If you've just arrived in China, there's something you'll eventually come to realize. Within China's collectivist spirit, you do have a competition of sorts. City versus city. Region versus region. They compete. Not for survival, but for excellence. It's fast. It's intense. For identity. For the future.

And Shanghai? Of course, Shanghai carries itself with a certain unbothered poise. The kind that doesn't need to shout, because the results speak for themselves.

Now, we're living through one of the most transformative moments in media history. The shift is real. It's global. The old rules are gone. Communication is being reimagined – and the digital shift isn't just ongoing. It's accelerating. And in the middle of this, a Shanghai-based outfit just walked away with an actual award for doing something right.

That outfit? It's us – City News Service.

We built CNS around a simple idea: serve people. Specifically, English speakers – in and outside China – who are connected to its bellwether capital of finance, tech and fashion. What's promising is that CNS' rise began just three years ago, in November 2022, with a vision: one platform, everything in one place – real information, smart tools, meaningful connection.

And now, we've been recognized. At the 2025 China Newspaper Innovation and Development Conference, CNS was named a leader in integrated media communication.

It's a proud moment. Not just for us. But for Shanghai and its quest to become ever more international.

One more note in Shanghai's ledger. One more reason, perhaps, to pay attention.

This is just the beginning.

CNS started with a simple idea: What if we could reimagine how a city speaks to its international residents, and to the world? What if global residents didn't just live in Shanghai – but felt truly connected to it?

That's the spirit behind CNS.

Launched by the Information Office of Shanghai Municipality and brought to life by Shanghai Daily, CNS is more than a platform. It's a bridge – between languages, cultures and people. It combines powerful storytelling with real-time information. Lifestyle, public services, breaking news – all in one seamless, multilingual platform. And soon, CNS will be branching out into more useful services and features.

The CNS's inclusion in this year's list of "Innovative Media Cases of 2025," curated by China's National Press and Publication Administration, highlights its role in redefining how cities connect with global communities through digital media.

"It's not about how many stories we publish or how many times we convey official announcements," said Gao Xing, Deputy Editor-in-Chief and General Manager of Shanghai Daily, during a forum titled "Telling China's Stories, Strengthening Civilizational Dialogue."

"What matters isn't just what we create, but how we create it. It's about truly understanding the people we're speaking to. Have we taken the time to listen to what our international audience really cares about? Have we carefully built a shared context, and created a space where stories can come alive? One thing we've heard over and over from international residents in Shanghai is how the narrative around China feels disconnected from the lives they live here. And that's exactly why we're doing this. We're not just building a platform; we're building a new way of seeing life in China. A place where you can discover what it's really like to live in Shanghai, explore what this amazing city has to offer, and meet the creators who are shaping it. We're making Shanghai not just livable, but inspiring. We're bridging cultures and redefining Shanghai as a lens into China's future. And most importantly, we're giving those who live here the stage to share their own unique stories with the world."

Gao emphasized that in the current global media ecosystem, credibility has overtaken volume. "The challenge today isn't about who's the loudest," he said. "It's about who's trustworthy. Telling China's story well means it has to resonate beyond our own borders. Dialogue isn't one person speaking – it's two people willing to exchange ideas."

CNS operates with five stated missions: to spotlight the lives of Shanghai's diverse residents, to provide city guides and practical tips, to offer policy news and real-time updates, to centralize access to public services, and to foster international community-building. By combining media content with public service tools, the platform positions itself not only as a digital media outlet, but also as an indispensable daily companion for English speakers navigating life in Shanghai.

The broader conference echoed CNS's forward-looking vision. Over 700 representatives from major publishing houses, government agencies, and media platforms attended the event, which was themed "Driving Systemic Transformation, Advancing Smart Media Development." Attendees emphasized the need to embrace mobile-first, social, video-based, and AI-powered strategies in news production and delivery.

Other notable entries on this year's innovation case list include Shanghai United Media Group's "AI Super Platform," recognized for digital technology application, and Jiefang Daily's large-scale multimedia feature "Faith's Journey II: The Way of a Nation," awarded in the category of content innovation.

Participants were called to push the boundaries of media, to rethink how we operate, how we create, and how we lead. The mission is clear: reform media operations, produce content that matters, and build the next generation of talent ready to lead in the all-media age.

As CNS evolves, its recognition at this national forum is a clear sign of a shift – a shift towards multilingual, inclusive storytelling. It's about creating media that doesn't just speak, but listens, media that connects, inspires, and brings people together. That's the future we're building.