Masato Kajimoto

Professor Masato Kajimoto has established himself as a leading authority in news literacy education and misinformation research at the University of Hong Kong, building upon his early career experience as an online reporter and web producer for CNN International. As a Professor of Practice at HKU's Journalism and Media Studies Centre, he has pioneered several influential initiatives, including the founding of Annie Lab, a student-led fact-checking newsroom recognized by the International Fact-Checking Network and WHO's Vaccine Safety Net. His educational impact extends globally through his massive open online courses, which have reached over 21,000 learners from 148 countries. Born and raised in Nagoya, Japan, Kajimoto's academic credentials include a BA in English and American Literature from Chuo University, an MA in Journalism from the University of Missouri-Columbia, and a PhD in Sociology from the University of Hong Kong. As director of the Asian Network of News & Information Educators (ANNIE), he leads regional efforts to develop specialized teaching materials for news literacy education across Asia, while his research encompasses fact-checking practices, misinformation ecosystems, and press freedom, with particular emphasis on the Asia-Pacific region. His expertise in multimedia storytelling and social media in journalism has made him a respected voice in developing innovative approaches to news literacy education and digital media understanding.