【Article by the Master’s Program in Global Communication and Innovation Technology】
The Master's Program of Global Communication and Innovative Technology (GCIT) invited Wea H. Lee, an alumnus of the Diplomacy Department and founder and chairman of the Southern News Group in the United States, to deliver an English speech titled "Road to Texas Whitehouse" at the university on April 19th to share his entrepreneurial and media experiences in the US. University Chancellor Herng Su of the University System of Taiwan hosted the event, which attracted a diversity of participants, including faculty members, students, and alumni interested in media, entrepreneurship, or life in the US. Among them were Secretary General Pai-Lin Chen, GCIT Director Mei-Ling Hsu, Journalism Department Chair Chin-Chi Chiang, Diplomacy Department Chair Yeh-Chung Lu, Communication College Professors Tsung-Jen Shih and Yi-Chieh Lin, and a representative from the international news streaming platform TaiwanPlus.

Since founding the "Southern News" in 1979, Lee has cultivated a media empire for over 40 years, encompassing not only Chinese-language media across the top ten cities in the US but also a media group involved in printing, journalism, television, publishing, and industrial investments, spanning both traditional and digital media. He has also expanded his business into non-profit organizations, international trade, and banking industries, closely related to his concern for immigrant issues. Lee recently became the first president of the newly established National Chengchi University North America Alumni Association.

Speaking of the opportunity to enter the media industry, Lee said that he was fascinated by radio broadcasting during his university years. As a result, he went directly to the radio broadcasting station on Ren'ai Road in Taipei (i.e., Broadcasting Corporation of China) to seek job opportunities. After completing an English manuscript translation test in front of a producer, he secured a part-time job working the night shift at the station. After obtaining his master's degree in the US, he decided to start a Chinese-language newspaper in Houston, Texas, at the suggestion of a lawyer, officially embarking on his media career.

How can media organizations be supported to ensure their continued operation? As media and finance are the two important pillars of the US economy, Lee aimed to make a breakthrough by venturing into international trade and financial businesses. Apart from his media enterprises, he took on printing responsibilities for Houston newspapers catering to different ethnicities and languages. Likewise, to break out of the Chinese community and expand into diverse races and cultures, Lee established the "International Trade Center-Houston" with the support of his friends. This unique organization is the only non-profit trade entity in the area that is independently founded by a Chinese individual and transcends national boundaries, races, cultures, and regions. The center has garnered strong backing from the government and prominent figures in American and Chinese communities.

In addition to supporting the operations of local small and medium-sized businesses and providing economical services, Lee’s International Trade Center aims at community service. The center collaborates with various consulates, chambers of commerce, and United Nations Associations from different countries. It also has an agreement with the Department of Commerce, regularly organizing roundtable discussions that facilitate the exchange of business development ideas among local businesses.

Furthermore, Lee worked with the Texas state government to establish the "International District." Since the 1990s, he has transformed a large area of overgrown land into a thriving commercial and residential district home to more than 200,000 residents from nearly 100 countries. The Southern News Center and the International Trade Center are located within this district. Lee offers community newspaper services in multiple languages through his media outlets to serve local immigrants. Besides providing a more comfortable environment, he aims to help immigrants gain a voice in political and economic matters and increase their participation in the political process.

Lee recognizes the necessity of financial institutions supporting commercial trade to foster economic development. With efforts from various parties, the Global One Bank, part of his enterprise, was established and began operations this year. It has made the Southern News Media Group a vast conglomerate that encompasses a news center, an international trade center, and a financial center, forming an integrated triad of services.

In his concluding remarks, Lee shared his motto, "HAATS," which stands for Health, Ambition, Action, Timing, and Seriousness. He encouraged the students to enrich themselves and live earnestly constantly. Lee also urged those interested in furthering their studies in the US careers to explore opportunities with Southern News in Houston.

(Article credit: Aaron Su)