Intl. media pros explore short‑video innovation in SZ

More than 30 media professionals from developing countries visited the Shenzhen News Group (SNG) on Tuesday, seeking to learn from China’s rapid advancements in digital storytelling and artificial intelligence as the global news industry pivots to video.

The visit was part of the Seminar on Short Video Creation and Communication for Developing Countries hosted by the Ministry of Commerce. 

The participants, from countries including Cambodia, Egypt, Kenya, Panama, and South Africa, represent broadcasting and digital news institutions grappling with a universal industry shift toward digital content.

Visitors photograph exhibits during a tour of the New Media Building of Shenzhen News Group yesterday. Photos by Wang Haolan except otherwise stated

During the session, the group engaged with representatives from the group’s English-language newspaper, Shenzhen Daily, and its multilingual platform, EyeShenzhen. Discussions focused on short-video content planning, AI-powered production tools, and strategies for multi-platform distribution.

A member of the media group reads Shenzhen Daily while others explore the New Media Building during their visit yesterday. Zhang Yu

Melissa Hollow, media manager for BRICS Africa Channel in South Africa, said her purpose was “to elevate knowledge” and to leverage this knowledge to develop her channel’s potential, forge partnerships, and share the acquired information with her audience in Africa through a mutual exchange.

“Having this discussion in terms of understanding the AI generated content and how it’s actually composed is very exciting,” Hollow told Shenzhen Daily during an interview. She was also impressed by SNG’s growth trajectory after learning its history.

Carlos Vidal, a multimedia journalist for 45-year-old Panamanian newspaper La Prensa, said his company is urgently trying to diversify beyond print. He described the discussion as “a really, really enlightening experience because we are trying to start something that we see that you have already dominated.”

Members of the visiting media group engage in a discussion with representatives from Shenzhen Daily and EyeShenzhen during their visit yesterday.

A key topic was the industry-wide challenge of training traditional reporters to become video journalists. SNG is undergoing a reform requiring all reporters to acquire video skills.

Both international guests saw long-term value in this mandate. Vidal argued that it forces journalists to become the “faces of their own brand,” which builds trust and accountability in an era of online misinformation.

“If someone finds out that you said some misinformation, they know who said it because they have your face now,” Vidal said. “I believe that it raises the bar for objective reporting.”

Hollow noted the practical need, especially to reach youth audiences in South Africa. “They are all on TikTok, and it’s just quick,” she said. “So we need to be able to be trained and skilled to be able to tell our stories in 1 to 3 minutes.”

Two members of the media group take selfies during their visit to the New Media Building yesterday.

Beyond the newsroom, the visitors expressed strong positive impressions of Shenzhen itself. Hollow compared Shenzhen’s beauty to Cape Town, South Africa, with its high-rise buildings and ocean views. Vidal, from a country of 4 million people, was struck by the city's scale and the kindness of its residents.

“The people have been extremely nice, extremely welcoming,” Vidal said. “It says a lot about the quality of the people that live here.”

“I love Shenzhen. I love the technology, the people, and the food,” said Agendri Naidoo, from the Durban University of Technology in South Africa. “You have the state-of-the-art technology, and here you offer a nice study of AI applications.”

More photos by Wang Haolan and Zhang Yu: