The poster for the 14th Shanghai Television Festival. [File Photo: stvf.com]

A cocktail party scheduled for the opening ceremony of the 14th Shanghai Television Festival was canceled on Monday, and was replaced with a forum on media responsibility.

As this year sees the 50th anniversary of China's TV media, the Shanghai TV Festival will attempt to build a platform to allow more TV workers to review and examine the industry. The move is an effort to improve communication on the social responsibility shouldered by the media, the festival's organizing committee said.

China News Service reported that an extra section will be included in the five-day TV festival starting June 9. Five journalists from CCTV, SMG, Sichuan TV, Shaanxi TV and Gansu TV, who have experienced the devastating earthquake that hit China's southwest in May, will share their experience and discuss the responsibility of media, which have been fully dedicated to quake coverage.

Over 60 TV programs from home and abroad will compete for the Magnolia Awards. These programs include four categories. Prizes will be awarded for best TV series, TV film, documentary, and animation.

Zhang Jizhong, a producer at the China TV Program Center of CCTV, as well as being a well-known director in China, will take the role of jury chairman for the TV series and TV film categories.

Inaugurated in 1986, the Shanghai Television Festival is the only international television competition in China.

(CRI June 10,2008)