Initium Media Debuts Its Inaugural In-Depth News Podcast in Mandarin Chinese

Initium Media is set to launch Initium Reports, its first news podcast and a groundbreaking venture into Mandarin podcasts. Hosted by Editor-in-Chief Lulu Hui Ning, and Senior Editor Allison Jing Yang, the show is fueled by Initium Media’s award-winning newsroom. New episodes will be released every Wednesday and Friday at 12 pm GMT/UTC+0 starting on March 20, 2024. “Initium Reports” will be available on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and all major podcast platforms, as well as on theinitium.com and mobile app “The Initium Media”.

Each episode of “Initium Reports” will delve into one big news story and one idea, featuring a conversation with Initium Media’s editors, correspondents, or contributors. The show unfolds a compelling and insightful narrative that encapsulates the news story, its context, and the overarching idea, incorporating voices from the field and individuals within the story. The aim is to help the audience comprehend the news and grasp its relevance.

With the new podcast, Initium Media aims to connect Chinese-speaking communities worldwide through audio journalism and storytelling. “The founding of 'Initium Reports’ is driven by a simple yet profound idea—we envisioned a podcast that, in our own language, tells the vital stories that hold significance for us,” says Lulu Hui Ning, Editor-in-Chief of Initium Media. “With 'Initium Reports,' we aspire to provide clear narratives for our listeners, articulated by knowledgeable correspondents and editors. This provides an immersive experience through informative storytelling. Through these stories, we hope to gradually paint a vivid picture of the voices, figures, and situations shaping our times.”

“Initium Reports” signifies Initium Media’s trailblazing entry into the realm of audio journalism, introducing Mandarin-speaking listeners to an unprecedented audio experience. This new podcast sets itself apart from the Chinese podcast landscape. Diverging from traditional news bulletin or roundtable chat shows, it adopts narrative journalism to underscore the storytelling essence of news reporting. The goal is to offer Mandarin-speaking podcast audiences a fresh and distinctive experience, filling a void in this format.

Jin Ding, CEO of Initium Media, says, “Through its short-form and storytelling style, 'Initium Reports’ marks Initium Media’s first venture into audio journalism. In the future, Initium Media plans to expand its horizons by delving into audio investigating and developing long-form series. Moreover, Initium Media seeks to bring together Chinese-speaking audio journalists, editors, and producers, fostering a vibrant community dedicated to Chinese-language audio journalism.”

Starting March 20, “Initium Reports” will be accessible to both subscribers and new audiences, enriching Initium Media’s current offerings and providing an accessible and engaging introduction to its journalism for those new to the brand.

About Initium Media

Established in Hong Kong in 2015, the Initium has emerged as one of the world’s most influential Chinese independent media organizations. Serving the global Chinese-speaking community with comprehensive and independent news coverage, the Initium successfully garnered over 70,000 subscribers worldwide after introducing a subscription model in 2017. In 2022, the company relocated its headquarters to Singapore and has since been operating globally.

As an exclusive provider of in-depth, long-form investigative reports in Simplified and Traditional Chinese languages, the Initium bridges diverse cultures and regions, unique perspectives, coupled with a history of trusted and credible journalism. Beyond news delivery, the publication fosters global understanding and stimulates conversations among Chinese-speaking communities, transcending geographical and political divides.

The newsroom’s achievements have been recognized with over 100 international journalism awards, including 48 Society of Publishers in Asia (SOPA) Awards.