VietnamPlus National Foreign Affairs Electronic Newspaper: 15 years of creative development

15 years ago, on November 13, 2008, Vietnam News Agency officially joined the domestic electronic newspaper community by launching VietnamPlus Electronic Newspaper at vietnamplus.vn.

After 15 years of effort and innovation, VietnamPlus has always maintained its position as the leading multilingual official electronic newspaper in Vietnam with high-quality products, and especially always pioneered in journalistic innovation with a series of projects that have resonated both domestically and internationally.

On November 15, 2023, at the National News Center, VietnamPlus Electronic Newspaper solemnly celebrated its 15th anniversary and received the First Class Labor Medal.

Go behind, step firmly to go further

For the first "Captain" of VietnamPlus Electronic Newspaper - journalist Le Quoc Minh, member of the Party Central Committee, Deputy Head of the Central Propaganda Department, President of the Vietnam Journalists Association , Editor-in-Chief of Nhan Dan Newspaper, 15 years have passed in the blink of an eye.

The first Editor-in-Chief of VietnamPlus Electronic Newspaper Le Quoc Minh spoke at the ceremony. (Photo: PV/Vietnam+)

“I remember the difficult early days, the whole editorial office struggled in a tiny attic room, and I was given a corner of about 8 square meters in the hallway, the walls were only a little higher than a person's head, but it was in that room that many ideas were born,” journalist Le Quoc Minh recalled.

“From an editorial office with a staff of mostly fresh graduates, the newspaper now possesses an extremely elite force. I have not directly managed VietnamPlus since the end of 2017, but the memories of the journey will never fade,” the first Editor-in-Chief of the newspaper shared.

Journalist Le Quoc Minh remembers the terrible feeling when VietnamPlus had just been launched and encountered technological problems until it switched to a new content management system in July 2009. And from that time, the name VietnamPlus has been associated with modern journalism technology, quickly grasping the trends of world journalism and technology to continuously launch breakthrough information products.

Being established late, VietnamPlus E-newspaper chose to take steady steps, finding its own path to get closer to readers by strongly applying modern technology, approaching and grasping the development trends of the media, constantly improving working methods, journalistic style, especially creating unique journalistic products with high professional quality.

The newspaper has had many impressive press products such as: Rap News (RapNewsPlus), 360-degree photos/ videos ; Timeline event stream, graphics and interactive graphics, super reportage mobile journalism application, data journalism, visual journalism, exploiting Chatbot, Webpush, Mobile Push, Newsletter features; developing Podcast, bringing VietnamPlus products to smart speakers, developing readers on digital platforms.

DaLAB group performs to welcome. (Photo: PV/Vietnam+)

What makes VietnamPlus unique is that many parts of the modern content production process use online tools, and all reporters and editors can handle it themselves without the need for graphic designers or programmers. It is worth mentioning that many VietnamPlus reporters are now working 5-in-1, which means they can do news, photos, videos, graphics and data journalism all by themselves.

VietnamPlus continues to create a spread by maintaining and opening new sections; designing interfaces with specialized pages about 63 localities in the country and more than 200 countries and regions in the world as specialized mini-websites.

On November 24, 2021, the Prime Minister issued Decision No. 1976 approving the goals, tasks, and solutions for developing a number of national foreign print and electronic newspapers in the 2022-2030 period, in which VietnamPlus continues to be identified as a national foreign electronic newspaper. This is an honor and an advantage for the VietnamPlus editorial board in enhancing the position of the newspaper, a trusted address for domestic and foreign readers.

After 15 years of continuous innovation, VietnamPlus has won more than 100 major and minor press awards, of which 51 are in the System of 5 major press awards: National Press Award; Foreign Information Award; Golden Hammer and Sickle Award; Anti-corruption and Negativity Award; Dien Hong Award and 2 international press awards.

Editor-in-Chief Tran Tien Duan speaks at the ceremony. (Photo: PV/Vietnam+)

Editor-in-Chief Tran Tien Duan said that VietnamPlus E-newspaper is currently moving rapidly in the digital transformation phase, has completed the Digital ecosystem and will soon promote the application of artificial intelligence in editorial management and product development. The newspaper continues to strive to maintain its position as a national foreign e-newspaper under the Vietnam News Agency; diversify information products, produce large, in-depth, multimedia, multi-platform articles; strive to pioneer the application of new technologies in the process of creating and producing journalistic works, meeting public demands.

'Green positive information'

Speaking at the Ceremony, Ms. Vu Viet Trang, Member of the Party Executive Committee of the Central Agencies, Party Secretary, General Director, President of the Vietnam News Agency Journalists Association, praised the efforts and achievements of the VietnamPlus Electronic Newspaper in various fields in recent times.

Ms. Vu Viet Trang expressed her joy at the fact that VietnamPlus E-newspaper has built a team of young, skilled reporters and editors with the courage and skills of modern journalism; especially the ability to recognize issues of public concern and the spirit of dedication in implementing difficult news/articles such as providing information on issues such as human rights enforcement, land management, environment, education, and health.

Party Secretary, General Director, Chairman of the Vietnam News Agency Journalists Association Vu Viet Trang speaks at the ceremony. (Photo: PV/Vietnam+)

The newspaper is also a pioneer in digital transformation, being the first Vietnamese newspaper to introduce MegaStory products, Chatbot, declare war on Fake News and today connect with the Smart Speaker system... The newspaper is also a press unit that actively participates in charity activities, for the community, demonstrating responsibility to society.

“With these results, VietnamPlus E-newspaper has been awarded many noble prizes by the Party and the State and has always been honored with high rankings in the industry's and national press awards and won international awards for press products that effectively apply technology,” affirmed the General Director of Vietnam News Agency.

In the context of the rapid development of the world and domestic press with the support of modern communication technology, VietnamPlus Electronic Newspaper in particular and the information units of Vietnam News Agency in general have been facing many challenges. Artificial intelligence (AI) is both a driving force for innovation and creativity, and also poses risks of spreading false information created by AI. According to the latest assessment of technology assessment firm Gartner, AI will account for up to 10% of digital content within the next 2 years.

Therefore, the General Director of Vietnam News Agency suggested that VietnamPlus Electronic Newspaper should continue to promote the spirit of dynamism, creativity, and solidarity, identify its role and position as an official source of information serving the leadership of the Party, the management of the State and the interests of the People; strengthen the "greening" of positive information and fight against false arguments of hostile forces in cyberspace.

Fire tests gold, hardship tests strength

At the 15th Anniversary Celebration, VietnamPlus Electronic Newspaper introduced a new interface and new products such as: Completing the Digital Ecosystem, bringing VietnamPlus news to the Smart Speaker platform, promoting the Mobile First strategy.

The VietnamPlus E-newspaper's editorial board received the First Class Labor Medal and Certificate of Merit from the President. (Photo: PV/Vietnam+)

Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan; Editor-in-Chief of Nhan Dan Newspaper, Deputy Head of the Central Propaganda Department, President of the Vietnam Journalists Association Le Quoc Minh; General Director of Vietnam News Agency Vu Viet Trang and Editor-in-Chief of VietnamPlus Online Newspaper Tran Tien Duan performed the launching ceremony of the new interface and new products of VietnamPlus Online Newspaper.

On this occasion, the Newspaper received the First Class Labor Medal - a noble award, demonstrating the State's worthy recognition for VietnamPlus Electronic Newspaper and Vietnam News Agency.

The VietnamPlus Electronic Newspaper Branch also received a Certificate of Merit from the Vietnam Journalists Association. In addition, the General Director of Vietnam News Agency presented Certificates of Merit to the following individuals: Editor-in-Chief of VietnamPlus Electronic Newspaper Tran Tien Duan, Deputy Editor-in-Chief of VietnamPlus Electronic Newspaper Doan Ngoc Thu and Reporter Vo Manh Hung.

Leaders of Vietnam News Agency attended the ceremony. (Photo: PV/Vietnam+)

15 years in the career of the entire Vietnamese Revolutionary Press industry is a modest number, but for Vietnamplus Electronic Newspaper, it is a glorious and very proud journey.

Because, for 15 years, Vietnamplus has always been a reliable “friend”, an official source of information that domestic and foreign readers seek. The newspaper has also quickly become one of the “bright spots” of the world press thanks to many specialized, unique and attractive content creations.

From the first "rough bricks" laid in 2008, VietnamPlus Electronic Newspaper has grown and made a strong impression not only through hundreds of professional awards, but also through a team of newspaper leaders with strategic vision, leading a team of reporters and editors who are always dedicated and enthusiastic about their profession.

Over the past 15 years, Vietnamplus has remained steadfast in its stance and steadily developed with the mission of being the channel of “Leading authentic information and 100% copyrighted content.”

“Fire tests gold, hardship tests strength,” to create a radiant appearance like today is the tireless and unceasing efforts of each member in the beloved “VietnamPlus house”.

Source Vietnam+

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