Participants of the seventh World Media Summit, held in Beijing, adopted the Beijing Consensus. Representatives from media organizations, think tanks, government agencies, as well as international and regional organizations, expressed readiness to cooperate to promote global media in the age of artificial intelligence. The summit took place from November 5 to 9 under the slogan 'Media in the Age of AI: From Consensus to Action.'
The adopted document notes that AI marks a new stage of technological and industrial transformation, changing people's ways of life and work, as well as the broader landscape of global development. Participants pledged to support the responsible and comprehensive use of AI in the media industry, ensuring that technological advancements benefit media organizations in all countries, regardless of their level of development. Furthermore, they called for objective and impartial reporting, efforts to combat disinformation, and the creation of channels for rational dialogue on global issues. Signatories intend to leverage the strengths of media, strengthen consensus among stakeholders, and turn cooperation into tangible results.
During the summit, Xinhua News Agency presented its Global Media Initiative and the Document on the Framework Program for Global Media Cooperation in AI. The agency also demonstrated its AI agent, 'Xinhua Yudian.'
Organization and Scale of the Event
The summit was jointly organized by Xinhua News Agency and the Municipal Government of Beijing. According to the organizers, about 500 representatives from nearly 330 organizations representing 112 countries and regions were invited. Guests included leading media organizations, think tanks, government bodies, the United Nations, and other international structures. The organizers aimed to set a record for the number of represented countries and organizations, as well as the level of delegates.
In the summit's conceptual document, the organizers characterize the international situation as complex and unstable. It defines overcoming development gaps, solving security problems, strengthening inter-civilizational exchanges, and improving global governance as common challenges for humanity. The authors argue that solving these tasks requires not only economic and technological potential but also cultural influence. They view the mission of media as connecting the world, promoting mutual understanding, and forming consensus.
The authors of the document emphasize that intelligent technologies are transforming the entire media workflow, from news gathering and content creation to distribution and management. These technologies can increase efficiency, diversify formats, and expand audience reach. However, the organizers point out that AI generates new challenges, including the spread of disinformation, increased algorithmic bias, and deepening the digital divide. Priorities for international media cooperation are named as technology exchange and capacity building, equal access for Global South countries, and safe, fair, and inclusive AI development.
Key Themes and Areas of Work
The summit program covers five thematic areas. The first is dedicated to AI-based solutions for news gathering, production, and distribution, as well as editorial room management. Participants discussed ways to encourage media organizations and technology companies to share multilingual text corpora, editorial tools, and training materials. Another important issue is ensuring accessible AI services for Global South countries and small media organizations. This session also addresses the topic of human oversight of AI-generated outputs and mutual recognition of standards for data security, content labeling, and algorithmic transparency.
The second theme concerns media cooperation in responding to non-traditional security threats, such as energy and food security, and climate change. Joint reporting and regular cooperation mechanisms for fact-checking, source tracking, and crisis communications are discussed. The third theme explores the role of AI in inter-civilizational interaction. Participants consider the possibility that AI could lead to the erosion of cultural differences and discuss how it can be used to strengthen local narratives and amplify diverse voices.
The fourth theme focuses on global communication governance. Media organizations discuss how they can establish acceptable boundaries for the use of AI agents and the labeling of deep learning-synthesized content. Discussions also cover content traceability, algorithmic transparency, and data security. A question under consideration is expanding the participation of Global South countries in rule-making. The fifth theme, 'Beijing Approach: Decoding China's Modernization,' is based on field visits focusing on the development of Beijing's sub-centers, the preservation of the historical capital, megacity management, and green development.
Among the expected outcomes listed in the conceptual document was the publication of the book 'AI Plus Media: Global Development Report 2026.' Organizers also planned to present a humanoid news anchor, which they called the first in the world. Other planned events included photo exhibitions, a presentation of a book on China's governance, and a digital tour 'China's Solutions for Sustainable Development.'
The World Media Summit was established in 2009 by Xinhua News Agency and several leading global media organizations. Over the past 17 years, six summits and four presidium meetings have been held in China, Russia, and Qatar. Under the auspices of the summit, Global Excellence Awards are presented, media training programs are organized, and charitable journalism initiatives are conducted. Organizers describe the summit as one of the largest global platforms for media cooperation, comparing it to the 'Olympics of Media.'
