Ninh Thuan Newspaper and Radio and Television Station: 33 years of construction and development

Originated from the first newspaper pages

Revolutionary journalism in Ninh Thuan started with the newspaper “Nguoi Moi” published in September 1939 in Bao An ward (Phan Rang - Thap Cham city). Despite many name changes, Ninh Thuan revolutionary journalism has always been under the direct leadership of the provincial Party Committee. Generations of local journalists have made important contributions to propagating and encouraging people to participate in the struggle for national liberation and join hands in building the homeland.

After the re-establishment of Ninh Thuan province, two key press agencies of the province were established to meet local political tasks. Ninh Thuan Newspaper came into operation in April 1992, with the first issue published on May 1, 1992. Initially, the Ninh Thuan Newspaper team had only 3 staff and reporters mobilized from Thuan Hai. The decision to establish Ninh Thuan Newspaper was issued by the Provincial Party Committee Standing Committee on June 4, 1992, comrade Nguyen Truong Sanh, Deputy Head of the Provincial Party Committee's Propaganda Department, was appointed as the first Editor-in-Chief. At first, the newspaper was published regularly once a week, with 8 pages printed in 4 colors, with 1,000 copies at Binh Thuan Printing Enterprise. The first issue reflected important political events such as the rally to celebrate the 17th anniversary of Ninh Thuan Liberation Day and the Liberation of the South, the first session of the Provincial People's Council, the list of the Provincial Party Standing Committee and the Provisional Executive Committee of the Provincial Party Committee, and the Resolution Letter of the Provincial Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee.

Along with Ninh Thuan Newspaper, Ninh Thuan Radio and Television Station was established on April 1, 1992. In the early days, the Station had only 14 officers and employees mobilized from Thuan Hai Radio and Television Station and a few local officers. The working facilities had to be temporarily borrowed, machinery and equipment were lacking and outdated, and human resources were scarce. From the initial broadcasting time of only 8 hours of radio and 12 hours of television per day, with 3 news bulletins/week and 2 topics/columns per month.

Reporters of Ninh Thuan Newspaper and Radio and Television Station working. Photo: PB

After more than 3 decades of construction and development, both Ninh Thuan Newspaper and Ninh Thuan Radio and Television Station have continuously developed, becoming important information channels of the Party Committee, government and people of the province. From 3 initial cadres, Ninh Thuan Newspaper had a team of nearly 40 cadres and reporters who were well-trained in 2012. The number of printed newspapers also increased from 2,200 copies/issue in 1992 to 4,500 copies/issue. Currently, the regular newspaper publishes 206 issues (5,100 copies/issue)/year, along with 10,200 special publications/year, 12 issues (12,000 copies)/year of Ninh Thuan Mountainous News and Photos, and 1,000 copies/year of the book Good People - Good Deeds. The newspaper distribution work is promptly transferred to the grassroots level, providing free newspapers to party members with 30 and 40 years of Party membership at the registered address. The newspaper also cooperated with Vietnam News Agency to translate, print and distribute 4,000 copies of the Vietnamese - Cham bilingual photo newspaper per issue, serving the Cham people in the two provinces of Ninh Thuan and Binh Thuan .

The broadcasting time of the Radio and Television Station has also increased significantly. Currently, the station broadcasts 18 hours of radio and 18 hours and 30 minutes of television per day. New and diverse live television programs, topics and columns have also been opened, promptly reflecting the political, cultural and social events of the province.

In particular, in order to meet the information needs of readers in the digital age, Ninh Thuan Newspaper launched Ninh Thuan Electronic Newspaper (NTO) on April 16, 2011 with the domain name baoninhthuan.com.vn. From here, Ninh Thuan has a new information channel, helping readers at home and abroad to promptly grasp current news, potentials, strengths and innovations in Ninh Thuan. Currently, the Electronic Newspaper operates 24/24 hours, with an average of 13,500 readers accessing each day. Ninh Thuan Radio and Television Station also constantly expands its coverage of programs on network systems such as MyTV, Viettel Television, SCTV, FPT Television, VTV Cab HD and online television on the website ninhthuantv.vn, along with digital platforms such as YouTube, Facebook, TikTok.

Towards a professional multimedia agency

To optimize resources, improve operational efficiency and adapt to the development trend of modern journalism, the Provincial Party Committee Standing Committee issued a project to merge Ninh Thuan Newspaper and Ninh Thuan Provincial Radio and Television Station on March 28, 2025. Ninh Thuan Newspaper and Ninh Thuan Radio and Television Station officially merged and went into operation in April 2025. This is an important step, marking a new chapter in the development history of the provincial press, towards building a professional, multimedia media agency.

After the merger, the new unit is called Ninh Thuan Newspaper and Radio and Television Station, with its headquarters at 285A, 21/8 Street, Phan Rang - Thap Cham City, Ninh Thuan Province and its base at 279A, 21/8 Street. The staff, reporters, editors, and technicians of the merged unit include 87 career positions, organized into 5 specialized departments: General Administration; Editorial Office; Program; Current Affairs; Technical. The new leadership of the unit includes Editor-in-Chief Nguyen Minh Thai, along with Deputy Editors-in-Chief: Tran Van Thanh, Bo Xuan Thanh, Tran Thi Thu Thien, and Nguyen Xuan Duy. After the merger, the Newspaper still publishes 4 issues/week and the NTV channel broadcasts with a total duration of 18 hours and 30 minutes per day.

As the main propaganda agency of the province, Ninh Thuan Newspaper and Radio and Television Station always strictly implement the principles, purposes, Press Law, and regulations of the Party and State on press and publishing activities. The unit actively follows the guidelines and policies of the Party and State, the leadership, direction and orientation of the Party Committee, the government and functional agencies in information and propaganda work. Especially, in important political events of the country, the province or in difficult and challenging times due to natural disasters and epidemics, the unit's journalists and reporters have not been afraid of difficulties, working day and night, closely following events and scenes to promptly convey "hot" and truthful information. Thereby, strongly arousing the spirit of solidarity, "mutual love and affection", and efforts to overcome difficulties among the people. Many articles are touching, full of humanity, touching hearts, creating empathy, sharing, motivating, inspiring, bringing faith to unfortunate lives, unlucky fates, helping them confidently rise up in life.

Currently, Ninh Thuan Newspaper and Radio and Television Station continue to promote propaganda; ensure the correct principles, purposes and political orientation. Closely follow the policies and resolutions of the Party, Provincial Party Committee, policies and laws of the State, Provincial People's Committee to propagate effectively and widely. The unit maintains and improves the quality of 10 news bulletins (5 radio bulletins, 5 television bulletins)/day, nearly 30 topics, columns, magazines, 5-minute news bulletins. Based on the propaganda orientation, every year, the Newspaper and Radio open 5-8 new magazines, topics, columns, and bulletins. The unit also regularly improves and innovates the program framework; changes the identity (2024). Nearly 80% of the columns, topics, and magazines socialize production costs; maintain a number of programs that are both educational and create useful, healthy, and practical playgrounds such as: "Historical milestones" contest; lighting up dreams; judicial reform; health advice; your doctor... Improve the quality of columns: Bringing the Party's resolutions into life; fighting against bad, toxic, and false information; news bulletins: Studying and following Ho Chi Minh's ideology, morality, and style; digital transformation; Ninh Thuan's unique products; shining examples around us... From 2020-2025, Ninh Thuan Radio and Television Station has produced nearly 150 live TV programs, more than 1,860 live radio programs; live broadcasting of more than 250 events taking place in provinces and cities across the country.

The unit also cooperates with newspapers and radio and television stations of the Central and Central Highlands provinces to produce and broadcast the Central Coast News (more than 2,000 news and reports); collaborates with Vietnam Television, Voice of Vietnam, Nhan Dan Newspaper, Tuoi Tre Newspaper (nearly 1,800 news and reports).

Promoting digital transformation according to the development trend of modern journalism

Digital transformation is an inevitable trend of modern journalism, Ninh Thuan Newspaper and Television Station have also made constant efforts in that trend. Currently, Ninh Thuan NTV television programs have been transmitted and broadcast on Vinasat-1 satellite, expanding television coverage nationwide. NTV has also expanded coverage of programs on MyTV, Viettel television, SCTV, FPT television, VTV Cab HD and online television on the website ninhthuantv.vn. The station's programs are also posted on digital platforms such as YouTube, Facebook, and TikTok, creating conditions for audiences to quickly access information on mobile devices, bringing high interactivity.

The fanpage “Ninh Thuan Radio and Television Station” has over 37,000 followers on Facebook and the YouTube channel “Ninh Thuan Television” has attracted over 16,000 subscribers and 121,400 viewers and interactions. The unit's TikTok channel has also attracted nearly 190,000 views. According to the Ministry of Information and Communications' assessment of the level of digital transformation in 2024, NTV Station achieved "Good Level".

With the attention of the central and provincial governments, a number of projects have been implemented such as: Upgrading the synchronous system of PTTH equipment to implement the roadmap for digitizing terrestrial television broadcasting transmission by 2020; investing in developing Ninh Thuan PTTH signals on internet infrastructure; investing in upgrading the radio system; equipment system for producing PTTH programs in ethnic languages... The unit also strengthens the management, maintenance, and effective exploitation of materials and technical equipment serving program production and broadcasting transmission; effectively applying information technology, exploiting the internet network to serve professional work and broadcasting transmission.

The unit also regularly maintains and repairs the equipment system, the PTTH network, the internal network, and the electronic information page to ensure stable operation and serve the information needs of the audience. Financial work is also focused on: Developing plans, implementing management and use of funds, finance, and assets strictly and in accordance with regulations, ensuring that career activities are stable and gradually developed. Over the past years, the Newspaper and Radio have focused on implementing solutions to increase revenue for career activities; strengthening coordination with departments, branches, and localities to coordinate propaganda and socialize the program, taking on operating expenses from 40-43% of the regular expenditure of the career unit (group 3).

During the process of construction and development, both Ninh Thuan Newspaper and Ninh Thuan Radio and Television Station have achieved many achievements and many awards. Ninh Thuan Newspaper was honored to receive the Third Class Labor Medal, Second Class Labor Medal from the President; the Prime Minister awarded the Government's emulation flag, certificates of merit; central ministries and branches; the Provincial Party Committee and the Provincial People's Committee awarded excellent emulation flags and many certificates of merit. Ninh Thuan Radio and Television Station has also achieved many outstanding results such as: Being awarded the First Class Labor Medal from 2008-2012. In the period of 2011-2021, the Station had more than 30 press works winning the Golden Hammer and Sickle Award, national press awards, National Radio Festival, National Television Festival... From 2021 to present, the unit has had 32 press works winning awards at national press awards, national festivals and 63 works winning awards at the Ninh Thuan Provincial Press Awards. Maintain charity programs such as: Lighting up dreams; Encouraging learning; Connecting love; Aspiration to live; supported and awarded scholarships to more than 2,500 poor students; supported house repairs, medical examination and treatment and gave gifts to nearly 250 difficult circumstances with a total cost of 17,184,000 VND (from January 2020 to May 2025).

After 33 years of construction and development, along with the merger of the two units in 2025, Ninh Thuan Newspaper and Radio and Television Station are facing a period of many opportunities and challenges. With a team of professional, dedicated, devoted, and passionate staff, reporters, and editors, and investment in modern technology, Ninh Thuan Newspaper and Radio and Television Station will continue to be a trusted voice, a bridge between the Party, the government and the people, contributing to building Ninh Thuan homeland to become increasingly rich, beautiful, and civilized.

Mr. Tuan

Source: https://baoninhthuan.com.vn/news/153707p1c30/bao-va-dai-phat-thanh-truyen-hinh-ninh-thuan-33-nam-xay-dung-va-phat-trien.htm