'Voice of Vietnam - September Star Award' is closely associated with VOV's founding anniversary

The Voice of Vietnam Award organized annually by VOV is a meaningful activity on the occasion of the anniversary of its founding (September 7, 1945). This is a form of reward to arouse the spirit of competition and creativity in professional activities and expertise of officers, reporters, editors, technicians, artists, broadcasters and employees of VOV.

This year, the Voice of Vietnam Award changed its name to the Voice of Vietnam Award - September Star with many innovations, improving the quality of content, form of expression, number of authors, works and projects participating.

Journalist Dong Manh Hung, Head of Editorial Secretariat, Permanent Vice President of VOV Journalists Association.

VTC News reporter interviewed journalist Dong Manh Hung, Head of Editorial Secretariat, Permanent Vice President of VOV Journalists Association about the innovations of this year's award.

- From this year, 2023, the Voice of Vietnam Award will have a new name: “Voice of Vietnam Award – September Star”. Why this new name, sir?

The award was originally called the Voice of Vietnam Award , but this year we decided to change the name to the Voice of Vietnam Award – September Star . This new name was created with the desire to closely link the award with the anniversary of the founding of the Voice of Vietnam (September 7, 1945).

Besides, this change also has a special meaning, honoring the authors and award-winning works as shining stars, representing the intelligence, creativity, as well as the spirit of Voice of Vietnam.

With such profound meaning, the Voice of Vietnam Award - September Star is an encouragement and motivation for VOV's staff, reporters, editors, technicians, artists, announcers and workers to feel honored and proud to receive this award.

- Besides the name, what are the innovations of this year's award, sir?

Previously, the Voice of Vietnam Award was purely for the editorial sector, awarded to authors and works with outstanding articles, radio and television programs.

However, this year, the Editorial Secretariat has advised to expand and raise the level of the Voice of Vietnam award with many new categories for areas such as administrative reform, technology, management work, etc.

As for the content block, in addition to the press works as every year, we have added the category of Creative Ideas and Press Content Creation . This is a very new point.

The category of Outstanding Creative Ideas and Press Content Creation is an opportunity for units to create new, breakthrough formats in applying science and technology to VOV content, ensuring propaganda while demonstrating creativity, attracting the attention of the public, especially young audiences on digital infrastructure platforms. This is essential for units.

- How do you rate the quality of the entries this year?

This year, the number of entries for the journalism competition increased compared to previous years. In terms of content, the works are diverse in genre and topic, creating a comprehensive picture, reflecting many hot issues in society, issues that the country is implementing, and the Party is directing.

Issues such as the durian boom in the Central Highlands, child sexual abuse , earthquake in Turkey, the Church of God the Mother... are all fully reflected on the station's radio, television, print and electronic media.

In terms of form, many works show a very elaborate investment with a very new way of expression. Radio has many works that apply many documents and reality reports. Television has many big programs such as "Manh giau tu bien que huong" (Rich from the sea of homeland) , the 60-minute documentary "V iet Nam - Japan: The long-standing connection in culture" (Vietnam - Japan: The long-standing connection in culture) is meticulously made, with a very modern way of doing it, which is reality television with the guidance of two famous MCs from Vietnam and Japan.

Print and electronic newspapers continue to promote the strength of e-magazines and longform, so the format is very attractive. This year, all works are published on digital platforms, creating a stronger spread.

The permanent agencies at home and abroad also participated very actively. The works of the permanent agencies abroad from Egypt, Indonesia, China, the US, France, etc. were all of good quality and won awards this year.

Along with that, scientific research projects and technical innovation initiatives are suitable for the development of VOV. Especially, the applications of AI technology and digital transformation in the journalism process are applied and carefully researched by the units, written into theoretical research projects, combined with practice, making the project not rigid, achieving good results...

The special investigative series "Entering the lair, becoming a Saint, exposing the heresy of the Church of God the Mother" by VTC News e-newspaper won the Gold prize of the "Voice of Vietnam - September Star" award.

- What is special about this year's award for outstanding journalism, sir?

This year’s award-winning journalistic works all reflect the country’s burning current issues. From economic issues such as the application of science and technology or crop structure, issues related to planning… to current issues such as gasoline prices, land laws…

Along with that, social issues such as child abuse, protecting workers' rights, examples of ordinary people,... are also mentioned in many works.

According to the assessment, one of the issues that units pay much attention to and have relatively good works is the issue of protecting the Party's ideal foundation and the fight against corruption.

Through these works, we see that the team of reporters and editors have tried very hard to have these works. Commitment here has two aspects: Dare to think, dare to explore big issues such as cross-border smuggling, illegal sand mining, the fight against corruption and protecting the Party's ideological foundation....

VOV journalists have discovered hot topics, but to carry them out, they need great commitment and sacrifice. Especially reporters from domestic agencies such as the Northwest, Northeast, and Central Highlands agencies...

Or reporters at VTC Digital Television, they have been present at most of the hot spots, the most difficult places. Especially the resident reporters in Egypt and Indonesia have not been afraid of difficulties and hardships, being present at the terrible earthquakes to report and reflect.

I think one of the highlights is creativity. The program "Manh gia tu bien que huong" (Rich from the sea of the homeland) has the participation of many reporters, editors and leaders. The program was highly appreciated and awarded a special prize this year.

- The awards for "Outstanding creative content and technical ideas"; "Awards for scientific research, technical innovation initiatives, administrative procedure reform" will certainly prioritize projects that help VOV's digital transformation become deeper and broader?

These works are all evaluated on a general level. There are many fields, but this year's entries focus on digital transformation and new applications of artificial intelligence.

For example, the award for Excellent Ideas and Initiatives in Creative Journalism Content was given to VTC Station for Research on the Application of Artificial Intelligence Technology - Interactive Technology and Television Program Production , or the Award for Initiatives and Innovations in the Field of Work was given to the project of Integrating digital signatures using Sim-pki into the internal management and operation application on VOV's mobile devices ,...

These projects demonstrate our new trend in digital transformation. VOV needs to take a shortcut, follow, and use such modern digital transformation to serve content creation and distribution on multiple platforms.

The political and artistic program "Prosperity from the homeland's sea" won the Special Prize of the "Voice of Vietnam - September Star" award.

- Are there any new and outstanding faces in the awards for individuals in the fields of broadcasters, presenters, and outstanding artists, sir?

These categories also attract a large number of participants. However, each year, we only select a limited number, so the voting for the artists, performers, and MCs is also difficult. In the end, we still choose the best singer and MC.

This year we give the Best Performing Artist award to Meritorious Artist Minh Phuong - a famous cheo singer of VOV. She also has many contributions to the traditional music room of the VOV3 Music Department.

The award for Outstanding Presenter was given to VOV5's English radio presenter - Le Phuong Khanh. This is one of the effective presenters with a modern style, absorbing the presentation style of international radio and television shows, suitable for young people.

- How did the judging panel have to consider the increasingly improved quality of works?

As every year, the Judging Council works impartially, making decisions based on the quality of the author and the work. As quality improves, the judging process must be more rigorous, and the requirements are also more stringent.

The Voice of Vietnam Award requires works to have a close combination of content and form. If the work has good content but the form of expression is not appropriate for the genre of radio, television, print or electronic newspapers, and lacks creativity and innovation, it is unlikely to achieve high quality and awards.

The same goes for research projects. We require that research projects must be of practical use, applied in VOV's work practices, in the process of operations and serve in the most effective way.

Research projects must also achieve a large scientific content to create lessons and textbooks for our colleagues in the Station to learn, summarize and apply.

- Is the political and artistic program "Strong and rich from the homeland's sea" a highlight that demonstrates the combination of multiple platforms in modern journalism, creating a special program rich in art and journalism, sir?

The program "Manh gia tu bien que huong" is a program that has a deep impression, with creativity in the way of expression, content, script, and stage. In particular, the program is broadcast on many platforms, including digital platforms, showing the close combination between units in the Station, creating the overall strength of VOV. This is a breakthrough work of this award.

Thank you!

Le Chi - Thanh Tung

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