Major multimedia news agencies in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City: Early research and pilot programs are needed.

Members of the National Assembly believe that it is necessary and essential to promptly study and propose amendments to the planning, development strategy, and management of the press system to allow for the pilot establishment of a leading multi-media press agency in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.

Ms. Dinh Thi Nga's (66 years old) newspaper stall at the intersection of Ly Chinh Thang and Tran Quoc Thao streets (Nhieu Loc ward, Ho Chi Minh City) has been operating for the past 30 years - Photo: TRUNG NGHIA

Speaking to Tuoi Tre newspaper, National Assembly delegates said that it is necessary and essential to promptly research and propose amendments to the planning, development strategy, and management of the press system to allow for the pilot establishment of a leading multi-media press agency in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.

At the same time, these agencies will contribute to leading national media in this new phase of development.

Without a sufficiently powerful mainstream media outlet, information can easily become fragmented, manipulated by social media, or even distorted, leading to confusion and misinformation in society.

Representative BUI HOAI SON

Urgent requirement

Representative Bui Hoai Son

Representative Bui Hoai Son, a member of the National Assembly 's Committee on Culture and Society, argued that early research and piloting of the establishment of a leading multi-media press agency at the local level in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City is not only necessary but has become an essential requirement in the new context of journalism, urban governance, and the process of building a modern rule of law state.

First of all, Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City hold a special position, being both the two largest cities in the country and important centers of politics , administration, economics, culture, science, education, and foreign relations.

The amount of information generated daily in these two cities is enormous, diverse, and complex, requiring a media hub that is strong, reputable, and capable of handling multiple platforms.

This is to ensure timely and accurate reporting, guide public opinion, and support the government in modern urban management. Without a leading and sufficiently capable media outlet, information can easily become fragmented, manipulated by social media, or even distorted, leading to social confusion.

Secondly, mainstream multimedia journalism is not simply about being "bigger" or having "more channels," but rather a new organizational model that integrates print, online, radio, television, digital platforms, and social media into a unified ecosystem.

For Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City – leading localities in digital transformation, smart city development, and digital government – ​​having a media agency operating with a multimedia and multi-platform mindset is crucial for connecting the government, citizens, and businesses, disseminating major policies, cultural values, development aspirations, and the city's image domestically and internationally.

Thirdly, the amended Press Law has opened up a legal framework for this model, and the fact that the Government stated in its explanation that when revising the press planning, it will propose that Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City establish leading multi-media press agencies shows that the management mindset has shifted from "managing efficiently" to "organizing effectively".

This is a very commendable step. The remaining issue is the need to quickly concretize it through appropriate planning, organizational mechanisms, finance, personnel, and autonomy, so that this model does not just exist in name but truly plays a leading role.

"Policy Lab"

Sharing further insights, Mr. Bui Hoai Son stated that Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City should be considered "policy laboratories" for modern local journalism. If implemented successfully in these two cities, the model of a leading multi-media local press agency will create an important foundation for replication and flexible adaptation in other localities according to specific conditions.

This is not just a story for the press alone, but part of a strategy to build a healthy, professional, and humane media space that serves the sustainable development of the country in the digital age.

It is also important to understand that a leading multi-media news agency at the local level must possess three key elements: the capacity to produce high-quality, in-depth, and distinctive content; a robust digital infrastructure, mastery of data, and the ability to analyze public data; and a flexible financial and governance mechanism coupled with accountability, avoiding duplication and waste of resources.

"Therefore, I strongly support and believe that a pilot model of a leading multi-media press agency should be implemented soon in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City with innovative thinking, a special mechanism, and a long-term vision, befitting the leading role of the two largest cities in the country. At the same time, these agencies will contribute to leading national media in the new development phase," Mr. Son shared.

Representative PHAM VAN HOA (Dong Thap):

The right, necessary step.

In its explanatory report, the National Assembly Standing Committee stated that the Government had directed the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to conduct a review of the planning, and also planned to propose to the competent authorities to continue inheriting some viewpoints of the current plan and add new viewpoints.

In particular, the report outlines a direction allowing Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City to establish leading multi-media news agencies. I believe this is an appropriate and necessary step.

Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City are the two largest centers in the country in terms of politics, economics, culture, and information and communication. The workload, communication demands, and information needs of the people in these two special urban areas far exceed those of other localities.

Therefore, piloting a model of a major multimedia news conglomerate or corporation here will create conditions for testing new governance models, flexible financial mechanisms, converged newsroom organization methods, and large-scale, professional multi-platform content production.

I believe that when the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism concretizes these policies in the new strategy, with the approval of competent authorities, it will create a strong, synchronized and feasible transformation for the Vietnamese press system.

This is the right time for us to reorganize resources, apply advanced models, and promote the role of journalism as a reliable, modern, and professional pillar of information, meeting the requirements of national development in the new era.

THANH CHUNG - TIEN LONG

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/co-quan-bao-chi-chu-luc-da-phuong-tien-o-ha-noi-tp-hcm-can-som-nghien-cuu-thi-diem-20251213082512551.htm