their own impact but also for the profound influence they have had on the field through their students, many of whom have become significant figures in communication studies.

Professor Zhang Guoliang, a distinguished professor at the School of Media and Communication, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, has had an illustrious academic career. He studied at Fudan University's Department of Journalism and Department of History from 1973-1976 and 1985-1991, respectively, earning his PhD in history (co-supervised by Waseda University in Japan). In 1981-1982, he was among the first Chinese scholars in journalism to study abroad as a visiting scholar at the University of Tokyo. He served as Vice Dean of the School of Journalism at Fudan University from 1998-2003 and as Director of the Information and Communication Research Center at Fudan University (a key research base of the Ministry of Education) from 2000-2006. Since 2006, he has been at Shanghai Jiao Tong University, serving as Dean of the School of Media and Design from 2006-2013.

Over his 48-year teaching career, Professor Zhang has been dedicated to journalism and communication research, publishing over 50 books and more than 100 academic papers. He has supervised over 150 master's, doctoral, and postdoctoral students. He has received numerous accolades, including the "Outstanding Talent of the Century" plan by the Ministry of Education (1998), the title of "Expert with Outstanding Contributions" from the State Council (2002), and awards for outstanding doctoral dissertation supervision.

Professor Zhang has worked closely with the ICA to promote the internationalization of Chinese communication studies. His efforts have led to the first appearance of Chinese scholars on the ICA's premier international platform, where he has organized several influential events. In 2012, he initiated a special forum at the ICA Annual Conference in Phoenix, USA, marking the first time the Chinese communication academia hosted a forum at this prestigious event. This achievement showcased the research of Chinese scholars and facilitated international academic exchanges.Building on the success of the 2012 forum, Professor Zhang deepened cooperation with the ICA, involving 20 major journalism and communication departments from across China (including Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan). In 2013, he successfully brought the ICA's regional conference to China for the first time. These initiatives have not only enhanced the international influence of Chinese communication studies but also fostered global academic collaboration and exchange.