Traditional media's integration with new media in China picked up speed last year, according to a report released by the All-China Journalists Association on Dec 21. 

Media organizations proactively deployed new technologies and applications, including 5G and artificial intelligence, in major news reporting, leading to a significant improvement in the country's integrated communication capabilities, the report said.

It is the fifth annual report on journalism development in China released by the association.

The report also said that the country's media organizations employed more than 1 million people last year, with more younger media workers with better educational backgrounds.

The association granted 3.78 million yuan ($577,000) in financial assistance to 89 journalists in need last year, it said.

The association, the country's de facto journalism ethics watchdog, revised the professional code of ethics for Chinese journalists last year, making more efforts to strengthen the media's sense of social responsibility.

The report was compiled by the association in cooperation with the School of Journalism and Communication at Renmin University of China.