Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu joins Merrill Lynch, the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation and Bloomberg as the founding sponsors of the program. This is a unique partnership between business, media organizations and academia.

This programwill train students in top-quality business, economic and financial reporting that is becoming increasingly crucial as China’s importance in the global economy grows. The curriculum will place special emphasis on comparative studies of Chinese and Western companies and financial markets. Courses will include analyzing case studies of China’s corporations, using the Internet to research and develop stories, and learning the techniques of multimedia and investigative reporting.

“We are so pleased to have Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu’s support for this important program,” ICFJ President Joyce Barnathan said. “Given the role China now plays in the world economy, it is so vital that Chinese journalists have the skills they need to cover this rapidly developing business landscape. With Deloitte’s help, we can also expose the students to best practices in accounting as well as other key subjects in the increasingly complex world of financial reporting.”

“It’s an honor for us to be part of this unique and exciting program that will ultimately help build competitiveness and strength in China and in the rest of the world,” said Chris Lu, National Managing Partner of Clients and Markets, Deloitte China. “The media should evolve and grow at the same time that a country evolves. As China heads for a more mature and sustainable economic environment for both domestic enterprises and foreign investors, it is important that journalists provide information that will help investors, companies and others make informed decisions. This will definitely help businesses take advantage of the growth potential of this country, offering more opportunities not only to China, but to the world economy.”

This initiative is part of Deloitte’s long-term commitment to China. Deloitte China expects to increase its headcount in the country from the current 7,000 to 10,000 by 2010.

The International Center for Journalists, a non-profit, professional organization, promotes quality journalism worldwide in the belief that independent, vigorous media are crucial in improving the human condition. Since 1984, the International Center for Journalists has worked directly with more than 40,000 journalists and media managers from 176 countries through hands-on training workshops, seminars, fellowships, international exchanges and other media development programs. For further information, visit www.icfj.org.

Tsinghua University is one of China’s premier research and teaching institutions, with established schools of government, law, business and journalism that represent a leading academic force and advocate for political and press reform. As a center of top-quality education, Tsinghua attracts China’s brightest students, providing cutting-edge research and career development opportunities. Faculty are frequently called upon to provide expertise to public policy makers and national leaders, giving the University unequalled access to decision makers. Tsinghua alumni hold key positions in China’s establishment, and play important roles in the country’s social and scientific progress. Over 80 percent of Chinese leading nuclear scientists and space scientists are Tsinghua graduates.

Deloitte refers to one or more of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu, a Swiss Verein, member firms, and their respective subsidiaries and affiliates. Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu is an organization of member firms around the world devoted to excellence in providing professional services and advice, focused on client service through a global strategy executed locally in nearly 140 countries. With access to the deep intellectual capital of approximately 150,000 people worldwide, Deloitte delivers services in four professional areas—audit, tax, consulting and financial advisory services—and serves more than 80 percent of the world’s largest companies, as well as large national enterprises, public institutions, locally important clients, and successful, fast-growing global growth companies. Services are not provided by the Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Verein, and, for regulatory and other reasons, certain member firms do not provide services in all four professional areas. As a Swiss Verein (association), neither Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu nor any of its member firms has any liability for each other’s acts or omissions. Each of the member firms is a separate and independent legal entity operating under the names “Deloitte,” “Deloitte & Touche,” “Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu,” or other related names.