Save it! 6 major directions, 5 key points, the "Fifteenth Five-Year Plan" reporting guide is here

Introduction

During this year’s Two Sessions, the 14th National People’s Congress approved the “14th Five-Year Plan” outline.

The “14th Five-Year Plan” not only clarifies the country’s strategic intentions and highlights government priorities but also provides a coordinate and direction for media news reporting.

During the “14th Five-Year Plan” period, what is the main theme of mainstream media coverage? Based on the content of the “14th Five-Year Plan” outline, what key topics can the media focus on? What issues should be paid attention to during reporting?

Recently, the Media Tea Talk convened experts to offer advice on how media can effectively cover the “14th Five-Year Plan” news.

High-Quality Development as the Main Theme

“High-quality development is the primary task in building a modern socialist country.” The “14th Five-Year Plan” outline explicitly states that promoting high-quality development will be the theme, and achieving significant results in high-quality development will be incorporated into the economic and social development goals for the “14th Five-Year Plan” period.

Additionally, statistics from the Media Tea Talk show that the phrase “high-quality development” runs throughout the “14th Five-Year Plan” outline and is a frequently used term, appearing a total of 37 times.

Chen Haigang, Editor-in-Chief of China Economic Times, believes that the “14th Five-Year Plan” places “achieving remarkable results in high-quality development” at the top of the seven main goals, involving several key areas, setting the overall tone for media coverage. When interpreting economic and social policies or analyzing industrial and local development paths, media should frame them within the context of high-quality development, explaining and projecting how to respond to external uncertainties with confidence in high-quality development.

“Focusing on high-quality development, the ‘hard truth’ of this new era, is the core mainline that economic reporting in the media must anchor.” Zhu Keli, a renowned economist and founding director of the National Research Institute of New Economy, told the Media Tea Talk. This mainline runs through various fields such as industrial upgrading, technological innovation, reform and opening-up, green development, and people’s livelihood security. Media should develop content closely aligned with development realities, respond to current concerns, and demonstrate professional value.

Six Key Topics

Accelerating the construction of a new development pattern is a strategic foundation for promoting high-quality development. Centered on this mainline, media can focus on the following key topics:

1. Cultivating New Quality of Production Capacity

New quality of production capacity is the new engine for high-quality development. The “14th Five-Year Plan” outline proposes “leading development with new development concepts, developing new quality of production capacity according to local conditions,” and “deepening integration of technological innovation and industrial innovation to continuously generate new quality of production capacity.”

Zhu Keli suggests that media should prioritize cultivating new quality of production capacity as a core topic, conducting in-depth reports on the ten new industries and sectors outlined in the plan, focusing on cutting-edge fields such as artificial intelligence, embodied intelligence, biomanufacturing, low-altitude economy, and green hydrogen energy.

Specifically, Zhu believes that media should track breakthroughs in technological R&D, practical implementation paths in industries, and corporate innovation initiatives. They should interpret the internal logic of moving new technologies from laboratories to industrialization, showcasing the vitality and significant achievements in cultivating new quality of production capacity. Additionally, media should explore vibrant practices of technological innovation and industrial integration, paying attention to investments in basic research and breakthroughs in key core technologies, making reports vivid records of technological independence and witnessing industrial transformation—highlighting the role of science and technology as the primary productive force.

2. Breakthroughs in Key Technologies

Significant improvements in technological self-reliance and self-strengthening are important development goals during the “14th Five-Year Plan” period. The plan emphasizes rapid breakthroughs in key core technologies in major fields, producing a batch of major original, landmark, and leading scientific and technological achievements, with increasing instances of leading the field.

Huang Wenfu, former editor-in-chief of China Industry and Commerce Times, states that the “14th Five-Year Plan” elevates technological self-reliance to an unprecedented level. Media topics should focus on how technology transforms into real productive forces. For example, coverage could explore the “Compute and Power Coordination” and the construction of the national integrated computing power network. Topics might examine how the “East Data, West Computing” project could reshape the economic landscape like the “South-to-North Water Diversion” project, and how computing power could become a universally accessible productive resource like hydropower.

Li Biao, chief editor of the Macro Channel of Daily Economic News, analyzes that as economic and social development progresses, the value of technology increases. Breakthroughs in key areas can lead not only to industry revolutions but also to shifts in overall economic trends. For instance, the emergence of artificial intelligence could overturn development logic across many industries. Future topics worth attention and planning include embodied intelligence, large models, low-altitude economy, aerospace, biomanufacturing, and brain-computer interfaces.

Zhu Keli recommends that media should explore vibrant practices of technological innovation and industrial integration, focus on the latest progress in basic research and key core technologies, and make reports vivid records of technological independence and industrial transformation—highlighting the role of science and technology as the primary productive force.

3. Empowering People’s Livelihood under the “Investing in People” Orientation

The “14th Five-Year Plan” emphasizes the close integration of investment in physical assets and human capital. “Investing in people” refers to directing more fiscal funds and public resources toward education, employment, healthcare, and social security, investing in enhancing people’s abilities, maintaining health, developing careers, and unlocking potential. This drives high-quality economic development through consumption potential release and human capital improvement.

Chen Haigang notes that among the 20 main indicators across five areas in the plan, the highest proportion is in people’s well-being, with seven indicators accounting for over one-third of the main indicators. The plan also dedicates two chapters to actively addressing aging populations and building a birth-friendly society. The shift from “investment in physical assets” to “investment in people” warrants ongoing deep attention.

Huang Wenfu suggests that the concept of “investing in people” being fully established is a new policy idea for the “14th Five-Year Plan” period and a rich source of topics that resonate with the public. Media can translate macro policies into stories close to people’s lives. For example, coverage could focus on “urban and rural income increase plans,” showing how property income and improved salary systems help increase household income; or explore topics like “spring and autumn school holidays” and “paid staggered leave for workers,” analyzing how increased leisure time boosts the service industry; or report on housing guarantees for newly married and newly parent families, fertility subsidies, and local measures to reduce costs of childbirth, parenting, and education.

4. Industrial Upgrading Based on the Real Economy

The real economy is the foundation of a great nation and an essential support for future strategic advantages. The “14th Five-Year Plan” emphasizes focusing on developing the real economy, accelerating the building of a manufacturing powerhouse, quality powerhouse, aerospace power, transportation power, and cyber power.

While traditional industries are often covered, Huang Wenfu suggests that media should highlight cases of “old trees sprouting new shoots”—how traditional manufacturing is upgrading through “intelligent transformation, digitalization, networking.” For example, reporting on an established factory transforming through the construction of a “smart supply chain,” shifting from “stock shortages” to “demand prediction.”

5. Green and Low-Carbon Transformation

The “14th Five-Year Plan” outline emphasizes green development concepts, highlighting “low-carbon” requirements. The plan proposes prioritizing conservation, strengthening policy incentives, and guiding society to participate actively, accelerating the green and low-carbon transformation of development modes. It advocates for simple, moderate, green, low-carbon, civilized, and healthy lifestyles and consumption patterns.

“Clear waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets,” Zhu Keli states. “People’s livelihood is the fundamental purpose of development.” Topics on integrating green development with people’s economy are also worth focusing on. Regarding the promotion of the “dual carbon” goals, media should pay attention to the development of green and low-carbon industries, the green transformation of traditional industries, and the practical exploration of ecological protection and economic development, showcasing new forms and paths of economic growth under the green development concept.

Among the 20 key indicators for economic and social development during the “14th Five-Year Plan,” eight are constraint indicators, including five related to green and low-carbon development. The plan also aims to reduce CO2 emissions per unit of GDP by 17%, and for the first time, replaces “good air quality days” with “PM2.5 concentration” as a core indicator. It also proposes measures such as a tenfold increase in non-fossil energy, building a number of clean energy bases, and developing new energy storage. Chen Haigang believes that the balance between “reducing” and “adding” offers abundant and profound reporting resources, making it a key direction for media coverage.

6. Regional Coordinated Development and Reform & Opening-up

Regional coordinated development and the deepening of reform and opening-up are also important topics. Zhu Keli suggests that media should focus on major regional strategies such as the integration of the Yangtze River Delta, the construction of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, and coordinated development of Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei. Reporting should highlight regional industrial collaboration, factor flows, urban-rural integration, showcasing how different regions leverage comparative advantages, break down development barriers, and work together to promote coordinated development.

Chen Haigang also emphasizes the importance of paying attention to regional development and local practices, including the construction of a unified national market, promoting regional coordination, local strategies for developing new quality of production capacity, institutional innovations, and how major economic provinces take the lead and solve new problems through research and experience.

Regional coordinated development and reform and opening-up are mutually reinforcing and internally unified. Reform and opening-up provide institutional motivation and mechanisms for regional development, while regional development expands the space and depth of reform and opening-up, jointly serving high-quality development and Chinese modernization goals.

Zhu Keli states that media should focus on building a high-standard market system, reforming factor market allocation, and high-level opening-up. They should explore real practices such as optimizing the business environment, cross-border trade innovation, and the development of foreign-invested enterprises, interpreting new reform measures that inject vitality into economic growth. This will vividly demonstrate China’s firm commitment to expanding openness, allowing readers to see the openness and inclusiveness of the Chinese market and truly feel the dividends brought by reform and opening-up.

Five Key Precautions

1. Upholding Accuracy

To ensure the accuracy, depth, and dissemination power of reports related to the “14th Five-Year Plan,” especially economic coverage, media must first adhere to the bottom line of accuracy, resolutely avoiding deviations in policy interpretation and errors in content expression.

Li Biao states that media should base their reports on the original policy documents, rely on authoritative releases, and avoid arbitrary distortions or misinterpretations. Key information and important data should come from credible sources, traceable and verifiable, ensuring precise expression.

Zhu Keli advises that journalists need to carefully study the original plan, grasp the policy connotations, core points, and implementation requirements word by word, accurately understand technical terms, development goals, and measures, and avoid taking things out of context or one-sided interpretations. For core content and key statements, involving policy research experts or industry veterans for review can help establish a multi-layered content review mechanism.

2. Avoiding Homogenized Reporting

Many media outlets are covering the “14th Five-Year Plan,” but to stand out, they must avoid homogenization. Combining their own positioning to create differentiated topics is essential.

Zhu Keli suggests that media should move beyond simple “policy excerpt + brief interpretation” dissemination. They can focus on core issues and hot social concerns, conducting in-depth field investigations and industry chain tracking, digging into the development logic, historical background, and practical demands behind policies. Using diverse formats such as in-depth analysis, series reports, and thematic interpretations can help readers deeply understand the core of the plan and its practical pathways, making reports a window for interpreting development and inspiring thinking, thus enhancing their ideological and guiding value.

Practically, central media can focus on national cases and macro policy explanations, while local media should leverage regional characteristics, focusing on local advantageous industries and people’s livelihood initiatives. Topics like “local traditional industry digital transformation” or “implementation of people’s livelihood policies” are suitable. Financial media can emphasize industry and investment perspectives, while lifestyle media focus on changes in people’s lives.

3. Combining “Constructive” and “Problem-Oriented” Approaches

Objectively and rationally analyzing development is a fundamental journalistic principle.

Zhu Keli recommends that media should balance positive publicity with problem orientation, emphasizing a holistic view and systemic thinking. They should report on positive practices and achievements in implementing the plan across regions and sectors, showcasing opportunities and potential for economic and social development during the “14th Five-Year Plan.” At the same time, they should objectively address challenges and problems, avoiding avoidance or exaggeration, analyzing causes, tracking solutions, and playing a role in supervision and policy advice to promote effective problem-solving.

Huang Wenfu emphasizes that economic reports should “stabilize expectations and strengthen confidence.” They should highlight achievements and opportunities, telling China’s economic story well. Confidence, however, should not be blind optimism. When reporting on “technological breakthroughs,” they should also reflect difficulties and challenges; when discussing “high-quality population development,” they should acknowledge structural issues like aging and low birthrates and explore solutions, demonstrating the media’s constructive role.

4. Balancing “Macro” and “Micro” Perspectives

“Don’t just pile up grand words like ‘new quality of production capacity’ and ‘high-quality development.’ Follow the principle of ‘big theme, small entry point.’” Huang Wenfu advises that media should break down the grand goals of the “14th Five-Year Plan” into detailed “fine brushwork.” For example, when reporting on “expanding domestic demand,” avoid only citing data; instead, reflect the vitality of a county’s market or a community shop’s business changes to illustrate the policy.

Li Biao believes that macro policy coverage should progress from policy to industry, then to enterprises and individuals. This ensures the policies are effectively implemented. When reporting individual cases, look for industry commonalities and trend signals.

5. Emphasizing Popularized Expression

Media should continuously strengthen the authority and accessibility of policy interpretation, transforming professional planning content into language that the public can understand and that the market can use, ensuring policy spirit reaches grassroots and becomes ingrained in people’s minds.

For example, terms like “sandbox regulation,” “patience capital,” and “compute and power coordination” are highly technical. Media has the responsibility to interpret these in simple terms, using vivid metaphors or cases to help ordinary audiences understand their impact on daily life and investment.

Chen Haigang reminds journalists to avoid dry data analysis and concept explanations. They should be accurate and objective but also lively and vivid, enhancing user awareness, improving writing style, and transforming official language into language accessible to the public. A good writing style reflects the media’s commitment to correct governance and performance.

(This article is reproduced from the Media Tea Talk)

Cover image source: Meiri Media Asset Library