On May 6, 2023, the Prime Minister issued Decision No. 348/QD-TTg approving the Strategy "Digital transformation of journalism to 2025, with a vision to 2030". This is a significant event in creating an important premise for the development orientation of press agencies in the digital transformation process. On May 8, 2023, Minister of Information and Communications Nguyen Manh Hung signed Decision No. 781/QD-BTTTT promulgating the Action Plan to implement the Strategy for digital transformation of journalism to 2025, with a vision to 2030.

Scene of the regular press conference of the Ministry of Information and Communications.

Regarding the establishment of the Center for supporting digital transformation of newspapers, Mr. Luu Dinh Phuc, Director of the Press Department, Ministry of Information and Communications, said: Digital transformation of newspapers is using technology to solve problems of press agencies, to have a good customer experience, to increase the number of viewers and listeners, thereby increasing advertising revenue, effectively serving propaganda work.

The establishment of the Press Digital Transformation Support Center (a permanent unit located at the Press Department) will contribute to supporting press agencies in effectively implementing the digital transformation goals stated in the Press Digital Transformation Strategy to 2025, with a vision to 2030.

The Center is a focal point to support the provision of information, documents, and guidance for press agencies in measuring and evaluating the maturity level of digital transformation of the press; connecting and gathering experts, reputable researchers, and leaders of press agencies with leading roles to jointly solve problems posed by digital transformation of the press; providing practical support with activities such as training and coaching to raise awareness, knowledge, and skills; mobilizing resources from businesses to accompany the goals of the program to support digital transformation of the press.

Illustration photo/ Ministry of Information and Communications.

At the press conference, the Ministry of Information and Communications also issued a set of indicators to assess and measure the maturity level of digital transformation in journalism. The set of indicators helps press agencies determine which stage they are in the digital transformation process, thereby having a roadmap, plan, and appropriate digital transformation solutions, helping press agencies innovate effectively, effectively implementing the goals of the Digital Transformation Strategy for Journalism to 2025, with a vision to 2030.

The Index is the basis for assessing how the press agency is transforming digitally, what problems it is facing, and what support it needs. For press agencies, the Index helps raise awareness among press leaders about the specific things that need to be done to implement digital transformation, including criteria and specific actions. For management agencies, data collected from press agencies will show an overall picture of the digital transformation of the press industry, from which timely actions can be taken to promote and support.

The model for assessing and measuring the maturity level of digital transformation of press agencies includes 42 criteria divided into 10 component indicators and grouped into 5 pillars of digital transformation of press, with a maximum total score of 100 points, including:

(1) Strategy: 18 points

(2) Digital infrastructure, digital platform and information security: 24 points

(3) Organizational and professional uniformity: 20 points

(4) Readers, audiences, listeners: 23 points

(5) Level of digital technology application: 15 points

The level of maturity of digital transformation of press agencies will be determined based on the total score achieved, specifically:

Level 1: Below 50 points - weak.

Level 2: From 50 to under 60 points - average

Level 3: From 60 to under 70 points - at a fair level

Level 4: 70 to 80 points - good

Level 5: Above 80 points - excellent

After being assessed and evaluated, the press agency will be granted a Certificate of Digital Transformation Maturity by the Ministry of Information and Communications. The announcement of the Digital Transformation Maturity Rating is conducted and announced annually by the Ministry of Information and Communications.

The Press Digital Transformation Support Center is the focal point for building and operating the Electronic Information Portal https://pdt.gov.vn/, which integrates software tools to evaluate and measure the maturity level of press digital transformation to serve the assessment and determination of the digital transformation maturity level of Vietnamese press agencies.

"The Press Department will organize training and guidance for press agencies to use software tools and apply the Index properly to ensure unified and synchronous implementation nationwide. After being instructed, press agencies will register and log in to the accounts provided on the system to self-assess and measure the level of maturity of digital transformation of their press agencies," said Mr. Luu Dinh Phuc.

Based on the assessment results of the expert team, the assessment scores of each criterion of the press agency can be adjusted. The assessment and ranking results are publicly announced on the Electronic Information Portal of the Ministry of Information and Communications at https://mic.gov.vn/ and the Information Portal of the Press Digital Transformation Support Center at https://pdt.gov.vn/.

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