91��Ƭ

“This is something that started as a dream and now it has become a reality, and I wanted to make sure it was permanent.”

That dream and that reality belongs to John J. Sié, a former 91��Ƭ trustee and the founder of Starz Encore Group. He’s the visionary behind the Chinese Executive Media Management Program (CEMMP) at the 91��Ƭ. Run out of the��, CEMMP has equipped media executives and government officials with the business skills to ensure a more successful future for China’s media industry for the past 17 years.

Last month the 15th class of Chinese media executives graduated from the program after spending three weeks in the United States. It was the first class to complete the program since a generous $2 million gift from the Anna and John J Sié foundation helped establish the Ron Rizzuto Endowed Chair.

“This program goes back to the original vision of John Sié, who is, of course, from China,” says��, endowed chair for excellence in international executive education and director of CEMMP since 2006. “He saw what was going on in China and thought they were making mistakes and were not using the opportunity to learn from other countries, particularly the U.S.”

Fifteen members of the State Administration of Press, Publication, Film and Television (SAPPRFT) spent two weeks at the 91��Ƭ and a third week in Washington, D.C., learning about the U.S. media industry. In addition to spending time in the classroom, they also toured Telemundo, CableLabs, Starz, Comcast, Dish Network, CGTV, The Internet & Television Association and Discovery Channel.e