On the evening of November 7th, the 30th-anniversary academic lecture series of the School of Journalism and Communication at Nanjing Normal University was successfully held in Lecture Hall 102 of the New Media Building. The school invited Chairman Zhou Yuemin, former President and Party Secretary of Xinhua Daily Press and current Chairman of the Jiangsu Provincial Journalists Association, to share his professional experiences with students. With multiple roles—including former dean of the school and a member of the first cohort of journalism students at the university after the reform and opening-up—Chairman Zhou delivered a theoretically profound and practically valuable presentation titled "Embracing Your Uniqueness," drawing from his extensive industry experience. The lecture was chaired by Professor Liu Yongchang, with active participation from graduate students across all academic years.

The core of the presentation revolved around "Ten Ways to Create Distinctive Journalism." Chairman Zhou systematically deconstructed these approaches using multiple award-winning examples from the China News Awards. During the interview segment, he emphasized that local media should dig deep into grassroots levels to unearth unique resources. For instance, Jiangsu Broadcasting Corporation's "The Life Bridge of the Cableway Girl" won a China News Award due to the journalist's in-depth experiential reporting, underscoring the importance of thorough interviews in producing high-quality work. At the same time, he reflected on the insufficient dissemination of typical local reports, pointing out that the core issue lies in the lack of in-depth interviews and inadequate "footwork, insight, and critical thinking."

Additionally, Chairman Zhou proposed that journalists must possess the ability to "create something out of nothing," using thought-provoking ideas to elevate the depth of their reports. He stressed the importance of crafting stories that blend emotion and logic, capturing touching details, enhancing themes through creative planning, and revitalizing content with innovative formats. Amid the ongoing media convergence, he emphasized the need to uphold the principles of journalistic integrity and maintain the journalist's role as the primary agent of reporting.

During the Q&A session, when asked about public interest oversight entries for the China News Awards, Chairman Zhou explained that although the number of submissions in this category has decreased in recent years, the number of recommended works has continued to rise. He noted that print media have also delivered impressive performances, proving that significant achievements are possible with sufficient emphasis. He further clarified that public interest oversight reporting is not negative by nature; instead, it is constructive. The awards evaluation process, he stressed, should balance both positive and oversight reporting to encourage media outlets to actively fulfill their supervisory responsibilities.

In response to students' concerns about the application of AI technology, Chairman Zhou remarked that a balance must be struck between practicality and innovation in technological development. While AI can be used to optimize reporting formats, it must never interfere with content creation, as this could deviate from mainstream values and public interests. He also pointed out that AI lacks emotion, thought, and stance, making it incapable of replacing human journalists. When utilizing AI and other technologies, it is crucial to clearly recognize their strengths and limitations, continuously seeking a balance through practical experience and theoretical exploration.