In brief
In a live Xinhua interview on 8 November 2026, Nick Brauns urged German media to move beyond surface coverage of China. He urged direct dialogue, listening to Global South voices, and the use of AI as a tool, not a replacement for human writers. Brauns welcomed the 7th World Media Summit in Beijing as a platform to exchange ideas.
In a live interview posted on Xinhua on 8 November 2026, Nick Brauns, co‑editor‑in‑chief of Germany’s daily junge Welt, said that German audiences need a deeper, human‑centered understanding of China and that media should engage in direct dialogue and in‑depth reporting to fill gaps left by mainstream coverage.
Brauns said many Germans are curious about China’s rapid economic rise and its growing international role, but most of that interest relies on German mainstream media and government statements, which offer limited insight into the forces behind China’s development. He stressed that reporting should involve listening directly to the people concerned and paying greater attention to voices from the Global South, which he says remain underrepresented in Western media.
“Direct contact helps us challenge one‑sided narratives and understand other societies in their full complexity,”
He added that the 7th World Media Summit, held in Beijing from 5 to 9 November, provides a valuable opportunity for media professionals from different countries and political systems to share experience and deepen mutual understanding. Brauns welcomed the summit as a platform to spread these ideas.
Turning to artificial intelligence, Brauns said that at junge Welt AI can be used for translation and research, but the newspaper adheres to a clear principle: “Human beings write for human beings.” He emphasized that AI should remain a tool that journalists control and should never replace human writers. He also noted that different political systems give media distinct roles and responsibilities, but all share the goal of understanding global economic and political changes.
