Alice Lee – 2026 Jessie McCanse Honoree –
Steadfast Heart of Media Literacy Education
The Jessie McCanse Award established in 1987 in honor of one of IC4ML’s co-founders is given for an individual’s dedication and contribution to the field of media literacy education over a sustained period of at least ten years in a leadership role. It honors individuals whose contributions exemplify Jessie’s positive philosophy, her principles of fairness and ethical practices, her creativity, and her role as a collaborative bridge builder.
In 2026, one of our two honorees that we celebrated in Rome at the IMLRS Conference was Alice Lee, Professor Emeritus at the School of Communication, Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU). In her role as an IC4ML Board Member since 2021, Alice has exemplified the values that have guided our organization from the beginning. She is a thoughtful listener, a reflective thinker, and a dependable colleague who consistently shows up with a deep commitment to advancing media literacy education and its vital role in society. Through Belinha’s and my nomination, along with tributes from her colleagues, Donna Chu and Klavier Wang, we hope to illustrate how Alice embodies the qualities and spirit of the Jesse McCanse Award.
Nomination of our dear colleague, Alice Lee for the Jessie McCanse Award by Belinha De Abreu and Karen Ambrosh:
Alice Lee has a remarkable legacy in the field of media literacy education through decades of scholarship, teaching, leadership, and service. She is deeply committed to fostering a networked model of collaboration that brings together grassroots organizations, academic institutions, and local and global partners to advance, strengthen, and sustain media literacy efforts. Throughout her five years of service to IC4ML, Alice has demonstrated extraordinary dedication, faithfully participating in every Zoom meeting no matter how late the hour for her. She listens deeply, offers thoughtful insights, and helps keep our work grounded in integrity, collaboration, and the principles of shared leadership.
Alice approaches her work with the curiosity and humility of a lifelong learner, actively seeking knowledge and experiences from diverse voices around the globe. She earned her doctorate at the University of British Columbia in 1997. While there, she collaborated with Canadian media educators Barry Duncan and Father John Pungente to establish Hong Kong’s growing media education network in the 1990s and early 2000s. Alice helped to develop the UNESCO Global Media and Information Literacy Assessment Framework in 2013 and she has worked on the Steering Committee on Strategic Development of Information Technology in Education, Education Bureau. Whether engaging with colleagues across continents, participating in international collaborations, or exploring emerging media environments, she continually expands her own learning while helping to advance the field.
As a researcher, Alice has a strong background in theory from Communication, Journalism, and Education. She is known for her methodical approach to inquiry and her determination to document how media influence the ways people think, communicate, and participate in society. As new technologies emerge, she remains at the forefront of examining their implications, never ceasing to ask how and why these changes matter. In Rome, she presented her research on AI Literacy practices and proposed an “Autonomous Collaboration Model on AI Literacy.” Her work demonstrates a commitment not only to understanding new media but also to understanding their impact on human lives, democratic participation, and social well-being.
As an educator, Alice combines empathy with intellectual challenge. She creates learning environments where students feel respected and supported while also being encouraged to question assumptions, explore new perspectives, and think more deeply about the world around them. Her teaching extends beyond critical thinking skills. She inspires students to connect knowledge with action. Recently, Alice developed a service-learning project which took her students out of the classroom to teach others about MIL, giving them agency and choice in how they did it. By empowering learners to apply what they discover to real-world issues, she helps cultivate informed, engaged, and responsible citizens who are prepared to contribute to positive social change.
Through her scholarship, teaching, and leadership, Alice has exemplified the transformative potential of media literacy education. Her contributions continue to influence students, colleagues, and the broader field, leaving a legacy of creating a more thoughtful, equitable, and informed world. Alice Lee embodies the values and ideals at the heart of the Jesse McCanse Award.
Tribute from colleague, Professor Donna Chu:
It is a privilege to pen these words for Professor Alice Lee—a mentor, a pioneer, and a dear friend whose influence has shaped both the landscape of media education in Hong Kong and my own professional journey.
Our connection traces back to the late 1990s, a pivotal moment when I was embarking on my PhD. Finding Alice felt like finding a kindred spirit. We shared a common “origin story,” both having transitioned from journalism majors to the world of education for our doctoral studies. In a field that can often feel ivory-towered, her relatability was a breath of fresh air.
Alice is, quite simply, the pioneer of media education in Hong Kong. For decades, she has been the field’s most dedicated advocate. I have watched her navigate a challenging landscape where media literacy often struggled to find a permanent home in the formal school curriculum. Remarkably, I have never once seen her succumb to disappointment or resentment. Instead, Alice chose persistence.
She worked relentlessly, bridging the gap between the local and the global, taking on diverse roles to ensure that “media literacy” moved from an unfamiliar term to a vital necessity.
What sets Alice apart is the unique synthesis of her expertise. As a communication professor, she possesses the sharp, professional edge of a journalist alongside the nurturing heart of an educator. This combination allows her to be a truly liberal educator—someone who offers profound critical insights backed by solid, real-world knowledge.
Alice, your career is a testament to the idea that quiet persistence and intellectual integrity can change the world. This honour is a rightful acknowledgment of your immense contributions. I am beyond happy to see your legacy celebrated today.
Tribute by Dr. Klavier Wang (Alice’s student at Hong Kong Baptist University, now working as Assistant Professor at NYCU, Taiwan.)
It is my distinct honor to pay tribute to Professor Alice Lee—my supervisor, my mentor, and above all, a cherished friend. Having known Alice for over fifteen years, I have seen firsthand that her influence extends far beyond the confines of the lecture hall. She supervised both my master’s and doctoral theses, but her guidance did not terminate with my graduation; even today, I return to her for counsel on the complexities of career and life. Alice is the quintessence of a true educator, one whose commitment to the growth of her students is as enduring as her commitment to the field of media studies.
Alice has dedicated the breadth of her academic career to the advancement of media literacy and media education. I recall with great clarity our collaborative work in 2015, which examined the “digital divide” in mainland China. Through surveys and focus group interviews—Alice sought not only to diagnose the causes for digital inequality but to explore possible solutions. Around the same time, I also worked with her on Hong Kong’s young generation’s utilization of digital communication tools in social participation. Alice was eager not only to learn about people’s media behavior, but also how different media tools could be better utilized for the betterment of the world. Her work remains a testament to her unwavering pursuit of social justice and global equity in the digital age.
Beyond research, Alice’s greatest impact lies in her profound care within university classrooms and beyond. Serving as her teaching assistant for several years, I witnessed her distinct ability to lead and educate with empathy, thoughtfulness, and love, always prioritizing the holistic nurturing of a student’s mind over the mere pursuit of grades. Perhaps most admirably, Alice possesses the humility of a lifelong learner, often passionately finding fresh inspiration from interacting with youngsters. To many, she is a professor; to me, she is a lifelong anchor. Alice, my gratitude for your mentorship and your friendship truly transcends the written word.
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