When both sides go together

Enhance two-way communication

Sharing about the coordination relationship between the Department of Information and Communications and central press agencies operating in the area, journalist Nong Van Dat - Head of the Vietnam News Agency's resident office in Cao Bang said: During the process of press activities in the locality, it was quite favorable when receiving support from provincial leaders and leaders of departments and branches, without encountering many difficulties.

However, sometimes, while working at the grassroots level, reporters still encounter obstacles due to local agencies and organizations lacking cooperation, not providing documents, or avoiding or not properly implementing the Press Law. These obstacles and difficulties were reported by reporters to the Department of Information and Communications. Afterwards, the Department, together with the Propaganda Department of the Cao Bang Provincial Party Committee, informed the above agencies, requesting them to properly implement the Press Law and not cause difficulties for reporters in their work.

"Thanks to that, agencies and units in the province have better awareness of the Press Law, cooperated and provided information and documents to the press" - Head of the Vietnam News Agency's permanent office in Cao Bang, Nong Van Dat, acknowledged.

Discussing this issue, journalist Tran Duy Tuyen - Head of the Representative Office of Dan Tri Newspaper in Thanh Hoa stated the reality: “As one of the central press agencies residing in the locality, for many years, we have received great attention and support from the Department of Information and Communications, especially the Press and Publishing Management Department. The coordination and two-way exchange of information between the Department of Information and Communications helps local reporters promptly grasp the policies and guidelines of the locality. Through press conferences, monthly meetings, and quarterly meetings organized by the Department of Information and Communications, central press agencies in the locality can exchange and dialogue directly with provincial leaders on issues of press interest.

Thereby, it also reflects the shortcomings in the process of speaking and providing information to the press in the area. At the same time, with the cooperation and facilitation of the Department of Information and Communications, the unit has been able to grasp more promptly many outstanding issues and information in the area that the public is interested in.

Regarding the public's response to the information that the Central Press Agency coordinated with the Department of Information and Communications to disseminate, and how this coordination has helped improve the level of trust and public interest, journalist Tran Duy Tuyen assessed: Most of such information receives public attention, especially in terms of information orientation. Because the information that the Department of Information and Communications coordinates to provide is information with a clear legal basis, provided by competent authorities, it has a high level of trust.

As a specific example of the success story in the propaganda work that reporters have coordinated with the Department of Information and Communications, journalist Tran Duy Tuyen gave an example: Those are investment promotion events, working sessions of high-ranking leaders or political and economic events in the locality all have the coordination and support of the Department of Information and Communications in terms of information and images. Thereby, helping press agencies to have more complete, accurate and timely information.

Frankly admitting, Mr. Nguyen Thuc Manh - Deputy Director of the Department of Information and Communications of Yen Bai province shared: Previously, in Yen Bai province, the problem of lack of planning, lack of initiative, lack of professionalism in providing information to the press still existed in a few agencies and localities. This is also a difficulty, an obstacle for press operations, affecting the overall effectiveness of propaganda in the locality.

To solve this problem, the Department of Information and Communications of Yen Bai province has been implementing a number of key solutions. Up to now, the departments, branches, sectors and localities of Yen Bai province have issued regulations on speaking and providing information to the press, with a clear and transparent mechanism for providing information to the press. Therefore, the problem of lack of initiative and unprofessionalism in providing information to the press in Yen Bai has been overcome; activities of providing information to the press have been carried out in a more systematic and effective manner.

Both management and coordination

To clarify the coordination relationship between the Department of Information and Communications and central press agencies, journalist Tran Long - resident reporter of the Education Times Newspaper in Vinh Phuc analyzed: Clause 4, Article 7 of the Press Law stipulates: "The People's Committee at the provincial level, within the scope of its tasks and powers, is responsible for state management of the press in the locality" . The Provincial People's Committee also issued regulations on the functions and tasks of the Department of Information and Communications in press management, in which the authority to manage the press is delegated to the Department of Information and Communications.

“That is to say, the relationship between the local Department of Information and Communications and reporters and journalists is both management and coordination. In other words, the Department of Information and Communications helps reporters and journalists operate in accordance with regulations, thereby producing quality journalistic works according to the requirements of the press agency's tasks, serving the tastes of readers,” said journalist Tran Long.

Reporter Tran Long, Education and Times Newspaper, working at the graduation exam site of Nguyen Thai Hoc High School, Vinh Phuc province.

Tran Long, resident reporter of the Education Times Newspaper in Vinh Phuc, added: “After nearly 20 years of working in the field of journalism, mainly as a local reporter, I have received effective support and coordination from the Department of Information and Communications. First of all, I am provided with timely and accurate information on current and social issues in the province. In addition, there are news events and outstanding activities in the fields of economy, culture, security situation, social order... In addition, the Department of Information and Communications often provides "hot" issues of public interest through many different channels."

According to journalist Tran Long, as a local resident reporter, he often has to organize his own news routes, find sources of information and build his own work program. Reporters have to follow all areas, from politics - society, to economics, security, national defense... The topics are broad, the area is "immense" and reporters do not always have enough time and mind to cover everything. Therefore, the official information channel from the authorities, specifically the Department of Information and Communications, is very valuable and necessary. The information coordinated between the two sides receives positive feedback from readers and trust from the public, because it is provided from official sources.

Reporter Tran Long commented: A newspaper or reporter who regularly provides fast and accurate news will receive trust and high appreciation from the public. Once receiving trust and positive evaluation from the public, the reporter's work will be more favorable and easier. Readers are not only a very good source of information for local reporters, but also a very objective place to evaluate the quality of the reporter's news articles.

Resident reporter in Yen Bai is working.

Discussing the "accompanying" between the Department of Information and Communications and press agencies, Ms. Le Hai Yen - Deputy Director of the Department of Information and Communications of Lang Son province said: Every year, the Department has provided more than 300 contents to more than 30 press agencies. Press agencies have access to official, timely, and honest information and have transformed it into hundreds of articles. The rate of positive information about Lang Son province has increased, negative information has decreased. In the first 6 months of 2024, there were 46 Central Newspaper Newsletters summarizing information about Lang Son with 2,373 news and articles. Of which, there were 1,078 positive news and articles (accounting for 45%); 7 negative news and articles (accounting for 3%); 1,288 neutral news and articles (accounting for 52%).

“ Lang Son province, all levels and sectors from the province to the grassroots level have always proactively provided information to the press in accordance with the provisions of Decree 09/2017/ND-CP on press statements and information provision in various forms such as press conferences, issuing press releases, press briefings, through electronic media, and responding to press interviews. As a result, the press has reflected relatively fully, comprehensively, regularly and promptly on Lang Son province” - said the Deputy Director of the Department of Information and Communications of Lang Son province.

According to Ms. Yen, every year, the Department of Information and Communications of Lang Son presides over the review of agencies and units in the area, requests to update and post the list of spokespersons and provide information to the press to be publicly posted on the provincial electronic information portal. The Department has established and operated a zalo group of resident press agencies and press agencies cooperating with Lang Son province to provide timely information. For specialized content or with proposals from press agencies, the Department has promptly reported to the Provincial People's Committee, issued documents to introduce reporters of press agencies to work smoothly.

Regarding this issue, Provincial Party Committee member and Director of the Department of Information and Communications of Hai Duong province, Nguyen Cao Thang, said: “In Hai Duong, we always clearly identify that the press plays a particularly important role in information and propaganda work. Reporters are provided with press cards during major events to easily access and report on events and activities of the province and departments, branches, sectors and localities.”

At the same time, the Department of Information and Communications has proactively and actively advised the Provincial People's Committee to promulgate and organize the implementation of legal documents, direct, manage, create a legal corridor and favorable conditions for press agencies to operate.

“We have also deployed an online support system through the Press Hotline, Spokesperson and Information Provider for the Press and the Hai Duong Press Zalo Group, Representative Office - Resident Reporter - Where reporters can send news, published articles, broadcast, send information requests and receive timely feedback from the Department of Information and Communications and other departments, branches, sectors and localities. This system is designed to increase interaction and reduce waiting time, helping the press get information quickly and conveniently…

In addition, the Department also organizes training sessions on information collection and processing skills and safe working methods for reporters... All of these mechanisms aim to create the best conditions for the press to operate, contributing to improving the quality of information and ensuring transparency and accuracy in communication" - Director of the Department of Information and Communications of Hai Duong province emphasized.

The “interaction” back and forth

Answering the question “How should the Department of Information and Communications and press agencies coordinate to enhance cooperation, improve the quality and accuracy of information disseminated?” - Head of the Vietnam News Agency's permanent office in Cao Bang, Nong Van Dat, expressed his opinion: “To do so, press agencies certainly need to coordinate closely with the Department of Information and Communications, need to increase their receptiveness, consider the Department of Information and Communications as an editor, a “sober person”, helping them detect errors in information. From there, respond to reporters so that they can edit and correct them promptly”.

A press conference organized by the People's Committee of Quang Nam province to inform the press.

On the contrary, according to journalist Nong Van Dat, the Department of Information and Communications also needs to further promote its role as an information censor; at the same time, improve its capacity to detect errors in the press, support the press in finding errors and promptly inform reporters. In addition, the Department of Information and Communications also needs to introduce and orient reporters, especially reporters of central press agencies, about interesting and attractive topics, cultural beauty, traditions, and achievements in socio-economic development of their localities so that reporters can understand and convey those contents on newspaper pages.

Agreeing with the above viewpoint, journalist Tran Duy Tuyen - Head of the representative office of Dan Tri Newspaper in Thanh Hoa said: The Department of Information and Communications and press agencies need to have more frequent exchanges and coordination, especially in prominent events and incidents occurring in the area, in paying attention and exchanging with functional agencies and localities to have quick and accurate statements and information so that press agencies have a basis for timely and correct propaganda.

Meanwhile, reporter Tran Long also expressed his opinion that the strong development of the internet, social networks and multimedia communications is having many impacts on journalism activities in general and local journalism in particular. In the role of the Department of Information and Communications, it is necessary to flexibly adapt to local press management activities.

On the one hand, the Department of Information and Communications directs and guides press agencies, media, and reporters in the province to carry out the task of disseminating the Party's directives and resolutions, and the State's policies and laws. Advise provincial leaders to direct relevant units and sectors to inspect press cases, report to the Provincial People's Committee, and respond to press agencies according to regulations; promptly guide and urge agencies, units, and localities to inspect, clarify, and respond to press information, and promptly handle false information.

On the other hand, the Department of Information and Communications needs to strengthen supervision of statements and information provided to the press by agencies and localities in accordance with regulations. Proactively contact, dialogue, and organize press conferences to provide full information on incidents and current issues that are of public interest.

The Deputy Director of the Department of Information and Communications of Lang Son province acknowledged: In the coming time, agencies and units need to continue to proactively and actively coordinate with press agencies, innovate communication methods and forms of providing information to the press to ensure publicity, transparency and well meet the information needs of press agencies.

On the contrary, to achieve “unanimity”, press agencies need to coordinate regularly and closely with agencies and units in policy communication work. Strengthen and improve the quality of policy communication, promote digital transformation of the press, apply technology, innovate multimedia communication methods to create effective policy communication, meeting new task requirements.

Also expressing his views on the "unanimity" and coordination between the Department of Information and Communications and press agencies, Director of the Department of Information and Communications of Hai Duong province Nguyen Cao Thang stated : "We will focus on strengthening the direction and management of the press, creating a legal corridor for the press to operate smoothly; have a mechanism to increase funding for ordering, assigning tasks, and signing media cooperation agreements for press agencies; Continue to effectively promote joint working groups - where officials of the Department of Information and Communications and reporters can discuss and exchange information regularly; Maintain a national press bulletin writing about Hai Duong every day to serve the leadership, direction and regulation of the provincial leaders.

In addition, organizing press awards, press conferences, exchange events, training courses on skills, journalism, speaking, providing information to the press and handling media crises, etc. will also help improve the quality of information and communication capabilities of both sides. This close cooperation will certainly help press agencies to more effectively promote local activities and policies.

Nguyen Huong - Quan Tuan - Minh Dien

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/khi-doi-ben-cung-dong-hanh-post299720.html