Shanghai to support content creators

Shanghai will encourage internet platforms and multichannel networks to sign contracts with high-quality internet content creators from overseas and will streamline visa processing for them, according to a document the city unveiled on Tuesday.

The city will also encourage creators from China and abroad to help promote Shanghai's international image, providing support to showcase Chinese cultural intellectual property globally, the document said. The policy package, comprising nine measures, aims to bolster high-quality internet content creation and foster a healthy industry environment.

The document, jointly released by the publicity department of the Shanghai municipal Party committee and the committee's cyberspace administration, said creators with significant overseas influence would receive support in content production resources, distribution channels and service guarantees.

Authorities expect high-quality online content to play a key role in telling China's stories and showcasing Shanghai to the world. The measures aim to cultivate new cultural productivity and enhance the city's soft power.

"Recognizing the rapid growth of the internet content creation industry, Shanghai remains committed to supporting relevant enterprises and talent, particularly young individuals, in realizing their aspirations within the city," the authorities said in a statement.

"We hope that through stronger policy guidance and support, we'll further the creation of high-quality content on the internet, better promoting mainstream values and cultures," the statement said.

The measures include funding incentives, talent strategies, scene creation and overseas support, targeting a diverse group of creators such as bloggers, signed authors, entrepreneurial teams and influencers with multichannel network contracts.

The city plans to support the establishment of clusters for globally influential internet content in its Huangpu and Yangpu districts.

Authorities cited Huangpu's urban-focused scientific and technological service system, which welcomed 480 new private science and technology enterprises last year. Huangpu is also home to the headquarters of social media platform Xiaohongshu, or RedNote, attracting creators in finance, technology and fashion.

Meanwhile, Yangpu has seen growth in the digital economy, with more than 8,000 digital economy enterprises. Chinese video platform Bilibili's headquarters are located in Yangpu, attracting multichannel networks and other content platforms.

Shanghai's plan also includes providing creators with greater access to public resources and creative spaces and facilitating collaborations with cultural venues, landmark scenic spots, unique neighborhoods, fashion spaces and major exhibitions. The city will support partnerships between State-owned enterprises, mainstream media and content creators.

Content creators expressed optimism about Shanghai's potential as fertile ground for internet content production. A team operating a science popularization short video account with around 2 million followers on Bilibili attributed its rapid growth to Shanghai's policy support, platform resources and enriched surrounding ecosystem.

In an interview with Shanghai-based news portal ThePaper.cn, team leader Ren Mimi said being a creator in Shanghai is like "sowing seeds in luminous soil", where one receives both nourishment and recognition, affirming the meaningfulness of their work.

Tobias Le Compte, a Belgian musician known as Tobias or Gao Yue who shares daily experiences in fluent Shanghai dialect via short videos, said he is interested in promoting Shanghai's image globally and sharing authoritative information through his posts.

"Actually I made some videos about policy promotion previously, including visa-free and transit visa policies. I did this out of love for Shanghai, and I think it's meaningful," said Le Compte, 35, a multi-instrumentalist and chief operating officer of Montreux Jazz Festival China.

"I hope internet content creators from overseas like us will be provided with opportunities to walk in historical buildings in Shanghai to learn more about their stories and make videos for audiences in China and globally," he said. "Also, I hope the authorities can use their resources to forward our posts and videos to make our products more visible."