Minister of Information and Communications: 'Cyberspace is the main battle of journalism'

Minister of Information and Communications Nguyen Manh Hung affirmed that cyberspace is now the main battle of the press. The press is not only about going to cyberspace but also about reclaiming cyberspace, creating the mainstream in cyberspace.

On the afternoon of March 15, the National Press Conference 2024 held a plenary session on the National Press Forum.

Attending the forum were Mr. Nguyen Trong Nghia, Secretary of the Party Central Committee, Head of the Central Propaganda Department; members of the Party Central Committee: Tran Luu Quang, Deputy Prime Minister; Nguyen Manh Hung, Minister of Information and Communications (MIC), Deputy Head of the Central Propaganda Department, Vice Chairman of the National Committee on Digital Transformation; Le Quoc Minh, Editor-in-Chief of Nhan Dan Newspaper, Deputy Head of the Central Propaganda Department, Chairman of the Vietnam Journalists Association ; Phan Van Mai, Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee.

Speaking at the forum, Minister of Information and Communications Nguyen Manh Hung affirmed that digital technology has the first and strongest impact on the field of journalism and communications, creating fundamental changes in this field.

Minister of Information and Communications Nguyen Manh Hung speaks at the plenary session of the 2024 National Press Forum.

“Fundamental change means that the future will not lie on the extension of the past. If the change is successful, our future will lie above the extension line, if not, it will lie below this extension line,” said Minister Nguyen Manh Hung.

According to Minister Nguyen Manh Hung, cyberspace is now the main battlefield, the main battle of the press, victory or defeat depends on this. The press is not only about going to cyberspace but also about reclaiming cyberspace, creating the mainstream in cyberspace.

The Minister said that digital technology takes away some old jobs but also creates new ones. Therefore, the press must do new things.

“The innovation of journalism lies in the fact that journalism must do more than what it is doing. Journalism needs a wider space than reporting “who, what, when and where”.

Readers want to know what lies behind the news. It could be an interpretation, analysis or commentary on the news. It could be a multi-dimensional view, a deep intellectual understanding, an interesting, suggestive interpretation, or a solution to the country's problems," Minister Nguyen Manh Hung expressed.

Central and local leaders visited the press exhibition booth.

According to the Minister of Information and Communications, innovation is not a difficult task. Innovation is finding an easier way to do a more difficult task. That new way often appears from a different perspective, a different approach. At the beginning of a new industrial revolution, the new way is often the opposite.

The minister suggested that instead of writing, let's create a platform for people to write. Instead of letting people read on your website, let them read on different platforms. Instead of providing information, let's provide knowledge. Instead of doing it yourself, let's collaborate. Instead of letting reporters handle a lot of information, let them handle things with very little information and let AI handle a lot of information. Instead of avoiding accidents, let's control accidents.

Minister Nguyen Manh Hung also said that if the press wants to develop, it needs new space, new production forces, new production resources, new production factors and new motivation.

Accordingly, the new space is digital space. The new productive force is digital technology. The new productive resource is digital human resources. The new production factor is digital data. The new driving force is digital innovation.

“Therefore, investing in digital technology, digital human resources, digital data and digital innovation will be an investment for the future of journalism,” Minister Nguyen Manh Hung affirmed.

Referring to the recent difficulties and problems of the press, the Minister said that these difficulties do not reduce the role of the press as some people think, but only show that the press needs to innovate.

If we do not change, we will be replaced. Digital technology, the Internet and social media are powerful forces to innovate journalism. This innovation will only increase the role and contribution of revolutionary journalism to the cause of building a strong and prosperous Vietnam.

According to the Minister, if the press wants to innovate, it must find and maintain the core values and original mission of revolutionary journalism, keeping this constant to adapt to all changes. This all changes is the way we do journalism. Our unlimited creative space is here. The tool to realize that unlimited creativity is mainly digital technology.

The Minister hopes that the discussion sessions at the National Press Conference will have many practical proposals to develop professional, humane and modern Vietnamese revolutionary journalism.

The press has accompanied the development of Ho Chi Minh City.

At the forum, Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee Phan Van Mai said that the city was honored to be chosen to host the first National Press Festival in the Southern region.

Appreciating the role of the press, Mr. Mai commented that over the years, the press nationwide has overcome difficulties and obstacles to develop strongly in both quantity and quality, meeting the people's increasing need for information.

“Despite facing significant challenges in the rapid development of social networks, revolutionary press affirms its role in transmitting official information, performing well political tasks and achieving effective social communication.

Press agencies are also proactively building and developing new forms to keep up with the strong and rapid development trend of the information explosion era," Mr. Mai emphasized.

The head of the Ho Chi Minh City government affirmed that central and local press agencies have made great contributions to the city's development process.

The press has promptly and accurately conveyed important information from city authorities at all levels, as well as feedback from people and businesses so that the government can promptly make appropriate decisions.

“On this occasion, the City Party Committee and People's Committee would like to express our sincere thanks to the central and local press agencies that have accompanied and shared with the city over the years. In particular, the press has accompanied the city during difficult times such as the Covid-19 pandemic and turning points such as the National Assembly's passing of Resolution 98 on special mechanisms and policies for the city's development,” Mr. Mai expressed.

With the support of the press, Mr. Mai said that the city is implementing many policy mechanisms to support and promote the development of the press such as the mechanism for ordering policy communication; innovating the city's press awards; giving unexpected rewards and rewarding typical quarterly press works about Ho Chi Minh City; building a mechanism to support the press in digital transformation...

According to vietnamnet.vn

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