SZU freshmen get a lesson in modern journalism

Thirty English freshmen from Shenzhen University visited Shenzhen News Group in June and came away with a clear message: Journalists today must be “hexagonal warriors” — versatile, creative, and ready to work alongside AI, not be replaced by it.

Shenzhen University students pose for a group photo at the New Media Building. Photo provided to Shenzhen Daily

The tour began on the first floor of the New Media Building in Futian District, where an exhibition traced the group’s journey from the reform and opening‑up era to its latest AI-powered innovations. A large screen showed an AI digital human delivering a flawless news broadcast — no pauses, no mistakes — leaving the students deeply impressed.

On the 21st floor, the visitors stepped into a virtual studio room. A massive LED screen displayed real-time news data, refreshing continuously. The room was dimly lit, with only the glow of the screen casting blue light across the students’ faces. For a moment, the class sat in silence, absorbing the dynamic flow of live information.

“It felt like standing at the command center of the news world,” one student later remarked.

During a following meeting with Shenzhen Daily staffers, the students fired questions — including how print media can coexist with short videos and social media. They were told that with the rising popularity of digital platforms, traditional newspapers may seem less appealing, and this shift is inevitable. However, that does not mean print media has become redundant.

Shenzhen News Group, they learned, is undergoing a deep transformation from a traditional newspaper conglomerate into a “modern intelligent media group.”

Asked what qualities young journalists need today, Han Ximin, assistant to the editor-in-chief of Shenzhen Daily, said, “We need versatile talent — like hexagonal warriors.” In the past, strong writing sufficed. Now a journalist must write, shoot, edit, conduct interviews, and speak a foreign language. “These abilities are indispensable,” he said. “Humans still set the framework. AI helps fill in the content. The role of the human brain is irreplaceable — and creativity is what is most scarce in the AI era.”