Prof. FUNG, Timothy K. F.

Associate Professor

	Ph.D., Major: Mass Communication; Minor: Psychology, University of Wisconsin – Madison M.Phil., Communication, Hong Kong Baptist University BSocSc., Communication (First Class Honor), Hong Kong Baptist University
	(852) 3411-7381
	tfung@hkbu.edu.hk
	CVA Room 921

Prof. FUNG Timothy K. F.’s research focuses on the processes of how people seek, process, interpret, and react to messages about issues related to health, risk, environment, and science, as well as how media cover risk-related issues. His research in these areas appeared in top-ranked academic journals. He is an associate editor of Science Communication and an editorial member of the World Medical & Health Policy.

Prof. Fung’s work have been recognized by various organizations through research awards and grants. He received the Article of the Year Award and several top conference paper awards from the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (AEJMC). He also awarded competitive grants from General Research Fund (GRF) of the Research Grant Council, and the Department of Health of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government.

Community outreach is an integral part of Prof. Fung’s research. He has been making use of the knowledge out of his research on narrative persuasion to serve different health organizations to develop effective persuasive messages using animation and micro-movies. For example, he collaborated with the Renal Companion Association to develop theory-driven animated stories to persuade patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis (PD) to adhere to treatment regimen, and the animated story was made into a DVD to distribute to patients. Local news media covered the project. In addition, he worked with the Hong Kong Society of Transplantation to design an evidence-based animated story, “Say Your Wish Save a Life” to promote family discussion about organ donation among young adults. The Department of Health of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government adopted the animated story for its organ donation promotion. This project was awarded the HKBU Knowledge Transfer Award in 2017.

Collaborated with the Primary Care Office of the Department of Health, Prof. Fung’s most recent knowledge transfer project was to develop a narrative-based videos to promote the idea of family doctor to parents of young children. The Public Service Announcement (PSA) has been broadcasting on TV stations in Hong Kong since January 2018 (Also see the Editor’s edition). Another 3-mintue narrative-based video has been showing on the Primary Care Office’s Youtube channel (Also see the Editor’s edition). Collaborated with The Hong Kong College of Family Physicians and the Boys’ and Girls’ Clubs Association of Hong Kong, Prof. Fung recently produced an explainer animation to promote the family doctor healthcare concept.

Research interests

Health Communication
Risk Communication
Science Communication
Environmental Communication

Publications

1. Refereed Journal Articles (Since 2010)

Fung, Timothy K. F., Leung, M. H., Zhou, X., & Zheng, S. (Online First). What might happen with generative AI?: Examining the role of prefactual thinking in the cognitive mediation model in the context of emerging technologies. Science Communication. https://doi.org/10.1177/10755470251362368 |Listen to Podcast|

Fung, Timothy K. F., Siu, J.Y.M., & Leung, H. M. (2025). Vaccine Name Framing, Relationship Status, and Fear: Examining Heterosexual Men’s Intention to Vaccinate against Human Papillomavirus Infection. World Medical & Health Policy, 18(1), 1-18 https://doi.org/10.1002/wmh3.70055 |Listen to Podcast|

Leung, H. M., Fung, Timothy K. F.*, Chang, L. (2025). Understanding self-rated health: Examining the mediating effect of self-efficacy. World Medical & Health Policy, 17(3), 589-605. https://doi.org/10.1002/wmh3.70014 |Listen to Podcast|
*Corresponding Author

Fung, Timothy K. F., Lai, P. Y., & Griffin R. J., & Leung, M. H. (2025). Defense information insufficiency and biased information use behavior: Extending the Risk Information Seeking and Processing Model. International Journal of Public Opinion Research, 37(1), edae044. https://doi.org/10.1093/ijpor/edae044 |Listen to Podcast|

Fung, Timothy K. F., Leung, M. H., Lai, P. Y., & Griffin R. J. (2025). Examining the link between information processing and preventive behavior in the risk information seeking and processing (RISP) model: A Panel Study. Science Communication, 47(2), 147-181. https://doi.org/10.1177/10755470241277197 |Listen to Podcast|

Chang, L., Fung, Timothy K. F., Leung, H. M. (2025). Factors associated with perceived information needs and information-seeking intention among people with cancer experience in Hong Kong. Journal of Cancer Education, 40, 600-608. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13187-024-02551-5

Fung, Timothy K. F. (2024). The role of safety climate in occupational health and safety information seeking: Extending risk perception attitude framework. International Journal of Workplace Health Management, 17(5/6), 503-520. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJWHM-12-2023-0182 |Listen to Podcast|

Fung, Timothy K. F., Lai, P. Y., & Griffin R. J. (2024). Communicating socially acceptable risk judgments: The role of impression information insufficiency in the risk information seeking and processing model. World Medical and Health Policy, 16(3), 376-404. https://doi.org/10.1002/wmh3.605 |Listen to Podcast|

Chang, L., Fung, Timothy K. F., Leung, M. H., & Lai, P. Y. (2024). Generational differences in health information behaviors during the COVID-19 crisis: A Hong Kong study. Global Media and China, 9(3), 303-324. https://doi.org/10.1177/20594364241238635

Fung, Timothy K. F., Namkoong, K., Kim, J., & Lai, P. Y. (2022) Linking psychometric paradigm of risk and issue attention cycle: Risk information in news coverage of avian and swine influenza global outbreaks. Science Communication, 44(6), 719-758. http://doi.org/10.1177/10755470221138625 |Listen to Podcast|

Fung, Timothy K. F., Lai, P. Y., Chang, L., & Leung, M. H. (2022). Applying the Comprehensive Model of Information Seeking to Understand Chronic Illness Information Scanning: Hong Kong evidence. World Medical & Health Policy, 14(2), 384-412. http://doi.org/10.1002/wmh3.515 |Listen to Podcast|

Siu J.Y.M., Fung, Timothy K. F., Leung H.M. (2019). Social and cultural construction processes involved HPV vaccine hesitancy among Chinese women: A qualitative study. International Journal for Equity in Health, 18(1), 147-165. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12939-019-1052-9

Siu J.Y.M., Fung, Timothy K. F., Leung H.M. (2019). Barriers to receiving HPV vaccination among men in a Chinese community: A qualitative study in Hong Kong. American Journal of Men’s Health, 13(1), 1-13. https://doi.org/10.1177/1557988319831912

Fung, Timothy K. F. (2019). The role of counterfactual thinking in narrative persuasion: Its impact on patients’ adherence to treatment regimen. Health Communication, 34(12), 1482-1493. https://doi.org/10.1080/10410236.2018.1500432 |Listen to Podcast|
Awarded the Article of the Year (2020) from ComSHER Division of the AEJMC*

Fung, Timothy K. F., Yan, W. J., Akin, H. (2018). In the eye of the beholder: How news media exposure and audience schema affect the image of the United States among the Chinese public. International Journal of Public Opinion Research, 30(3), 443-472. https://doi.org/10.1093/ijpor/edx010 |Listen to Podcast|

Kim, S. C., Namkoong, K., Fung, Timothy K. F., Heo, K., Gunther, A. (2018). Understanding public opinion change of HPV vaccination controversy: Effect of exemplification and the mediating role of projection. Health Education, 118(5), 402-412. https://doi.org/10.1108/HE-01-2018-0006

Fung, Timothy K. F., Griffin, R., & Dunwoody, S. (2018). Testing Links Among Uncertainty, Affect and Attitude Toward a Health Behavior in a Risky Setting. Science Communication, 40(1), 33-62. https://doi.org/10.3747/pdi.2016.00094 |Listen to Podcast|

Fung, Timothy K. F., Ng, Y. L., Lam, M. F., & Lee, Kelvin, K. W. (2017). Psychosocial factors predict nonadherence to PD treatment: A Hong Kong survey. Peritoneal Dialysis International, 37(3), 331-337. https://doi.org/10.3747/pdi.2016.00094 |Listen to Podcast|

Fung, Timothy K. F., Lee, Kelvin, K. W., & Lam M. F. (2016). A formative research as the groundwork for designing evidence-based adherence promotion campaigns for patients on peritoneal dialysis. Journal of Communication in Healthcare, 9(2), 98-108. https://doi.org/10.1080/17538068.2016.1168066 |Listen to Podcast|

Chan, K., Siu, J., & Fung, Timothy K. F. (2016). Perception of acupuncture among users and non-users: A qualitative study. Health Marketing Quarterly, 33(1), 78-93. https://doi.org/10.1080/07359683.2016.1132051

Chan, K., Tsang, L., & Fung, Timothy K. F. (2015). Attitudes toward acupuncture: A quantitative study. International Journal of Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Marketing, 9(2), 158-174. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJPHM-10-2013-0055

Fung, Timothy K. F., Choi, D. H., Scheufele, D. A., & Shaw, B. (2014). Public opinion about biofuels: The interplay between party identification and risk/benefit perception. Energy Policy, 73, 344-355. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enpol.2014.05.016 |Listen to Podcast|

Edgerly, S., Vraga, E., Dalrymple, K., Macafee, T., Fung, Timothy K. F. (2013). Directing the dialogue: The relationship between YouTube videos and the comments they spur. Journal of Information Technology & Politics, 10(3), 276-292. https://doi.org/10.1080/19331681.2013.794120

Namkoong, K., Fung, Timothy K. F., Scheufele, D. (2012). Politics of emotion: News media attention, emotional responses, and participation during the 2004 U.S. presidential election. Mass Communication & Society, 15(1), 25-45. https://doi.org/10.1080/15205436.2011.563894 | Listen to Podcast|

Fung, Timothy K. F., Namkoong, K., & Brossard, D. (2011). Media, social proximity and risk: A comparative analysis of newspapers coverage of avian flu in Hong Kong and in the United States. Journal of Health Communication, 16(8), 889-907. https://doi.org/10.1080/10810730.2011.561913 |Listen to Podcast|

Fung, Timothy K. F., Brossard, D., Ng, Isabella. (2011). There is water everywhere: How news framing amplifies the effect of ecological worldviews on preference for flooding protection policy. Mass Communication & Society, 14(5), 553-577. https://doi.org/10.1080/15205436.2010.521291 |Listen to Podcast|

Ekdale, B., Namkoong, K., & Fung, Timothy K. F, Perlmutter, D. (2010). Why Blog? (Then and Now): Exploring the Motivations for Blogging by Popular American Political Bloggers. New Media & Society, 12(2), 217-234. https://doi.org/10.1177/1461444809341440

2. Selected Book Chapters/Commissioned Research Reports

Fung, Timothy K. F. & Griffin, R. J. (2025). The Risk Information Seeking and Processing Model. In T. Sellnow, D. Sellnow, R. Freihaut, Y. Xu (Eds.). Encyclopedia of crisis management. Edward Elgar Publishing.

Fung, Timothy K. F., & Chun, W. T. (2018). Intervention evaluation report for “My Family Doctor” promotional video. A Commissioned Research for Primary Care Office, Department of Health, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government.

Fung, Timothy K. F., Yuen, Y. Y., Wong, L. K. (2017). Factors influencing the adoption of family doctors among young adults: A focus group study. A Commissioned Research for Primary Care Office, Department of Health, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government.

Zhao, X. S. & Fung, Timothy K. F. (2014). New developments in political communication. In J Hong. (Eds) Current trends in Communication Research II. Tsinghua University Press. [In Chinese]

Fung, Timothy K. F., & Scheufele, D. (2013). Social norms, spiral of silence, and framing effect: How social norms influence the way we respond to opinion disagreement and mediated messages? In W. Donsbach, C. Salmon, Y. Tsfati. (Eds) The impact of the spiral of silence theory: New perspectives on communication and public opinion. Taylor & Francis. |Listen to Podcast|

Fung, Timothy K. F., Vraga, E., & Thorson, K. (2010). When Bloggers Attack: Examining the Effect of Negative Citizen-Initiated Campaigning in the 2008 Presidential Election. In L. L. Kaid & J. A. Hendricks (Eds.). Techno-Politics and presidential campaigning: new technologies, New Voices, New Voters. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers. |Listen to Podcast|

Awards/Grants/Honors

1. Honors and Awards

Top Faculty Paper Award, Communicating Science, Health, Environment, and Risk
Division Association for Education in Journalism & Mass Communication (2021, 2018)

Article of the Year Award, Communicating Science, Health, Environment, and Risk
Division, Association for Education in Journalism & Mass Communication (2020)

Research Impact Case, 2020 Research Assessment Exercise, University Grant Council
Title: Persuasive health communication research changed health promotional
practice and increase Hong Kong’s organ donation registrants
https://impact.ugc.edu.hk/case-study/uoa29-hkbu-impact-case-study-002

School/Faculty Performance Award in Scholarly Work, the President’s Award Scheme, HKBU (2019)

Knowledge Transfer Award Nominee Finalist, Knowledge Transfer Committee, HKBU(2015, 2019)

Outstanding Performance in Scholarly Work, School of Communication, HKBU (2018)

Knowledge Transfer Award, Knowledge Transfer Committee, HKBU (2017)

Top Three Faculty Papers, Communication Theory & Methodology Division, Association
for Education in Journalism & Mass Communication (2015)

2. Research Grants

Principal investigator, Research Impact Support & Enhancement Fund, HKBU (2021)

Principal investigator, Initiation Grant for Faculty Niche Research Areas, HKBU (2020)

Principal investigator, Primary Care Office, Department of Health, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government (2017)

Principal investigator, General Research Fund (GRF), University Grant Council (UGC), Hong Kong (2015, 2020)

Co-investigator, General Research Fund (GRF), University Grant Council (UGC), Hong Kong (2016)

Principal investigator, Knowledge Transfer Partnership Seed Fund, HKBU (2015, 2017)

Co-investigator, Knowledge Transfer Partnership Seed Fund, HKBU (2013)

Principal investigator, Faculty Research Grant II, HKBU (2017, 2016, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011)

Principal investigator, Faculty Research Grant I, HKBU (2016)

3. Teaching Grant

Principal investigator, Service-Learning Mini-Grant Grant, HKBU (2019)

Co-investigator, Service-Learning Mini-Grant Grant, HKBU (2020, 2021)

Knowledge Transfer/Community Outreach/Research Impact Projects

1. Project Title: Mitigating doctor shopping phenomenon among parents of young children: A narrative persuasion approach

External Partner: The Boys’ & Girls’ Clubs Association of Hong Kong, Hong Kong College of Family Physicians

Health Promotional Videos:

(a) Explainer Video: Family Doctor Healthcare Model
(English Subtitle: https://youtu.be/3inmENNnGFQ)
(Chinese Subtitle: https://youtu.be/S2GccGuz_3Q)

(b) Narrative-based Video: Family Doctor Healthcare Model (https://youtu.be/nAKYwZxpob8)

2. Project Title: A micro-movie to promote the adoption of family doctors among young adults

External Partner: Department of Health, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government

Health Promotional Videos:
(a) Announcement of Public Interest/Public Service Announcement: Family Doctor Healthcare Model Promotion (Hong Kong Government Youtube Channel: https://www.isd.gov.hk/eng/tvapi/17_md296.html)
(Editor Edition: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8bGFSd0UI8Y)

(b) Narrative-based Promotional Video: Family Doctor Healthcare Promotion (Hong Kong Government Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vJ4bfAg65QA)
(Editor Edition: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qpfO235Dgtw)

3. Project Title: Enhancing youngsters’ willingness of family discussion on organ donation by using narrative animation

External Partner: Hong Kong Society of Transplantation

Health Promotional Animated Video: “Say Your wish, Save a Life” Center for Health Protection Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AiVZaRdYy5Y) **Knowledge Transfer Award

4. Project Title: Peritonitis Prevention among Patients undergoing Peritoneal Dialysis

External Partner: Renal Companion Association

Health Promotional Video: Counterfactual-based Narrative Persuasion Animation (https://youtu.be/TZFLL715NLQ)

Related Research: Fung, Timothy K. F. (2019). The role of counterfactual thinking in narrative persuasion: Its impact on patients’ adherence to treatment regimen. Health Communication, 34(12), 1482-1493. https://doi.org/10.1080/10410236.2018.1500432

Service to Academic Community

Division Head (2022-2023), Communicating Science, Health, Environment and Risk (ComSHER) Division, Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication

Associate Editor (2023 – Present), Science Communication [SSCI Indexed, Impact Factor: 9.0]

Editorial Board Member (2022 – Present), World Medical and Health Policy [SSCI indexed, Impact Factor: 4.1]

Editorial Board Member (2019 – 2023), Environmental Communication [SSCI Indexed, Impact Factor: 2.7]