SISU Media Scholars Explore Innovations from Shanghai to Chongqing

 

By Lv Yuhao

Translated by Lin Liuhan

 From July to August, a research team from the School of Journalism and Communication at Shanghai International Studies University (SISU) visited Shanghai Media Group (SMG), Shanghai United Media Group, and the Chongqing Western International Communication Center to study how China’s mainstream media are adapting to the challenges of global communication and content innovation.

 On July 30, the team met with SMG’s International Communication Center, DocuChina, and Yicai Global. A key initiative of SMG is its overseas social media network. By sharing experiential reports from international journalists in Shanghai, it has successfully projected a more approachable image of the city, gaining significant traction and interaction among viewers in Europe and America.

 On August 5, the group visited Shanghai United Media Group to learn about three of its international-facing platforms: Shanghai Daily, Sixth Tone, and IP SHANGHAI. Shanghai Daily brings together news, city narratives, and business insights on its City News Service platform for the expatriate community. Sixth Tone transforms in-depth features into engaging visual snippets for platforms like Instagram, captivating a global youth audience. Meanwhile, IP SHANGHAI champions visual storytelling, collaborating with creators to jointly build a shared digital gallery of the city.

 On August 7, the researchers visited the Western International Communication Center in Chongqing. The center is actively showcasing Chongqing's appeal through a series of dynamic initiatives. It has launched platforms like iChongqing and Bridging News, produced compelling video series such as Chongqing: The BRI Gateway, and teamed up with global influencers like IShowSpeed to broaden its reach. Innovatively, it has also piloted AI-generated content, collaborating with the Three Gorges Museum on a fresh take of the 24 Solar Terms series.

 The field study provided first-hand insights into how Chinese media are experimenting with international outreach, content formats, and new technologies. The findings will inform academic research and teaching at SISU, while also offering case studies that connect classroom learning with industry practices.

 The field research team was headed by Fan Juan, Secretary of the Party Committee of SJC, and Yan Yining, Associate Dean of the school, They were accompanied by Zheng Chuang, Head of the Department of International Journalism and Communication, Lv Nan, Head of the Department of Online Journalism and New Meida, and Lu Xinyu, a faculty member from the Department of Advertising.