Recently, the 2024 Asia & Pacific Broadcasting Union Media & Culture Day was held in Guangzhou, bringing together more than 30 Chinese and international media practitioners from Europe and Asia to discuss the role of public service media in creating and conserving living cultures.
The event was jointly organized by the Organizing Committee of the Guangzhou International Documentary Film Festival (hereinafter referred to as GZDOC), the Asia & Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU), and Radio Romina.
Taking the forms of roundtables, presentations, and sharing sessions, the guests shared their insights on the designated theme, bringing diverse perspectives from different cultural backgrounds.
Guests listening to the discussion (Photo: GZDOC)
AI and the changes that it brings about in media became a hot subject in the discussion. Many guests shared their practices of using AI in program production. Tian Mei, a producer and director at China Media Group, took ‘The 2024 China AI Gala’ as an example to share how AI was incorporated into the planning, research, and visual representations of a program.
While many media practitioners were determined to embrace AI, Asuncion Gomez Bueno from RTVE in Spain took radio dramas as an example and pointed out that although new technologies may change the forms of radio drama, it is in human voices and human stories where the soul of radio drama lies.
From their perspectives, the guests shared their insights on the important role of media in public life and cultural inheritance. Florin Brusten, the Regional Secretary General of Radio Romania, believes that broadcasting not only serves as a bridge to connect people within a community but also as a window for the younger generation to learn about the world.
Fan Xuan from China Media Group highlighted the power of storytelling in media, emphasizing its role in giving new life to history and bringing cultural heritage to a wider audience. Media should not only preserve culture but also inspire public appreciation and affection for traditions.
Guest visiting the Guangzhou Documentary Center (Photo: GZDOC)
The day wrapped up with a visit to the Guangzhou Documentary Center, which showcases GZDOC's development in China over the past 20 years, its contributions to cultural exchange and the documentary industry, and the vital role of documentaries in preserving and sharing cultural heritage.
Reporter | Chen Siyuan
Photo | GZDOC
Editor | Hu Nan, James, Shen He
