20 Years in Journalism: From Manual to Digital Age

Having been involved in journalism for over 20 years, I have witnessed many significant changes in the profession, seeing the dramatic transformation from manual reporting to the digital age and now the era of artificial intelligence (AI).

Journalist Ngoc Thu, Deputy Head of the Legal , Life and Reader Relations Department of Dong Nai Newspaper (third from the left), discusses professional matters with reporters in the department. Photo: Le Duy

Each era brings its own pressures and challenges, but in my opinion, to stay committed to journalism, one always needs a sense of responsibility, dedication, professional integrity, and a willingness to innovate and adapt to the demands of the job in each period.

The early period was difficult.

Having started my career at Dong Nai Newspaper in early 2005, I, along with many senior reporters from the 70s and early 80s generations, were considered part of a group of journalists honed in challenging conditions. At that time, the internet was not yet widespread, and Google's search features were limited. Searching for legal information and data needed for articles relied heavily on books, newspapers, and printed materials in libraries.

I spent over 10 years as a reporter covering reader complaints for the Readers' Section (later the Legal, Life and Readers' Section of Dong Nai Newspaper). I remember that back then, writing an article verifying reader complaints was very difficult. A single case required contacting many relevant agencies and conducting on-site verification in remote areas; some cases involved traveling hundreds of kilometers, and even then, it couldn't be completed in a single day, taking several days to gather information. Not only was the travel arduous, but even writing the article required a lot of time spent researching and comparing relevant legal regulations. However, it was precisely that arduous period that instilled in me a sense of caution, meticulousness, and a serious work ethic.

From the mid-2010s onwards, technology began to develop. The internet became widespread, and Google's features improved significantly. During this time, I worked as a reporter covering various fields: politics (activities of the People's Council, administrative reform, propaganda), and healthcare. These were vast areas of information with extensive specialized knowledge. Searching for documents and information on Google saved me time, expanded my sources of information, and allowed me to react more quickly to the flow of news.

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I quickly adapted, becoming proficient in using the internet and Google's tools to write news articles and process information and images quickly and efficiently. However, speed comes with the pressure of constant updating, requiring reporters to be not only fast but also accurate, objective, and present news in an engaging and attractive way to attract readers in both print and online media.

Overcoming challenges from social media and digital technology.

In 2018, I was assigned by the Editorial Board to head the Legal Department, which at that time had 7 members. In 2019, when Dong Nai Newspaper merged with Dong Nai Labor Newspaper to form Dong Nai Newspaper, the Legal Department merged with the Reader Relations Department to form the Legal - Life and Reader Relations Department (with 8 members). At this time, digital technology and social media were developing rapidly, and I and the other members of the department received strong support from technology but also faced many challenges.

The abundance of information on social media is a significant pressure for journalists. Many members of my team have to work intensely and under high pressure to review, verify, and authenticate information in order to provide timely and accurate news, and to guide public opinion on breaking news in the area. We use social media as a tool to support our information sources, but to ensure accuracy, we still have to verify information from relevant authorities. Thanks to this, information related to security and order, traffic safety, fires, etc., occurring in Dong Nai province is reported quickly, accurately, and in a timely manner by Dong Nai Newspaper, guiding public opinion.

Recently, AI has become a powerful tool for journalists – from drafting and translating to creating multimedia content and analyzing data. However, the pressures of the AI ​​era are considerable. While the tool can generate content in seconds, journalists are required to surpass the machine: they must deliver quality, depth, humanity, and an independent perspective. Fake news and misinformation generated by AI also pose a significant challenge, demanding journalists to verify information more carefully than ever before.

In the face of new pressures, I believe that to continue pursuing a career in journalism, it is crucial to constantly hone one's skills, uphold journalistic ethics, and learn to master technology instead of being controlled by it. Furthermore, focusing on studying specialized knowledge and legal regulations to improve content quality and develop a profound, humane perspective is essential for every journalist in their pursuit of genuine journalism in an era driven by AI.

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Ngoc Thu

Source: https://baodongnai.com.vn/xa-hoi/202506/20-nam-lam-bao-tu-thu-cong-den-thoi-dai-so-4100a06/