Press and publishing in the digital transformation "race"

Overview of the National Scientific Conference “Digital transformation of journalism and publishing - Theory and practice”. (Photo: NHAT QUANG)

On the morning of November 30, in Thai Binh , Nhan Dan Newspaper, Thai Binh Provincial Party Committee, National Political Publishing House Truth, Communist Party of Vietnam Electronic Newspaper, Academy of Journalism and Propaganda jointly organized the National Scientific Conference "Digital transformation of journalism and publishing - Theory and practice".

Attending the workshop were Party Central Committee members: Le Quoc Minh, Editor-in-Chief of Nhan Dan Newspaper, Deputy Head of the Central Propaganda Department, President of the Vietnam Journalists Association ; Ngo Dong Hai, Provincial Party Secretary, Head of the National Assembly Delegation of Thai Binh province.

Also attending were: Professor, Dr. Ta Ngoc Tan, Permanent Vice Chairman of the Central Theoretical Council; Phan Xuan Thuy, Deputy Head of the Central Propaganda Department; Pham Minh Tuan, Deputy Editor-in-Chief in charge of the Communist Magazine; Phan Van Hung, Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Nhan Dan Newspaper; Nguyen Thanh Lam, Deputy Minister of Information and Communications; Vu Trong Lam, Director - Editor-in-Chief of the National Political Publishing House Truth; Nguyen Cong Dung, Editor-in-Chief of the Communist Party of Vietnam Electronic Newspaper; Associate Professor, Dr. Pham Minh Son, Director of the Academy of Journalism and Propaganda; leaders and managers of the press and publishing sector; experts in the field of journalism training; leaders of press agencies and publishing units nationwide.

The comrades chairing the workshop. (Photo: NHAT QUANG)

Digital transformation of newspapers and publishing is an urgent task to better meet readers' needs.

Speaking at the opening of the workshop, comrade Le Quoc Minh, Editor-in-Chief of Nhan Dan Newspaper, Deputy Head of the Central Propaganda Department, Chairman of the Vietnam Journalists Association, said that the Fourth Industrial Revolution and the rapid changes in techniques and technology have had and are having a great impact on the operation and development of press agencies.

Faced with these challenges and opportunities, the Government issued Decision No. 348/QD-TTg dated May 6, 2023 of the Prime Minister, approving the Strategy "Digital transformation of journalism to 2025, with a vision to 2030".

The strategy aims to build press agencies in the direction of "professionalism, humanity, modernity"; fulfill the mission of information and propaganda to serve the revolutionary cause of the Party and the cause of national innovation; ensure the role of leading and orienting public opinion, maintaining information sovereignty in cyberspace; effectively innovate readers' experiences; create new sources of revenue; promote the development of the digital content industry.

Comrade Le Quoc Minh delivered the opening speech at the workshop. (Photo: NHAT QUANG)

According to comrade Le Quoc Minh, digital transformation is an inevitable trend of modern journalism to serve readers best and fastest. Digital transformation is not simply investing in technology equipment and software, but must change the mindset from leaders to staff, reporters, and employees; it is to innovate the entire content production process, business process, and editorial office operation process.

Digital transformation must ensure increasingly high quality journalism and build a loyal readership. Press agencies must boldly implement digital transformation activities; constantly innovate, adjust while doing instead of waiting; strengthen training, innovate training methods; build shared data warehouses, measurement tools, collect reader data... Only then can digital transformation be successful and effective.

The digital age poses many challenges, but at the same time it is an opportunity for press agencies and publishers to approach new ways of working, exploit creative potentials based on modern technology and techniques, and publish digital journalism works, in line with the development trend of modern journalism in the world.
Comrade Le Quoc Minh

In the field of publishing, he said that the Party and the State pay special attention to digital transformation in the context of the fourth industrial revolution. The political orientation of the Party and the State requires the press and publishing industry to accelerate the digital transformation process, to move quickly and take the lead to attract resources. Up to now, many stages of press and publishing activities have approached and strongly applied technology.

The Editor-in-Chief of Nhan Dan Newspaper emphasized that in order to better fulfill the political tasks assigned by the Party and State, and increasingly better meet the needs of readers, the digital transformation of newspapers and publishing is an urgent task set out to innovate communication and distribution methods, and effectively implement the goal of "correct, accurate, timely, and attractive" propaganda.

“The digital age poses many challenges, but at the same time it is also an opportunity for press agencies and publishers to approach new ways of working, exploit creative potential based on modern technology and techniques, and publish digital journalism works, in line with the development trend of modern journalism in the world,” said comrade Le Quoc Minh.

He expressed his hope that, through the workshop, leaders of press agencies and publishing units will gain more experience to implement digital transformation of press and publishing in a manner appropriate to the capacity, practical operations and development strategy of the editorial office, while press and publishing training experts will pay more attention to new skills, practice the model of "bringing the editorial office to the classroom", linking training with vivid practice.

In his welcoming speech, Comrade Ngo Dong Hai, Secretary of Thai Binh Provincial Party Committee, said that implementing the Central Resolution on promoting comprehensive digital transformation in all fields, Thai Binh Provincial Party Committee issued Resolution No. 02-NQ/TU on digital transformation by 2025, with a vision to 2030, encouraging specific development for industries and fields, taking advantage of the opportunities of the 4.0 Revolution.

Comrade Ngo Dong Hai, Secretary of Thai Binh Provincial Party Committee, delivered a welcoming speech. (Photo: NHAT QUANG)

In the field of journalism, Thai Binh province has invested in human resources, facilities, and encouraged and created conditions for press agencies to strive to become multi-platform, multi-media media agencies, promoting opportunities to connect and interact with readers on different media, especially focusing on improving the quality of content and management. Thanks to that, the media sector in the province has undergone many strong changes, better reaching the people.

"We believe that in the field of media and publishing, promoting digital transformation is absolutely correct. The province is persistent in the digital transformation of journalism and publishing," emphasized comrade Ngo Dong Hai.

He said that the workshop was an opportunity for press and media agencies nationwide, especially press agencies and publishing units in Thai Binh province, to exchange, learn, and listen to new suggestions to continue to do better in digital transformation in journalism, publishing and other fields.

The workshop is an opportunity for press and media agencies nationwide, especially press agencies and publishing units in Thai Binh province, to exchange, learn, and listen to new suggestions to continue to do better in digital transformation in journalism, publishing and other fields.
Comrade Ngo Dong Hai

Resources for digital transformation of journalism and publishing remain weak

Speaking at the workshop, Associate Professor, Dr. Vu Trong Lam, Director - Editor-in-Chief of the National Political Publishing House, said that press and publishing agencies have changed their mindset, spent time and resources to seriously prepare, invest in infrastructure, technology, human resources, proactively grasp and apply digital technologies to their operations and have achieved many positive results.

Associate Professor, Dr. Vu Trong Lam, Director - Editor-in-Chief of the National Political Publishing House Truth delivered the opening speech at the workshop. (Photo: NHAT QUANG)

Domestic press has been gradually developing to adapt to the trends of technology, information and communication, closely combining many types and means and increasing coverage both domestically and internationally, gradually meeting the requirements and tasks of information and communication in the new situation.

The converged newsroom model with digital journalism products as the center has almost become a model for press agencies to aim for; press types such as print, radio, and television have all been digitized or opened online newspapers; the trend of developing multi-platform products is taking place strongly, with the emergence of new digital press products such as inforgraphics, megastory, longform..., artificial intelligence (AI) journalism, virtual reality journalism, mobile journalism, mobile television, mobile radio...; forming social media journalism to increase interaction with the public.

Many press works apply digital technology and data to create two-way interaction with readers, attracting and creating a sense of closeness with readers, thereby not only retaining old readers but also attracting many new readers; applying technology helps personalize and enhance user experience, proactively searching and bringing information that meets the needs of the public.

Associate Professor, Dr. Vu Trong Lam assessed that digital transformation at press agencies greatly supports journalists and reporters in collecting information, analyzing data, and producing content; helping press agencies create new business models to increase income and maintain their operations in the digital age...

In the publishing sector, publishers and book companies have also promoted the application of digital technology. Accordingly, online distribution channels have been built using multi-platform and multi-interface technology; new types of books such as ebooks, audiobooks, and video books have appeared more and more in the Vietnamese publishing market, not only meeting the needs of regular readers but also meeting the needs of many other special customer groups such as students of all levels, the visually impaired, etc.

However, according to Associate Professor, Dr. Vu Trong Lam, there is still an incomplete and incomplete awareness of the benefits, importance and methods of digital transformation among the leadership and management teams of press and publishing agencies. The mentality of being afraid of change, not daring to break through, be creative, being empiricist, and being satisfied with the number of audiences that are already there still exists.

In addition, resources for digital transformation are still weak. Most newsrooms and publishers are not yet self-sufficient in technology, or lack financial resources to invest in technology, or are dependent on technology from partners. At the same time, they have not yet built a team of reporters, editors, and publishers with modern professional skills and the ability to apply technology in the digital environment, meeting the requirements of tasks in the new situation.

Cyber security and information security issues, fake news, pirated and counterfeit publications, content copyright infringement, advertising... are still occurring and have not been thoroughly resolved, causing significant losses to legitimate press and publishing agencies, such as decreased revenue, loss of audience, negative impact on brand... Determining the exact role and position of journalists, reporters, and editors in the "flow" of digital transformation of press and publishing is still open.

“Digital technology in general and journalism and publishing technology in particular are still changing every day, every hour, posing challenges in terms of mechanisms, policies, strategies, and operating procedures for management agencies as well as domestic journalism and publishing agencies. Therefore, it is very necessary to research, summarize, and evaluate the current status of digital transformation of journalism and publishing, thereby proposing orientations, solutions, and recommendations to resolve bottlenecks, overcome existing problems and difficulties, and promote digital transformation of journalism and publishing in our country in the coming time,” Associate Professor, Dr. Vu Trong Lam emphasized.

Dedicate adequate investment resources to perfecting digital infrastructure for journalism and publishing

Speaking at the workshop, comrade Phan Xuan Thuy, Deputy Head of the Central Propaganda Department, assessed that the workshop is a meaningful scientific event for press and publishing agencies, management agencies, and press-publishing training institutions.

Comrade Phan Xuan Thuy, Deputy Head of the Central Propaganda Department, spoke. (Photo: NHAT QUANG)

He said that in recent times, many press and publishing agencies have pioneered and achieved high efficiency in applying digital technology, thereby creating a favorable environment for the creation of high-quality digital press and digital publishing products.

However, in addition to many opportunities and advantages, the rapid progress of the digital transformation process also poses many challenges and difficulties, and new issues arise in the practical operations of journalism and publishing. This requires press and publishing agencies and training institutions to proactively innovate their thinking and awareness of the role, position, importance and methods of digital transformation, thereby creating valuable journalism and publishing products that serve the needs of the public.

In addition to many opportunities and advantages, the rapid progress of the digital transformation process also poses many challenges and difficulties, and new issues arise in the practical operations of journalism and publishing. This requires press and publishing agencies and training institutions to proactively innovate their thinking and awareness of the role, position, importance and methods of digital transformation, thereby creating valuable journalism and publishing products that serve the needs of the public.
Comrade Phan Xuan Thuy

Comrade Phan Xuan Thuy said that management agencies need to improve the quality of consulting work with Party and State leaders in the digital transformation of journalism and publishing, in perfecting institutions, policies and laws; have synchronous solutions and devote many worthy investment resources to develop and perfect digital infrastructure for journalism and publishing.

Meanwhile, journalism and publishing training institutions need to proactively incorporate content on digital transformation, journalism and publishing operations in the digital environment, and digital technologies in journalism and publishing into their training programs, improve the quality of practice, vocational training, and comprehensively foster students' qualities and skills, meeting the requirements and demands of the new situation.

Highly appreciating the presentations sent to the workshop, comrade Phan Xuan Thuy said that the Central Propaganda Department wishes to listen to sharing, suggestions and recommendations to advise the Party and State to continue implementing national digital transformation in general and digital transformation of press and publishing in particular in the coming time.

The workshop received 63 quality presentations from leaders, scientists, and experts from central and local agencies and departments, press and publishing agencies, and journalism and publishing training institutions across the country.

The articles have different topics, but focus on the content about the current situation and orientations and solutions to promote digital transformation of journalism and publishing in the coming time.

This is a forum for press managers, experts in the field of press training, and leaders of press agencies to update new content in the general theoretical issues of digital transformation of press; analyze and evaluate the current situation and issues facing press and publishing in the context of current digital transformation; thereby proposing orientations and solutions to promote digital transformation in the field of press and publishing in Vietnam in the coming time.

Source nhandan.vn

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