In brief
In an interview with Xinhua in Berlin on 8 November, junge Welt co‑editor‑in‑chief Nick Brauns said German audiences need more in‑depth, human‑centred reporting on China to understand its economic transformation and global role. He stresses the importance of direct dialogue—especially with peoples in the Global South—and explains that AI should serve journalism, not replace writers. The comments came ahead of the 7th World Media Summit in Beijing, which Brauns views as a platform for such exchanges.
In Berlin on 8 November, Xinhua interviewed Nick Brauns, co‑editor‑in‑chief of the German daily junge Welt, about the need for deeper, human‑centered coverage of China ahead of the 7th World Media Summit set for 5‑9 November in Beijing.
Brauns said many Germans desire a clearer understanding of China’s history, economic rise and increasing influence on the world stage. "Germans want to know why the Chinese economy has become so powerful and why Chinese electric vehicles are increasingly competitive in international markets," he told Xinhua. He noted that most of Germany’s current perception of China is drawn from mainstream media coverage and government statements, which he believes offer a limited view of the complex factors behind China’s development.
He argued that reporting on foreign countries should involve listening directly to the voices of people in those societies. "Direct contact helps us challenge one‑sided narratives and understand other societies in their full complexity," Brauns said. He added that this approach would also give greater attention to the perspectives of the Global South, which he says remain underrepresented in Western media.
"Human beings write for human beings."
These words came while Brauns was speaking about the role of artificial intelligence in journalism. He said that at junge Welt AI can be used for translation and research, but the newspaper maintains a clear principle that human writers remain the core of the news cycle. He emphasized that AI should be “a tool, and it should be a tool that we also control. It should not be more than that.”
Throughout the interview, Brauns highlighted the shared interest across different political systems and media roles in understanding the world’s economic and political changes. He described the World Media Summit as an occasion where professionals from diverse social systems can exchange experiences and deepen collective understanding.
Hostname Xinhua quoted Brauns saying, "We work in different political systems and have different roles and responsibilities. But we share an interest in understanding the world and its economic and political changes." He sees the summit as a crucial platform for forging this cooperation.
Leading up to the summit, Brauns announced that junge Welt will participate in the event, hoping to broaden the paper’s coverage and foster dialogue with journalists and audiences from China and the Global South. The 7th World Media Summit will take place in Beijing from 5 to 9 November, gathering media professionals worldwide to discuss the future of journalism in a changing global landscape.
