SHENZHEN has launched a competition for original literature suitable for reading on mobile phones.
People can log on to http://zt.oeeee.com /10086 to upload pieces of no more than 500 words, before Dec. 17.
The organizing committee will select 10 of the pieces that attract the most readers online between Dec. 17 and 27.
A judging panel will select the top three pieces between Dec. 28 and 29.
The competition s sponsor, China Mobile (Shenzhen), will upload the winning pieces to its mobile reading platform, allowing people to read them on their mobile phones, the Southern Metropolis Daily reported yesterday.
Reading using mobile phones is a new trend with great potential and influence. There are 800 million mobile phone users in China, said Yu Guomin, vice dean of the School of Journalism and Communication of Renmin University.
Yu suggested mobile phone operators recommend books to users via their mobiles.
The competition is part of the city s 10th Reading Month activities.
Shenzhen will apply for the title of UNESCO World Book Capital City in the next few years, according to a 10-year (2011-2020) guideline unveiled at the Reading Month launch ceremony Nov. 1.
Under the guideline, the city aims to have at least 75 percent of the population reading at least one hour a day, paving the way for World Book Capital City application.
UNESCO s World Book and Copyright Day was launched in 1996. Madrid in Spain was nominated the first World Book Capital City in 2001. There is no monetary prize, but the title is a symbolic acknowledgement of the best program dedicated to books and reading.
Ljubljana in Slovenia won the title in 2010 and Buenos Aires in Argentina in 2011.
(Martin Li)
