(Recast) Xinhua, AP pledge to jointly cope with new media challenges

Xinhua News Agency and The Associated Press (The AP) pledged here on Sunday to further enhance their innovative cooperation in the digitalization of traditional media.

Xinhua President Cai Mingzhao and AP CEO Gary Pruitt made the pledge on the sidelines of the third World Media Summit (WMS) that is held in the Qatari capital of Doha.

Cai said Xinhua and The AP have already made numerous explorations in digital migration for media groups, adding that Xinhua values very much its cooperation and exchanges with The AP in the face of their common challenges from the Internet.

Since 2015, Xinhua has made a number of experimental attempts, including introducing robot systems to draft news stories and launching on-scene news via Xinhua's application on mobile phones, which has already enabled reporters to do live reporting with hand-held devices, Cai said.

He also said what Xinhua is trying to do is to bring readers closer and closer to the scene where news is happening, yet there are always limits to today's news coverage, whether it is in the form of texts, pictures or videos, adding that they expect to enhance their cooperation with The AP in media innovation.

For his part, Pruitt said The AP has observed and admired the innovation at Xinhua and how much Xinhua has done to integrate and bring digital platforms to it.

He said The AP recognizes the needs for innovation, and is looking forward to deepening its partnership with Xinhua. Endit