Ever wondered how media shapes your world? 🤔 Last week in Xi’an, Shaanxi Province on the Chinese mainland, around 300 media pros from across the Global South gathered at the 13th Video Media Forum (VMF) to tackle this big question: What’s the real power and purpose of media in our super-connected world?
The Power of Pictures
Back in the day, American journalist Walter Lippmann called our beliefs “the pictures in our heads.” He meant that we rarely experience everything firsthand—instead, we live through images and stories that media creates. Influential thinker Edward Bernays took it further in his book Propaganda, saying that those who shape public opinion are like an “invisible government.” Then Marshall McLuhan reminded us that “the medium is the message”: each new tool (print, radio, TV, now social platforms) doesn’t just share info—it changes how we think and feel.
From Selling Stuff to Building Trust
In many Western markets, media often becomes a tool for selling—whether it’s products, ideas, or celebs. But the Global South has a chance to flip that script. Instead of just chasing clicks and ad dollars, media here can be a force for trust, community and meaningful change. Imagine Thai eco-vloggers sparking real conservation efforts, Indian web series giving voice to underrepresented stories, or Filipino vloggers rallying young people around social causes. That’s media with purpose!
Creators from South and Southeast Asia are already rewriting the rules: blending tech and tradition, using TikTok for social good, or launching podcasts that bridge local dialects and global trends. The goal? To knit together our diverse perspectives into a shared narrative of growth, dignity and destiny.
Your Role—As a Creator or Consumer
Whether you’re scrolling Reels, tweeting hot takes or producing your own content, you hold part of this power. 🎥💬 Use it to spotlight real issues, celebrate cultural roots and amplify voices that need to be heard. Let’s build a media ecosystem where trust and collaboration matter more than just views and likes.
After all, when we shape the stories we tell each other, we shape the future we all share. 🌏✌️
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
