Journalists Association at all levels focus on streamlining apparatus and promoting technology

Journalists' Associations at all levels, press agencies and journalists nationwide will focus on effectively implementing Resolution 18 on streamlining the apparatus, actively promoting the application of digital technology in journalism, and improving the quality of journalists.

That was the affirmation of Mr. Le Quoc Minh, member of the Party Central Committee, Editor-in-Chief of Nhan Dan Newspaper, Deputy Head of the Central Propaganda and Education Commission, President of the Vietnam Journalists Association at the 2025 National Conference of the Vietnam Journalists Association held on April 21 in Hanoi.

The conference acknowledged encouraging achievements and pointed out challenges, especially the issue of unifying local Association organizations.

Focus on training journalism human resources

Looking back at the association's work in 2024, Chairman Le Quoc Minh acknowledged that all levels of the Vietnam Journalists Association nationwide have proactively innovated, united, and made continuous efforts to fulfill their tasks well, clearly demonstrating their core role in orienting information and protecting the Party's ideological foundation. All levels of the Association have actively innovated the content and methods of operation, closely connecting with members.

Regarding the key activities in 2025, the Chairman of the Association pointed out: "All levels of the Journalists Association, press agencies and journalists nationwide will focus on effectively implementing Resolution 18 on streamlining the apparatus, reducing staff... actively promoting the application of digital technology in journalism, improving the quality of the journalist team, meeting integration requirements."

(Photo: PV/Vietnam+)

In particular, towards the 100th anniversary of Vietnam Revolutionary Press Day (June 21, 1925 - June 21, 2025), President Le Quoc Minh requested press agencies to focus on building high-quality press topics, organizing practical activities to celebrate the 100th anniversary... strongly promoting the pioneering spirit of Revolutionary Press.

Sharing the unit's experience in digital transformation, Colonel Le Ngoc Long, Deputy Editor-in-Chief of the People's Army Newspaper, Chairman of the People's Army Newspaper Journalists Association, said that the Newspaper has created a digital transformation institution, issued policies and mechanisms to encourage and motivate cadres and reporters to implement management models, produce content, and new services based on digital technology, and build and perfect modern digital infrastructure.

Colonel Le Ngoc Long emphasized the importance of developing human resources for digital transformation. Accordingly, the Newspaper has implemented a plan to effectively train and raise awareness for leaders of the Editorial Board, staff, reporters, editors, and technicians of the Newspaper about the digital transformation program and strategy; and include training content on digital transformation in the Newspaper's annual training plan.

“Implementing the digital transformation task creates many opportunities for the development of the People's Army Newspaper in the future. The newspaper proactively and actively learns from the digital transformation experience of domestic press agencies, thereby creatively applying good models and effective methods, suitable for the characteristics and actual situation of press agencies in the army, in line with the trend of journalism in the digital age,” said Colonel Le Ngoc Long.

Leaders of Quang Tri province and delegates visit valuable artifacts and documents about Vietnam's revolutionary press. (Photo: Nguyen Linh-VNA)

Speaking at the National Conference of the Vietnam Journalists Association, journalist Do Ngoc Ha, Permanent Vice President of the Quang Ninh Provincial Journalists Association, said that currently about 70% of reporters and editors at the Quang Ninh Provincial Media Center can produce multimedia news and articles for many types of newspapers. Of which, about 15% of reporters and editors focus on producing specialized works.

According to Mr. Ha, the Quang Ninh Provincial Media Center was established in early 2019, on the basis of merging Quang Ninh Newspaper, Quang Ninh Radio and Television Station, Ha Long Newspaper and Quang Ninh Provincial Electronic Information Portal. This is a strategic step in optimizing resources, improving the operational efficiency and communication strength of local press.

However, this merger also poses significant challenges for the journalism team. Because in the past, each person often specialized in only one or two types of journalism, but now the requirement is that they must become true multimedia journalists, capable of working flexibly, creating content for both print and electronic newspapers, radio, television and new media and communication platforms.

Journalist Do Ngoc Ha, Permanent Vice President of the Quang Ninh Provincial Journalists Association. (Photo: Cong Luan Newspaper)

Faced with this challenge, in the initial phase of operating the Media Center model, the Quang Ninh Journalists Association focused on equipping members with basic knowledge and skills in multimedia journalism.

According to Mr. Ha, in the context that the whole country is implementing the policy of streamlining the apparatus, many localities are moving towards merging press agencies, the content that Quang Ninh province is implementing can be valuable experience.

Solving difficulties in a streamlined context

Sharing the policy of streamlining the apparatus, many branches frankly raised challenges in association activities.

Specifically, Mr. Mai Duc Thong, Chairman of the Tuyen Quang Provincial Journalists Association, raised the issue: "The merger of provincial Journalists Associations requires that the Association's Charter must have appropriate calculations for the new situation. Previously, the core of the Association was often the newspaper branch and the radio and television station. Now, when these agencies merge, I propose that the Standing Committee of the Vietnam Journalists Association will have specific instructions on this issue so that local Associations at all levels can implement it in a unified and effective manner."

Current requirements require journalists to be more versatile and multi-tasking. (Photo: Hong Dat/VNA)

Sharing the same view, Mr. Le Trong Lap, Chairman of the Ha Giang Provincial Journalists Association, emphasized the implementation of Resolution 18. He suggested that the Vietnam Journalists Association pay special attention to two core issues. The first is the role of socio-political organizations, and the second is the role of professional organizations. How to harmonize these functions in the current context is not an easy problem.

Mr. Lap pointed out that currently, all local press and radio agencies have been or are in the process of merging. This has resulted in the provincial and grassroots associations having only one focal point. The management mechanism and methods of association activities when merging into the Fatherland Front need to be carefully studied to ensure the voice of association members and organizations.

In particular, Mr. Lap is concerned about the merger of the Journalists Association with the Literature and Arts Association in some provinces, including Ha Giang, because the two associations' methods of operation are not the same and there are differences in the specific characteristics of their activities.

Sharing the perspective from the state management agency, Permanent Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Le Hai Binh said that Vietnamese journalists are living and working in days of special historical significance. The profound changes in the country in recent times, typically the implementation of Resolution 18 on innovation and reorganization of the political system, along with the construction of the revised Press Law with many new breakthroughs, have created an important transition period.

According to the Deputy Minister, this is the time when all factors affecting the press converge in all aspects, from the way of working, the content of information transmission, to the lives of journalists, and the organizational structure and operating mechanism of press agencies.

The Deputy Minister also informed about the close attention of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to the development of the press.

"The Minister has been having direct working sessions with press management units and key press agencies of the revolution. The biggest goal is to make the revised Press Law truly come into life, deeply demonstrating the historical nature, leading role and orientation of public opinion of the press in the new development stage of the country," Mr. Le Hai Binh emphasized./.

(Vietnam+)

Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/cac-cap-hoi-nha-bao-tap-trung-trien-khai-tinh-gon-bo-may-day-manh-cong-nghe-post1034119.vnp