Media urged to strive for innovation and effectiveness

Media organizations should prioritize innovation and focus on creating impactful and effective content, said industry professionals and experts attending a conference in Changsha, China on Tuesday.

Media need to incorporate new technology into news production, as rapid advancements in information technology have ushered in profound transformations in the media industry, the experts said at the two-day 2024 China New Media Conference.

The conference, organized by the All-China Journalists Association and Hunan provincial government, opened on Tuesday in Changsha, in Central China's Hunan province.

The conference featured six parallel forums, focusing on content innovation, international communication, social responsibility, technology application and digital culture.

Li Wensha, head of China Daily's Feature Department, shared how China Daily portrays significant themes through minor narratives, or specific examples, at the international communication forum. She also showcased how the media group has actively explored new production and models that are empowered by AI.

John Ross, senior researcher at the Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies at Renmin University of China, claimed in a video speech that Western media has misunderstandings about the changes in China. Communication is necessary to avoid drawing incorrect conclusions based on erroneous information, he said.

In the future, China can enhance the credibility of international communication by continuing technological innovation and global outreach, Ross added.

James White Opuku, the deputy editor -in-chief and anchor of the Ghana Mango channel in Africa, said that the Ghana Mango channel provides objective information about China, explores a comprehensive e-commerce model that integrates television shopping, e-commerce platforms and new media promotion.

Besides the forums, the China New Media Technology Exhibition, a key component of the China New Media Conference, showcased how technology empowers the advancement of media integration.

At the exhibition hall, located in the Hunan International Convention and Exhibition Center, innovative technologies such as artificial intelligence and XR were displayed, showcasing how new technologies are driving innovation in the media industry.

Hundreds of representatives from the publicity departments, central and local governments, media outlets, websites, colleges, and research institutions attended the conference.