대학신문방송국

The Hanbat Herald

By Jeong Eui-seok Editor-in-chief, Junior of Information and          

Communication Engineering

“Journalism serves a crucial role in society by educating the public, fighting corruption, and promoting sustainable development.” This line comes from UNESCO’s 2024 report Journalism for Development. As the quote illustrates, journalism is one of the pillars that support society. The same applies on campus. Campus journalism represents students, delivers news throughout the school, and records interactions with universities at home and abroad. In doing so, it helps create a sustainable campus community and make a positive impact beyond. HBNU also has its own campus media, and among them, the Hanbat Herald plays a leading role in making our university more global.

Origins

For over 80 years, HBNU has disseminated news through its Korean-language newspaper and broadcasting station. In 2009, following the trend of globalization, the university launched its first English-language newspaper, the Hanbat Herald. At that time, President Seong Dong-ho remarked, “The Hanbat Herald will lead our university into a new era. I sincerely hope it will help our school stand among the world’s top universities.” Since its first issue in 2009, the paper has published 35 editions as of December 2025. For 16 years, despite numerous changes, the Hanbat Herald has consistently delivered news both domestically and internationally.

Organization and Structure33

The Hanbat Herald is part of the University Newspaper and Broadcasting Station, which operates under the president's office with university funding. The station consists of three units: the Korean newspaper, the English newspaper, and the broadcasting team. The English newspaper office is in Student Hall (S2), Room 405. The staff consists of one editor-in-chief, four section leaders, and nine reporters. The editor-in-chief supervises overall operations, semester publishing plans, and administrative tasks. Section leaders are responsible for Editorial, Public Relations, and Management, with two leaders assigned to the Editorial Department for article quality. Reporters are assigned to departments and work together under each leader.

Rules and Regulations

The Hanbat Herald operates under clear rules. There are promotion rules and work rules. The promotion path is: cub reporter → regular reporter → section leader → editor-in-chief. New members begin as cub reporters after passing the recruitment test, and after one year, they automatically advance to regular reporters. Section leaders are selected from regular reporters when a vacancy occurs, through interviews with current leaders and the editor-in-chief. Those who serve as section leaders for at least one year can be appointed editor-in-chief if the position becomes vacant, with the agreement of the former editor-in-chief and current leaders. The editor-in-chief’s term is two semesters, while section leaders serve for three semesters, which ensures stability and continuity.

A central rule is the “3-out system,” which ensures that members strictly keep deadlines. Missing a deadline, being absent, or arriving late to meetings or study sessions counts as one “out.” After three “outs,” the member is dismissed. This system reinforces responsibility as representatives of the university’s media.

Activities of the Hanbat Herald

The main activities during each semester include writing articles and promoting the newspaper. The paper is published once per semester, and all members take part. Article writing begins with an “Editorial meeting,” where members suggest ideas in four sections: Campus, National, International, and Cultural. After the discussion, the topics are chosen. Drafts are first written in Korean, edited for flow and format, and then translated into English. Final manuscripts are completed after feedback and proofreading, and reporters design the layout on their own. The finished newspaper is distributed on campus, to Korean high schools and universities, libraries, and overseas partner schools.

Promotion is mainly through Instagram, with more than four posts uploaded each semester. Posts include introductions to the newspaper’s activities and simple English expressions for students. This work is led by the PR Department.

Types of Articles

The Hanbat Herald covers a wide range of topics as a campus English newspaper. It introduces students who won competitions, highlights the university’s history, and promotes exchange activities with partner universities. It also features study-abroad stories from HBNU students and experiences from international students, highlighting the university's global dimension. At the same time, it covers broader issues such as the Olympics, the rise of single-person households, and artificial intelligence (AI). In this way, the Hanbat Herald goes beyond campus and connects to global trends.

Now, let’s briefly answer some of the frequently asked questions. 

Q1. When is the recruitment for new reporters?

Recruitment is held at the start of each semester. The first stage is a document screening, followed by a written test and interview. The combined score determines the final new members.

Q2. Do I need strong English skills? How do members study English?

High-level English is not required. If you can read and write short essays, that is enough. Since members exchange feedback many times during article writing, even students who are not confident in English can improve. In addition, English study groups are held weekly, including speaking practice, TOEIC preparation, watching English videos, and reading CNN articles with discussion. This environment naturally helps members strengthen their English.

Q3. What support and benefits are available?

The biggest benefit is 24-hour access to the office, which students use for both article deadlines and exam preparation. At the start of the semester, there is an appointment ceremony that makes members feel proud to be university reporters. In addition, section leaders and the editor-in-chief receive scholarships, which is another advantage.

To give a more personal perspective, let’s hear from a former reporter.

Bae So-young, Alum, Hanbat Herald Reporter (2021–2022), Editor-in-Chief (2023-2024)

Q1. How did the Hanbat Herald influence your university life and career?

The most valuable experience was writing articles of my own. Through the process of organizing my thoughts and sharing them with readers, I grew a lot. For my career, I wanted to work in overseas business, and practicing English communication here was very helpful. Studying English with fellow reporters also improved my skills.

Q2. What did you learn the most from your time here?

I developed strong management skills. Beyond writing, planning events like team-building retreats, conducting interviews, and coordinating schedules taught me how to organize and lead. I also learned how to cooperate with others through teamwork.

Q3. Any advice for juniors interested in joining?

Try everything you want during your university years. For me, the Hanbat Herald was the core of my college life. I learned and experienced so much here, and I hope juniors will also challenge themselves without hesitation.

Balancing academics and reporting is never easy. Yet, the process of planning articles, sharing opinions, and completing one issue together is a unique experience. Reporters gain teamwork and responsibility, which become valuable assets even after graduation. Since 2009, the Hanbat Herald has carried on this journey. I hope many more students will join and build upon it as a vital bridge between campus and society.

UNESCO. Journalism for Development: The Role of Journalism in Promoting Democracy, Political Accountability and Sustainable Development. Paris: UNESCO, 2024.