Revolutionary journalism in the digital age

Hanoi Moi Newspaper respectfully introduces the opinions of some leaders of Party press agencies in provinces and cities on quickly grasping and proactively applying modern technology, creating new advances in information and propaganda work.

Journalists working at a major event. *Photo: Nhat Bac*

Journalist Hoang Dang Khoa - Editor-in-Chief of Hue Today Newspaper:
“Small fortress” holds the ideological ground in the digital age

In the era of strong digital transformation, Party newspapers play a particularly important role, like capillaries that penetrate deeply into each residential area and each community, directly connecting the Party with the practical life of the people. Local Party newspapers are the first places to reflect the breath of life right from communes, wards, and residential groups; they are the ones who honestly record the changes in the development of new rural areas and civilized urban areas; they are the voices of the most ordinary people but also carry within them the greatest aspirations for change and progress.

When social networks spread information at a dizzying speed, when fake news and false information threaten to distort social awareness, local Party newspapers have even greater significance, both as a force protecting the Party's ideological foundation right from the grassroots and as a person keeping the true rhythm, persistently fostering people's trust in the path of innovation.

Therefore, local Party newspapers need to be seen not only as local media units, but also as key links in the Party's propaganda system, as "small fortresses" in the strategy of maintaining the ideological battlefield amid the storms of the digital age; linking the Party's ideas with the people's hearts, contributing to creating a professional - humane - modern Vietnamese revolutionary press in the new era.

For Hue Newspaper today - formerly Thua Thien Hue Newspaper, entering the digital era, the Editorial Board has determined that digital transformation is not simply about equipping more equipment, opening more distribution channels, but is a fundamental change from the mindset of content production, organizing the journalism process to the way of interacting with readers.

On that basis, we have built a convergent editorial model with a systematic multimedia production process, diagrammed the working steps, and clearly assigned tasks to each department, from reporters, editors, technicians, and standardized appropriate formats on each distribution channel. With that process, each product is no longer an "independent unit" as before (just one printed article), but is moving towards a model of "one content - many platforms".

In the process of digital transformation, what Hue Newspaper is always concerned about today is that along with technology, preserving and promoting the identity is the soul of the newspaper. Digital transformation must be used as a lever to spread more strongly the unchanging values of the Party newspaper - such as Party spirit, humanity, closeness and companionship with the people.

Journalist Tran Van Duc - Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Bac Giang Newspaper:
Cooperation and association between Party newspapers in the trend of integration and development

Digital transformation creates opportunities for the press to reach global readers faster and more widely, overcoming traditional geographical limitations; having conditions to produce multi-platform content; at the same time analyzing user data to better understand readers' needs and behaviors, thereby personalizing content; saving costs, optimizing editorial operations. However, the challenges are not small. The press faces constant pressure to innovate; the risk of fake news and toxic news spreading quickly in the digital environment; difficulties in attracting high-quality human resources in technology, data and the increasing demand for technology investment in the limited financial conditions of many local press agencies.

In that context, cooperation and association between Party newspapers are not only necessary but have become a vital requirement. Cooperate to share technology platforms, save resources; cooperate to share news sources, images, data, enriching official information; cooperate to improve professional capacity, catch up with the trend of multi-platform journalism; cooperate to link media, increase dissemination; cooperate to foster a team of journalists with adequate qualities and skills in the digital age.

Recognizing the role of cooperation and association in the trend of integration and development, Bac Giang Newspaper always pays attention to expanding cooperation, coordination, exchanging professional skills and journalism experience with central and local press agencies in many fields, from applying technology, building editorial management models, designing information processing software to coordinating information exchange, propaganda... Thereby, Bac Giang Newspaper improves the professional qualifications and working capacity of the journalism team; promotes the application of modern technology in information production; effectively propagates the achievements in all fields of the province; at the same time, promotes the potential and strengths of the locality, bringing the image of Bac Giang to domestic and international readers; contributes to building a modern, upright, humane press system, accompanying the country into the new era.

Journalist Nguyen Viet Ba - Editor-in-Chief of Thanh Hoa Newspaper:
All conversion activities must be aimed at reader satisfaction.

Digital transformation is the path that press agencies “must take” to affirm their role, position, and dominate the information market and readers in the context of flourishing digital media and fierce competition as today. Fully aware of this issue, along with innovating the editorial model, Thanh Hoa Newspaper has actively implemented the digital transformation policy to all staff, reporters, and technicians; regularly organizes training courses to improve modern, multimedia, and multi-platform journalism skills; and builds a team of journalists who understand and are proficient in using technology to create different types of journalism.

The newspaper focuses on innovating its approach to readers by innovating existing works and press products; at the same time, launching new columns and new products distributed on many technology platforms. Thanh Hoa Newspaper's work is urgent, but also very cautious, with the view that readers must be the center of the transformation process, all transformation activities must aim at readers' satisfaction.

However, the digital transformation journey of local-scale journalism still faces many difficulties and challenges. Notably, how to develop three platforms at the same time, including a newsroom management platform; a platform for analyzing information and public opinion to promptly develop digital content that is suitable for the psychology and reception trends of the public; and a platform to support attack prevention, protection, and emergency response for the information system of media agencies.

This is a difficult “problem”. The solution lies not only in the efforts of each press agency but also in the support and assistance from the Party Committee and the government in creating conditions for press agencies to access official data sources, participate in digital transformation projects, thereby truly keeping up with the flow of modern information, affirming the position and stature of prestigious media units not only locally but also in the region.

Journalist Nguyen Tat Thang - Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Phu Tho Newspaper:
Have a clear strategy that prioritizes multimedia content

Changes in the reading habits of the Vietnamese public require Party newspapers to adjust their strategies, prioritizing the development of online presence and multimedia content to meet the needs of readers in the digital age. The shift from traditional print newspapers to online newspapers and other diverse platforms is not only a technological adaptation but also a strategic requirement for these agencies to maintain their role, influence and perform well their assigned political tasks.

Despite proactive implementation and significant progress, Phu Tho Newspaper as well as Party newspapers still face many challenges and difficulties in the digital transformation process. One of the biggest obstacles is the shortage of financial, technological and human resources. Many newspapers, especially local ones, have difficulty investing in modern infrastructure and equipment.

In addition, the lack of highly qualified personnel in digital management, digital operations and multi-platform content production is also a significant challenge. The skills of many reporters and editors in applying technology and software are still limited. In addition, the need for innovation in thinking, especially at the leadership level, is also an important factor but sometimes not given due attention. The incomplete and inconsistent legal and policy framework also causes certain difficulties.

Another equally important challenge is the issue of generating revenue and ensuring financial sustainability in the digital environment. Many newspapers still rely heavily on state budgets and traditional advertising revenue, while revenue from digital platforms is limited.

Ensuring information security and combating false and hostile information in cyberspace is also an increasingly urgent and challenging task for Party newspapers.

Journalist Mai Duc Thong - Editor-in-Chief of Tuyen Quang Newspaper:
Applying technology, artificial intelligence and big data to content production

With the motto "wherever readers are, Tuyen Quang Newspaper is there", in addition to publishing newspapers in traditional ways, Tuyen Quang Newspaper has promoted publishing on social platforms such as Facebook, TikTok, YouTube, Zalo, creating a strong spread. Currently, Tuyen Quang Newspaper has applied AI to image processing in print newspapers, graphic design, reading podcast news, creating MC videos to present news and news on electronic newspapers and digital platforms; using AI applications to find topics, support the development of discussion scripts and other editorial work. The application of AI has shortened the production time of multimedia products, has many suggestions and found rich topics. The application of Big Data in the content production process is in progress.

Digital transformation opens up a new direction with countless opportunities for Tuyen Quang Newspaper in particular and Party newspapers in general, but they also face difficulties. To overcome challenges and make the most of opportunities from digital transformation, technology, AI and big data, Party newspapers need to have drastic solutions and actions. That is, they need to have a long-term vision, prioritize investment in modern technology platforms, suitable for the characteristics of Party newspapers; focus on training and fostering staff, reporters, and editors in digital skills, knowledge of AI and big data; have policies to attract and retain talent in the field of technology and digital communications.

Party press agencies need to strengthen cooperation and share experiences in digital transformation, technology application, AI and big data. Joint workshops and training courses can be organized to improve the capacity of the entire system.

Journalist Hoang Chung Thao - Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Bac Kan Newspaper:
Improving the political capacity and skills of journalists in the new era

In the process of digital transformation, Bac Kan Newspaper focuses on improving the political capacity and professional skills of its journalists, gradually meeting new requirements. However, facing the increasing demands of information and propaganda work in the digital age, the reporters and editors of Bac Kan Newspaper still face difficulties and limitations, mainly in terms of skills in electronic journalism, multimedia journalism and the ability to handle sensitive information, which is sometimes confusing...

I believe that in today's era, every reporter and editor needs to constantly practice political qualities and at the same time hone modern journalism skills. Journalists must proactively learn and update new knowledge about journalism skills, especially multimedia journalism, data journalism, investigative journalism; improve their ability to exploit and process multimedia information, and master tools and software for digital content production.

Press agencies must innovate their thinking and build a spirit of mastering new technologies by promoting the application of digital technology in the press production and distribution process; proactively approaching and testing new digital media platforms (podcasts, short video platforms, AI applications supporting journalism, etc.).

In particular, every journalist must always maintain professional ethics and act for the noble goal of serving the people and the cause of building and developing the homeland.