Keeping pace with digital technology

I've been in journalism for almost 30 years now. That's long enough to witness the changes in the journalism and media industry as an insider.

At the Quang Nam Newspaper's editorial office now, writing articles on a computer and sending them to the editorial office via email is "a thing of the past." The Quang Nam Newspaper's integrated newsroom system, operational since February 3, 2024, can be considered a fairly modern journalistic model within the national press system.

From data entry, editing, layout, publication approval to payment of royalties, everything is done in a digital environment. Quang Nam Newspaper has strongly integrated into the digital transformation of journalism, so journalists naturally cannot stand aside.

Access to technology

From handwritten drafts in the early days of journalism to working in today's integrated newsrooms; from manual layout to computer-aided design; from bi-daily print newspapers to second-by-second online news updates on websites and social media… journalism has undergone tremendous changes. These changes require journalists to learn and self-learn daily to keep up with modern journalistic trends.

Initially, concepts like big data, AI, ChatGPT, blockchain, and digital transformation were quite vague and abstract for someone in their 50s like me. At the time, I thought that people my age would find it difficult to keep up with the changes in technology in general, and technology in journalism in particular, so applying technology was probably only for younger people.

But then I thought, if I don't want to fall behind, the only way is to approach, familiarize myself with, and learn about technology. And perhaps never before have journalists needed to self-learn and equip themselves with skills and knowledge as much as in the era of digital transformation and artificial intelligence – where everything operates using algorithms, data, and technology – as they do now.

I registered for the "digital literacy" course at https://quangnam.onetouch.edu.vn. However, unfortunately, the program does not yet have lectures in the field I am interested in, which is AI technology in the field of information and communication.

Nevertheless, other courses in Quang Nam's digital literacy program, such as digital transformation in education, digital economy , digital society, and digital skills in government agencies, attract a considerable number of participants. This is because the platform is built for diverse groups of people from various sectors including officials, civil servants, businesses, cooperatives, and communities, with accessible and practical lectures for many.

Opening the door to technology

Although there weren't any lectures in my area of ​​greatest interest, I still participated in the "digital literacy" course. Lectures on information security in digital transformation, digital transformation in government agencies, etc., were also very useful to me.

I used to admire my younger colleagues who could do everything with just a phone – from taking photos, filming, editing, and producing video clips, to writing articles, editing, and publishing… Now, I can do the same, although sometimes I have to ask for help from younger colleagues while I'm working.

Having studied it, I realized that we shouldn't be afraid of AI taking over and taking the place of journalists; what's important is whether journalists are willing to learn and master the technology. People my age tend to live at a slower pace, and that also makes them slow in their careers.

But once I embraced technology, I suddenly felt younger and faster, especially since I could write articles, upload content, shoot and edit videos... all with just my phone. Not to mention, the digital age has made people more flexible, dynamic, more willing to share, more open, and constantly connected.

Familiarizing oneself with technology and new things is essential to avoid getting "lost" in the flow of the times. Students like me, entering this "digital literacy" class, though late, still strive to join in.

Technology and artificial intelligence classes didn't teach me everything, but they opened doors for me to avoid being left behind in the digital age. I think we shouldn't be afraid of technology replacing us, but rather see technology as a companion, as an "extension" in all aspects of life, in journalism, and so on.

Source: https://baoquangnam.vn/bat-nhip-cong-nghe-so-3157043.html