BEIJING - Chinese journalists and news organizations have been told to improve awareness of the national situation with better coverage of grassroots stories.

Liu Yunshan, head of the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, made the remarks at a forum held Thursday on a campaign designed to improve journalists' working styles and get more grassroots voices heard through news reporting.

The campaign was launched in August 2011.

Li Changchun, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, said in a written instruction to the forum that journalists should gain more "first-hand experience" in the campaign and write more meaningful and attractive stories that show people's genuine concerns and have the greatest relevance to their lives.

He also said that the campaign should be carried out on a long-term basis.

Representatives of officials and journalists from the country's major news organizations attended the forum.