Press faces challenges of consolidation, convergence and digital transformation

On the morning of October 30th, in Quang Ninh, the Center for Journalism Professional Training - Vietnam Journalists Association organized a seminar on the topic "Organizing multi-type newsrooms and managing the quality of journalistic content in the current context." Attending the seminar were leaders from the Vietnam Journalists Association, the Press Department, the Central Propaganda and Mass Mobilization Department, representatives from local departments and agencies, and leaders from central and local press agencies.

Consolidation for Sustainable Development

Speaking at the seminar, Mr. Le Quoc Minh, Member of the Central Committee of the Party, Editor-in-Chief of Nhan Dan Newspaper, Deputy Head of the Central Propaganda and Mass Mobilization Department, and President of the Vietnam Journalists Association, emphasized: The consolidation of local press agencies in recent times is an inevitable step in accordance with the spirit of Resolution 37-NQ/TW and other guiding documents of the Party, aiming to form a more unified, streamlined, professional, and modern newsroom model.

Most recently, on September 23, the Party Central Committee issued Regulation 373-QĐ/TW on the functions, tasks, and organizational structure of press agencies under the Party Committees of provinces and cities, with the goal of streamlining the organizational structure and improving operational efficiency.

This process is not easy, requiring significant effort from both management agencies and local leaders, as well as the team of journalists working directly on the ground. It's not just about organizational structure changes, but also about adjustments in mindset, attitudes, and professional responsibility.

Mr. Le Quoc Minh, Editor-in-Chief of Nhan Dan Newspaper, Deputy Head of the Central Propaganda and Mass Mobilization Department, and President of the Vietnam Journalists Association, speaks at the seminar. Photo: TUNG VAN

"There are newsrooms that have been together for decades, and now need to integrate and work together to create a new image. In that process, there is faith and hope, but also many concerns," shared the Chairman of the Vietnam Journalists Association.

According to him, the consolidation process is not simply about organizational restructuring, but also about a change in the mindset, sentiments, and professional responsibilities of the journalistic team. Last October, the Vietnam Journalists Association organized a series of seminars on this topic in many localities, recording hundreds of valuable contributions, effective models, and specific proposals on human resource training, content management, and the application of digital technology .

Mr. Le Quoc Minh speaks at the seminar. Photo: TUNG VAN

The Chairman of the Vietnam Journalists Association also highly appreciated Quang Ninh province as a pioneering locality in implementing the model of consolidating press agencies, paving the way for modern and professional newsroom management thinking. “I believe that today’s seminar will build on the success of the two previous seminars, while also adding valuable experiences and specific solutions to perfect an effective newsroom model, suitable for the development requirements of the new era,” Mr. Le Quoc Minh emphasized.

The Chairman of the Vietnam Journalists Association also shared the challenges that journalism is facing in the digital age, with many newsrooms experiencing organizational and personnel changes; many leaders of media organizations, after mergers, lack experience in managing multimedia newsroom models. Meanwhile, the rapid development of digital technology and artificial intelligence is putting pressure on journalism to innovate more rapidly than ever before.

Therefore, to adapt, Vietnamese journalism needs to constantly innovate, undergo significant transformation, and remain steadfast in its core values: "Maintaining principles and objectives; ensuring accurate and timely information; and simultaneously organizing and operating the newsroom efficiently – these are increasingly stringent requirements. But it is in challenges that we will find the strength to break through."

Convergent newsrooms: More than just a trend

At the seminar, on behalf of the local government, Mr. Vu Quyet Tien, Deputy Secretary of the Quang Ninh Provincial Party Committee, shared important experiences, emphasizing that consolidation is not just about organizational restructuring, but also about consolidating leadership thinking, journalistic culture, and content management methods; the press must serve as both a propaganda tool of the Party and the State, and a bridge of information, knowledge, and trust between the government and the people. At the same time, journalists need to constantly innovate their thinking, be creative, and improve their skills and political acumen to meet new demands.

Leaders of media agencies and relevant authorities attended the seminar. Photo: TUNG VAN

Meanwhile, Mr. Luu Dinh Phuc, Director of the Press Department, Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, stated that in recent years, both the world and Vietnamese press have undergone a strong transformation. The traditional newsroom model, where print, radio, television, and online media operate independently, is gradually giving way to integrated, converged, and digital models. Therefore, converged newsrooms are no longer a trend but a mandatory requirement for modern media organizations.

Furthermore, convergence is not just a matter of organizational arrangement, but is also closely related to leadership thinking, journalistic culture, and content management methods, thereby enhancing the effectiveness, quality, and dissemination of information in the digital age.

The seminar included discussions on the following topics: Trends in modern newsroom organization in the context of multi-platform and media consolidation; Restructuring the media system - an inevitable trend and the challenge of effective management; Content organization models - from production to distribution in digital newsrooms; Solutions to improve management capacity, foster leadership skills, and operate local media organizations after mergers.

Journalist Nguyen Khac Van, Acting Editor-in-Chief of SGGP newspaper, speaks at the seminar.

Speaking at the seminar, journalist Nguyen Khac Van, Acting Editor-in-Chief of Saigon Giai Phong (SGGP) newspaper, said that the new SGGP newspaper was formed by merging the newspapers of Binh Duong and Ba Ria - Vung Tau. The new Ho Chi Minh City area covers more than 6,700 ^km² , with over 14 million inhabitants and 168 communes, wards, and special zones. Therefore, organizing effective operations for the new SGGP newspaper can only be achieved through a strong digital transformation based on building a converged, multi-platform newsroom. This is the work that SGGP is currently striving to implement.

Journalist Nguyen Khac Van emphasized that applying a centralized, converged newsroom model with a Hub (a center for connecting, collecting, and sharing information) at its center will provide diverse journalistic products across multiple platforms to better serve the public.

Through this forum, leaders and managers of media organizations engaged in frank discussions, shared practical experiences, and sought solutions to improve the quality of information serving the public, contributing to building a professional, modern, and effective Vietnamese press.

KHANH NGUYEN

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/bao-chi-truoc-thach-thuc-hop-nhat-hoi-tu-va-chuyen-doi-so-post820797.html