News reports on provincial leaders should be less than 1,500 characters, according to a new regulation released by authorities in North China's Shanxi province in an effort to improve working style.

Shanxi Daily reported on Wednesday that the provincial government has asked local news media to cut the length of news reports about government officials, in an attempt to reduce formalism and bureaucracy.

Broadcast reports on the Party chief should be no longer than three minutes, the report said.

The local government asked news media to cover leaders based on news value and importance.