ICRC, Xinhua News Agency and Fudan University host Content Creators Forum on humanitarian storytelling and empathy
On 3 June 2026, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Xinhua News Agency and Fudan University jointly organized the inaugural Content Creators Forum, titled ‘Humanity Online: Empathy in Times of Crisis’ in Shanghai. The event was also supported by Bilibili, one of China’s leading video platforms, and Shanghai Branch of the Red Cross Society of China. The event was the first of its kind dedicated to content creators and humanitarian communication.
The event brought together nearly 100 journalists, independent content creators, students and faculty members of leading schools of journalism, and experts from international organizations, PR agencies and digital platforms.
As social media continues to shape how people perceive and engage with global events, participants examined both the opportunities and challenges of digital communication. While online platforms can help audiences connect with people affected by conflict, disasters and other crises, misinformation, disinformation, hate speech and sensationalized content continue to undermine public understanding and trust.
In his opening remarks, Chen Zhimin, Vice President of Fudan University, highlighted the vital role of content creators, independent video producers and journalists as “translators” and “amplifiers” of empathy in times of crisis. He underscored Fudan University's efforts to cultivate international communication professionals, calling for greater collaboration among media professionals, creators, scholars and international organizations to inspire humanitarian storytelling characterized by warmth, depth and responsibility.
Boris Kelecevic, acting Head of the ICRC Regional Delegation for East Asia, noted that as China’s role in global affairs continues to expand, Chinese media organizations, universities and digital creators are increasingly well positioned to help audiences move beyond headlines and stereotypes to better understand humanitarian realities.
“This forum is therefore not only about communication and storytelling. It is about responsibility. It is about how we create more informed, compassionate and constructive conversations in the digital space,” he added.
Yang Jing, Director of the Institutional Development Division of the Information Office of the Shanghai Municipal People's Government, emphasized that content creators have a responsibility to use passion, courage and wisdom to explore and communicate humanity’s pursuit of a better life.
The forum featured three panel discussions examining digital storytelling, conflict reporting and practical approaches to empathy-driven communication.
The first panel, Making Distant Suffering Visible: Building Empathy through Digital Storytelling, explored how humanitarian crises happening far away from China can generate more resonance and traction in heavily crowded digital landscape. Participants agreed that compelling stories grounded in reality have the power to generate empathy across borders.
The second panel, Reporting Conflict in the Digital Age: The Responsibility and Reach of New Media, focused on the responsibilities of journalists and content creators in an increasingly fragmented information environment. Speakers discussed the challenges posed by misinformation, shrinking public attention spans and the difficulty of communicating complex international issues across cultural contexts.
The third panel, When Compassion Meets Storytelling: Lessons from the Field of Digital Influence, examined how humanitarian stories can resonate with audiences in the digital age. Speakers highlighted the value of connecting global issues with personal experiences through examples and anecdotes.
Across the discussions, a common theme emerged: responsible storytelling can help bridge distances, counter misinformation and deepen public understanding of humanitarian challenges. Whether through traditional journalism, digital platforms or independent content creation, participants stressed the importance of maintaining factual accuracy while ensuring that the human impact of crises remains visible.
In his closing remarks, Najum Ul Saqib Iqbal, Head of Communications at the ICRC Regional Delegation for East Asia, noted the strong interest among media professionals, researchers, digital platforms and content creators in advancing humanitarian communication. He emphasized that collaboration among journalists, content creators, humanitarian workers and academics will become increasingly important in a rapidly evolving digital information environment. He reaffirmed the ICRC’s commitment to promote more informed, inclusive and human-centered public discourse.
