Over 300 media leaders from the Global South gathered in Xi'an this week to tackle one of today's most pressing questions: How can media foster trust and unity in a divided world? 🌐 The event, co-hosted by the Global South Media Partnership Mechanism and the 13th Global Video Media Forum, highlighted media's power to reshape perceptions—and why it matters now more than ever.
The Power of Perception
From Walter Lippmann's "pictures in our heads" to Marshall McLuhan's "the medium is the message," speakers revisited classic theories with a modern twist. 📸💬 Media doesn't just report reality—it creates it by framing what people see, feel, and believe. As one attendee noted: "Every headline is a building block for global understanding—or misunderstanding."
Beyond Profit: Media with Purpose
While Western media often prioritizes profit and influence, Global South leaders proposed a new vision: using storytelling to bridge cultural divides and spotlight shared goals like sustainable development. 🌱 "We're not here to sell ads," said a panelist from Kenya. "We're here to build narratives that connect farmers in Ghana to tech innovators in Indonesia."
The forum closed with a call for "coherence over conflict"—urging media to highlight humanity's interconnected struggles, from climate action to digital equity. 🤝 As TikTok trends and AI tools reshape communication, attendees agreed: The next generation of storytellers holds the keys to a more empathetic world.
