China Leads Media Revolution with Over 1.1 Billion Internet Users and AI-Driven Journalism
In addition to technological advancements, China's media sector has experienced significant employment growth.
BEIJING: China has firmly established itself as a global leader in the media and internet sectors, as reported in the 54th China Statistical Report on Internet Development. By June 2024, the country reached nearly 1.1 billion internet users, marking a penetration rate of 78%. This growth has been coupled with significant advancements in China’s media landscape, where digital and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies are reshaping the entire industry.
China’s news media has evolved into a data-driven, intelligent, and platform-based industry, with over 3,600 internet news service units offering more than 14,000 licensed services, including websites, apps, and public accounts. This has enhanced the omni-media communications system, positioning China at the forefront of digital media innovation.
The thriving print media sector, with 26.01 billion newspaper copies printed in 2023, continues to support the country’s media industry, which generated a total output value of 3.15 trillion Yuan, reflecting an 8.38% increase from the previous year. The newspaper publishing industry alone brought in 61.66 billion Yuan in revenue, fueled by advertising, circulation, and digital operations. Moreover, the national radio, television, and online audiovisual sectors earned over 1.4 trillion Yuan, marking a substantial 13.74% growth.
Generative AI (AIGC) is playing an increasingly important role in China‘s media revolution. The market for AI applications is expected to reach 20 billion Yuan in 2024 and surpass one trillion Yuan by 2030. This technology is enhancing content creation, real-time reporting, and personalized audience engagement. Media organizations are investing heavily in AI-powered tools, integrating them with film, television, and music to foster innovative collaborations.
In addition to technological advancements, China’s media sector has experienced significant employment growth. In 2023, the newspaper publishing industry employed 184,000 professionals, and the broader media sector contributed over one million workers to the development of radio, television, and online audiovisual services. As of October 2024, China had 230,585 accredited journalists who continue to champion ethical journalism and contribute to grassroots reporting.
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The All-China Journalists Association (ACJA) has been instrumental in promoting ethical journalism, journalists’ welfare, and professional development. The association has supported journalists facing injury, illness, or death in the line of duty, with 25.15 million Yuan allocated in the past decade. In 2024 alone, the ACJA published over 580 media social responsibility reports, demonstrating a continued commitment to responsible and ethical journalism.
China’s media industry is setting new standards in digital transformation, embracing cutting-edge technologies like AI, big data, and immersive media to redefine content creation, distribution, and audience engagement. This forward-thinking approach is not only enhancing the efficiency and creativity of media production but also positioning China as a global benchmark for innovation, responsibility, and sustainable media practices.
