We welcome 2024 with an elevated position and a mindset of constant innovation.

“The essential preparation for journalists on the eve of the Year of the Dragon is to maintain their passion for the profession, persevere with a spirit of hard work and dedication, and be ready to welcome 2024 with an elevated position and a mindset of continuous innovation. We believe that 2024 will continue to be a year of innovation and breakthroughs for the Vietnam Journalists Association , setting the stage for many key tasks, especially the preparation for the 12th Congress of the Vietnam Journalists Association,” affirmed journalist Nguyen Duc Loi, Permanent Vice President of the Vietnam Journalists Association, in a conversation with the Newspaper & Public Opinion ahead of the new year 2024.

Join forces to form a powerful community.

+ The international conference "Practices, Experiences, and Solutions for Managing Digital Newsrooms in the ASEAN Region" became an impressive highlight during the busy end-of-year period. I still remember that around this time last year, you shared about the important task to be implemented in 2023: organizing an international conference on digital transformation… The success of the conference, does it perhaps realize a part of the important direction and strategy, Mr. Standing Vice Chairman?

- That's quite the case. One of our goals for 2023 was to further strengthen and promote the foreign relations activities of the Vietnam Journalists Association. Looking back after a year, with many efforts to enhance our position internationally and regionally, this activity has shown certain positive developments. The international conference showed that ASEAN countries share a common understanding of the importance of digital transformation in journalism, considering it a vital issue for the development of press agencies, media organizations, and journalists.

The workshop highlighted the common resource challenges of digital transformation, which requires innovation in thinking, technology, and finance, and not all media outlets in ASEAN are able to meet these conditions. Meanwhile, government support for media outlets remains uneven across countries…

We hope that the Workshop will serve as a wake-up call to relevant authorities, especially press management agencies in ASEAN countries, regarding this alarming reality. The determination and concerted efforts towards the digital transformation of the media in the region demonstrate the promising development prospects of the ASEAN press bloc, contributing to the goal of improving the quality and effectiveness of cooperation within the ASEAN Federation of Journalists.

Delegates attending the International Workshop “Practices, Experiences and Solutions for Managing Digital Newsrooms in the ASEAN Region”. Photo: Son Hai

Clearly, this is also a milestone demonstrating the spirit of interaction and solidarity, aiming towards the development of a professional, humane, and modern national and regional press. Sir, in its role as a connector, how will the Vietnam Journalists Association continue to affirm its position in the overall development effort?

- We have every opportunity to further improve our role as a responsible connecting entity. I believe that, in the current context of many challenges, the issue of linking together to form a strong community is crucial. Accurately assessing the context and directly addressing pressing issues to find solutions is the way to elevate the status of press organizations and associations in the region, which is what we continue to strive for. Of course, we also need more diverse and varied implementation methods, not just limited to workshops and seminars…

Hot topics in global journalism will undoubtedly continue to be widely discussed among journalists in the region, such as: the fight against fake news, the role of official sources, innovation to gain dominance in cyberspace; refuting misinformation, promoting the application of technology and artificial intelligence (AI) in information production and distribution…

Permanent Vice President of the Vietnam Journalists Association, Nguyen Duc Loi. Photo: Son Hai

We had a spectacular "time chase."

+ Speaking about the role of the Vietnam Journalists Association in the current challenging context, it's undeniable that we've just experienced a breakthrough year, achieving many of our set goals, isn't that right, sir?

Looking back on the work of the past year, I sometimes wonder, with the available resources and so many difficulties, what enabled us to accomplish so much so successfully? Just considering the activities of the Central Office of the Vietnam Journalists Association, 2023 was truly a year of "breakthroughs." Recognizing the importance of human resources, we promptly restructured the organization, stabilized personnel within the Central Office, and strengthened the Party Committee, Standing Committee, and Executive Committee of the Vietnam Journalists Association…

From then on, annual activities such as the National Press Conference, the National Conference summarizing the work of the Association, the "Back to the Roots" event, the National Journalism Awards Ceremony, the Vietnam Journalists Association Cup Table Tennis Tournament, professional training activities, seminars, forums, workshops, exhibitions, and displays... were implemented smoothly and scientifically . Along with these activities, the involvement of departments, units under the Association, and local Journalists Associations throughout the country made for an extremely vibrant year…

In particular, the meeting and working session of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh at the Vietnam Journalists Association on June 13, 2023, was a great encouragement and significantly contributed to resolving difficulties in the operation of press agencies as well as the work of our Association. It can be said that all the contents of the year's work program were completed fully, even some tasks implemented in a very short time frame were successfully accomplished. More accurately, we had a spectacular "race against time" with a massive amount of work, demonstrating the boundless capacity of human effort!

+ Among the many tasks undertaken over the past year, the "focus on the grassroots" initiative has made a strong impression, demonstrating a determination to overcome difficulties in the Association's activities at the local level. Sir, what methods have we used to create a promising impetus for the activities of local Associations at all levels over the past year?

- One of the issues that we are always concerned about is the quality of the Association's activities in some localities, which still faces many difficulties. The organizational structure of the Provincial and City Journalists' Associations is currently inconsistent due to many reasons, partly depending on the level of attention given by local leaders to the Association's activities. The Vietnam Journalists' Association is implementing the policy of "focusing on the grassroots," establishing a working group to meet with leaders and representatives of departments and agencies in Nghe An, Tien Giang, and Hoa Binh provinces regarding the activities of the local Journalists' Associations.

During these meetings, we, along with local leaders, assessed the results of implementing Directive 43 dated April 8, 2020, of the Central Party Secretariat "On strengthening the Party's leadership over the activities of the Vietnam Journalists Association in the new situation" and the conclusions of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh at the meeting with the Vietnam Journalists Association. We also frankly requested the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee, the People's Committees of the provinces, and the departments and agencies in the provinces to continue to pay attention to and support the resolution of some difficulties for the provincial Journalists Associations in order to help the Associations effectively implement key tasks in the coming period.

+ Regarding the coordination between the central and local levels, it has been observed that this year, there has been a proactive and flexible involvement from the various levels of the Journalists' Association. What is your opinion on this?

- I believe that's a valid assessment. The Association's annual activities would certainly not be as successful as expected without the proactive and creative participation of local Journalists' Associations at all levels. For example, the thematic conferences we organized in Nghe An, Tien Giang, and Hoa Binh, such as the 17th anniversary of the National Journalism Award and the evaluation of support for high-quality journalism in 2022; the implementation of the high-quality journalism support program for 2023 and 2024; the conference summarizing one year of the emulation movement to build a cultural environment in press agencies and guiding the implementation of the Vietnam Journalists Association Charter; the summary of the management of members who are reporters from press agencies residing in localities; and the conference "Journalism on protecting the Party's ideological foundation in the context of digital transformation"; The conference summarizing six years of implementing the 2016 Press Law, along with the 10 regulations on professional ethics for Vietnamese journalists and the rules for using social media by Vietnamese journalists, all showed the strong impact of the units in coordinating their efforts, creating vibrant and effective professional activities.

Delegates attending the 2023 National Press Conference. Photo: Son Hai

Towards the Congress of the Vietnam Journalists Association at all levels.

+ As shared, it seems that the Standing Vice Chairman is quite satisfied with the results of 2023. What will be the challenges for the new year – a year that urgently needs a boost like 2024 – for us, sir?

- It's true that some people wonder if doing even better is a challenge, given that we've already done well. But experience shows that if we maintain a mindset of continuous innovation and creativity, and prioritize efficiency in our operations, there will certainly be no obstacles to the task of "doing better."

Since 2022, we have witnessed a "new breeze" blowing through the Association's activities, and by 2023, there seems to have been even stronger momentum, greater unity, and readiness to embrace new opportunities with a better position. Achieving these results and continuing to build upon them requires the Standing Committee and Executive Committee of the Vietnam Journalists Association to continue focusing on leadership and management, always adhering to the Party's Directives and Resolutions, and State documents on press work, Association activities, and the Association's Charter. All levels of the Association, from the central to local levels, must uphold the tradition of unity, innovation, and creativity, enhance the role of leaders in fulfilling political tasks, and create a strong transformation in the Association's activities…

In particular, 2024 marks the third year that the Association's organizations are implementing the Resolution of the 11th Congress of the Vietnam Journalists Association, the Resolutions of the Executive Committee, and the entire work program for the 2020-2025 term... This is also a crucial year, leading up to the Congresses of the Vietnam Journalists Association at all levels, and preparing for the 12th Congress of the Vietnam Journalists Association.

Vietnam Journalists Association Cup Table Tennis Tournament 2023. Photo: Son Hai

+ After a year of breakthroughs and with many tasks ahead, what preparations have we made, are making, and will make to successfully complete our tasks in 2024, sir?

- We have many plans and projects for the new year, with a spirit of continued proactiveness, decisiveness, and greater effectiveness. These include continuing to implement Directive No. 43-CT/TW dated April 8, 2020, of the Central Party Secretariat "On strengthening the Party's leadership over the activities of the Vietnam Journalists Association in the new situation"; Decision No. 348/QD-TTg dated April 6, 2023, of the Prime Minister approving the Strategy "Digital Transformation of Journalism by 2025, with orientation to 2030"; and Notice No. 274/TB-VPCP dated July 12, 2023, of the Government Office: Conclusions of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh at the working session with the Vietnam Journalists Association on June 13, 2023…

In particular, the association will coordinate the development and implementation of a plan to strengthen information and propaganda work to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Vietnamese Revolutionary Press Day. One of the highlights of the association's activities in the coming period will be focusing on the quality of professional training and ethical development of members, paying attention to the development trends of journalism in the digital transformation era to continue providing better advice and suggestions for journalistic activities and the association's activities in the face of many new challenges.

Furthermore, annual tasks continue to be carried out scientifically and creatively, focusing on practicality and usefulness, and aligning with the rights and interests of members. Simultaneously, the flourishing of external relations demonstrates the efforts of the Vietnam Journalists Association in elevating its position in the region. Therefore, building on this spirit, in the coming period we will strengthen external relations, enhancing the Association's prestige internationally, especially within the ASEAN Community. In 2024, the Association will continue to actively and effectively participate in the action program of the Confederation of ASEAN Journalists (CAJ), expanding bilateral relations with member media organizations of the Confederation; and further consolidating and deepening relations with strategic partners such as China, Thailand, South Korea, Cuba, etc.

At the same time, a strategy to expand cooperation with countries outside the region will also be set out in the plan for the coming period. In previous periods, the Vietnam Journalists Association has cooperated and linked with many countries outside the region through projects and training programs… Reconnecting to continue supporting members and journalists in improving their professional skills and keeping up with global trends is a necessary task…

It can be said that, with well-planned, scientific strategies and unity in our mission, 2024 will undoubtedly be a year of even greater success. The essential preparation for journalists entering the Year of the Dragon is to maintain their passion for the profession, persevere with a spirit of hard work and dedication, and be ready to welcome 2024 with an elevated position and a mindset of continuous innovation. We believe that 2024 will continue to be a year of innovation and breakthroughs for the Vietnam Journalists Association, paving the way for many key tasks, especially the preparation for the 12th National Congress of the Vietnam Journalists Association.

Yes, thank you very much, Mr. Standing Vice Chairman!

Ha Van (Implementation)

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/chung-toi-chao-don-2024-voi-vi-the-nang-tam-tam-the-khong-ngung-doi-moi-post278494.html