In the contemporary digital communication ecosystem, scientific publishing institutions worldwide are increasingly embracing multimedia narratives as a core strategy to innovate dissemination approaches of research outcomes. This shift not only accelerates the transformation of scientific achievements into socially impactful knowledge, but also plays a critical role in enhancing public scientific literacy and fostering a more inclusive science communication environment. As scientific information grows in complexity and volume, effective dissemination requires more than textual presentation—it demands emotionally resonant, multimodal storytelling that can bridge the gap between academic rigor and public engagement. This paper examines the role of multimedia narrative strategies in enhancing the digital communication efficacy of scientific, technical and medical (STM) journals. It adopts the theoretical framework of “scientific empathy, ” derived from the empathy theory, to illustrate how emotional resonance—alongside factual accuracy—can enhance the accessibility and trustworthiness of science. The concept of “scientific empathy” encompasses both cognitive empathy (enabling rational comprehension of scientific content) and emotional empathy (fostering emotional connection and engagement with scientific ideas). This paper argues that successful digital science communication should strategically integrate both dimensions to reduce barriers to scientific understanding and to cultivate sustained public interest in science. To ground this analysis, this paper compares international and domestic practices in digital science communication, with a particular focus on Nature as a paradigmatic case study. As one of the world’ s leading STM journals, Nature exemplifies how multimedia narratives can be designed to reach broad and diverse audiences. The journal has developed a matrix-based layout of digital channels—including YouTube, Bilibili, Twitter, and WeChat—each tailored to distinct audience segments and platform-specific communication styles. Through multi-modal content formats, such as short-form videos, animated explainers, and researcher-led storytelling, Nature adapts its communication strategy to user preferences and platform dynamics. Moreover, Nature employs empathetic narrative techniques that create immersive, emotionally engaging experiences. These include first-person accounts from scientists, problem-driven story structures, and the use of metaphor and personification. Such techniques lower the threshold for public understanding and generate emotional resonance, helping demystify complex topics and strengthen affective ties between science and society. Building on these findings, this paper proposes three strategic optimization pathways for Chinese STM journals aiming to enhance their digital communication impact. First, a “technology-content-experience” paradigm should be developed by integrating VR/AR and AI technologies to increase interactivity and immersion. Second, STM journals should cultivate community-driven ecosystems that promote social engagement and participatory knowledge production, including user co-creation and crowdsourced science storytelling. Third, localized narrative strategies should be emphasized to enhance scientific empathy, by aligning content with the cultural values, linguistic patterns, and cognitive habits of Chinese audiences. Ultimately, this paper advocates transforming Chinese STM journals from traditional, text-centric publishers into dynamic, multi-dimensional communication hubs. This transformation is essential for amplifying the visibility and influence of Chinese scientific research and for advancing broader goals of scientific literacy and emotional identification with science in the digital age.