Digital-Era Philanthropic Communication as a Catalyst for Social Progress

The 15th Shanghai Digital Public-Service Advertising Forum & 3rd Brand China (Fudan) Forum, co-hosted by the Fudan School of Journalism, the Shanghai Advertising Association and Fudan’s National Center for Cultural Innovation, was held recently at Fudan University. Convening nearly 80 scholars and industry leaders from more than 20 universities nationwide, the event took “Human-Centered, AI for Good” as its theme.

Chen Gang, head of the Academic & Education Committee of the China Advertising Association and dean of Peking University’s School of Journalism and Communication, offered a systematic mapping of the overlaps and distinctions between public-interest and philanthropic communication, arguing that in the digital age the two have become a key engine of social advancement. Meng Jian, director of Fudan’s National Center for Cultural Innovation, warned against technological alienation in the algorithmic era, insisting that public-service ads should help citizens arrive at stable value judgments. Only when intelligent communication is married to philanthropic values, he concluded, can technology become a civilising force that promotes all-round human development.

(Social Sciences Weekly, Issue 1985, Page 4, Jan. 15th)