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 plan, what key topics can the media focus on? What issues should be paid attention to during reporting?

Recently, the Media Tea Talk held intensive consultations with relevant experts, asking them 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 outline of the “14th Five-Year Plan” clearly states that promoting high-quality development is the theme, and achieving significant results in high-quality development is incorporated into the economic and social development goals for the “14th Five-Year” period.

Additionally, statistics from the Media Tea Talk show that the keyword “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 plan places “achieving significant 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 these 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 Major Topics

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

1. Cultivation of New Quality of Production Capacity

New quality of production capacity is the new engine for high-quality development. The 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 focus on cultivating new quality of production capacity as a core topic, conducting in-depth reports on the ten new industries and tracks outlined in the plan, especially in 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 self-reliance and witnessing industrial transformation—highlighting the core supporting role of science and technology as the primary productive force.

2. Breakthroughs in Key Technologies

Significant improvement in technological self-reliance and strength is a major development goal during the “14th Five-Year Plan” period. The plan emphasizes rapid breakthroughs in key core technologies in priority areas, producing a batch of major original, landmark, and leading scientific 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 focus on the “computing and electricity collaboration” and the construction of a nationwide integrated computing power network. Topics might explore 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, Editor-in-Chief of the Macro Channel of Daily Economic News, analyzes that as economic and social development progresses, the value of technology is increasing. 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 may 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 investments in basic research and breakthroughs in key core technologies, and make reports vivid records of technological self-reliance and industrial transformation—highlighting the core supporting 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 analyzes that among the 20 main indicators set in the plan’s five aspects, the welfare of people’s livelihood accounts for the highest proportion, with 7 items, over one-third of the main indicators. These indicators are more detailed and warmer. The plan dedicates two chapters to actively addressing aging populations and building fertility-friendly societies. 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 topic that easily resonates with the public. Media can translate macro policies into stories close to people’s lives. For example, coverage could focus on how increasing property income and improving salary systems help households grow wealth; or how policies like “spring and autumn school holidays” and “paid staggered leave for workers” can boost tourism and family education. Attention should also be paid to initiatives like housing guarantees for newlyweds and new birth subsidies, highlighting local measures to reduce costs of childbirth, upbringing, and education.

4. Industrial Upgrading Based on the Real Economy

The real economy is the foundation of a great nation and an important support for future strategic advantages. The plan states that efforts should be made to focus on developing the real economy, accelerating the building of a manufacturing powerhouse, quality powerhouse, aerospace powerhouse, transportation powerhouse, and network powerhouse.

While traditional industries are currently well-covered in media reports, Huang Wenfu suggests that media should focus on “new sprouts from old trees”—how traditional manufacturing can upgrade through “intelligent transformation, digitalization, networking.” For example, reporting on an old factory that has transformed by building a “smart supply chain,” shifting from “stock shortages” to “demand prediction.”

5. Green and Low-Carbon Transformation

The “14th Five-Year Plan” emphasizes green development more prominently, highlighting “low-carbon” requirements. The plan proposes prioritizing conservation, strengthening policy incentives, and guiding society to participate actively in green and low-carbon transformation; promoting a lifestyle and consumption pattern that is simple, green, low-carbon, civilized, and healthy.

“Clear waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets, and people’s livelihood well-being is the fundamental purpose of development. The integration of green development and the economy is also a key topic.” Zhu Keli states that, in promoting the “dual carbon” goals, media should focus on the development of green and low-carbon industries, the green transformation of traditional industries, and practical explorations of ecological protection and economic development. This will showcase new forms and paths of economic development under the green development concept.

Among the 20 key indicators for economic and social development during the “14th Five-Year Plan,” 8 are constraint indicators, including 5 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 ten-year doubling of non-fossil energy, building a number of clean energy bases, and vigorously developing new energy storage. Chen Haigang believes that the balance between “reducing” and “adding” offers abundant and profound reporting resources, making it a key focus 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 regional growth.

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 inherently 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 the goal of modernization with Chinese characteristics.

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. Reporting should interpret new reform measures that inject vitality into economic development, fully demonstrate China’s firm commitment to expanding openness, and let readers see the openness and inclusiveness of China’s market, truly perceiving the benefits brought by reform and opening-up.

Five Key Precautions

1. Uphold the Bottom Line of Accuracy

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

Li Biao states that media should base their reports on the original policy documents, rely on authoritative releases, and avoid arbitrary distortions or misinterpretations during interpretation. Key information and important data should come from authoritative 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. Avoid Homogenized Reporting

Many media outlets are covering the “14th Five-Year Plan,” so avoiding homogenization is crucial. Combining media’s own positioning and creating differentiated topics will help stand out in competition.

“Media should move beyond the shallow mode of ‘policy excerpt + simple interpretation’,” Zhu Keli told the Media Tea Talk. 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 requirements behind policies. Using diverse formats such as in-depth analysis, series reports, and thematic interpretations can deepen public understanding of the core meaning and practical paths of the plan, making reports a window for interpreting development and inspiring thinking, continuously enhancing their ideological and guiding value.

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

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

Objectively and rationally analyzing development is a fundamental journalistic principle.

Zhu Keli suggests that media should balance positive publicity with problem orientation, strengthening overall awareness and systemic thinking. They should deeply report positive practices, achievements, and typical experiences in implementing the plan across regions and sectors, fully showcasing opportunities and potential of the “14th Five-Year” period. 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 advice, promoting 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. But confidence should not be blind optimism. When reporting on “technological breakthroughs,” they should also objectively reflect difficulties and challenges; when discussing “high-quality population development,” they should acknowledge structural issues like aging and declining birthrates and explore solutions, demonstrating the media’s constructive role.

4. Balance “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 when reporting macro policies, the focus should be from policy to industry, then to enterprises and individuals, ensuring the policies are implemented. When reporting individual cases, find commonalities within the industry and identify trend signals.

5. Emphasize Popularized Expression

Media should continuously strengthen the authority and accessibility of policy interpretation, transforming professional planning content into language that the public understands and 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 “computing and electricity collaboration” 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. Under the premise of accuracy, reports should be lively and vivid, emphasizing 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