Once upon a time, it was a district-level radio station.

From the beginning of July, 12 former district-level radio stations (currently under the Cultural, Sports and Communication Center) in Hai Duong will officially close their doors...

Mr. Nguyen Dinh Tuyen in Dong Quang commune (Gia Loc district) flips through the pages of his notebook, recording historical events of the country and the locality that were prominently broadcast by Gia Loc District Radio.

Memorable milestones

On February 25, 1957, Hai Duong Town Radio Station was established, marking the beginning of the birth and development of radio broadcasting and television in Hai Duong.

Initially, districts established broadcasting departments (under the Department of Culture and Information), then broadcasting stations, radio stations, and later radio broadcasting stations.

From January 1, 2025, district-level radio stations will merge with the Cultural, Information, and Sports Center to form the Cultural, Sports, and Communication Center. Despite the merger, the functions and tasks of disseminating information by district-level radio stations will remain the same as before.

From July 1st, the entire country will officially abolish the district level, transitioning to a two-tiered local government model: province and commune . This also marks the completion of the historical mission of the district-level radio broadcasting system.

Mission accomplished.

Mr. Pham Duong Hoa, Deputy Director of the Culture, Sports and Communications Center of Nam Sach District, working at a Covid-19 control checkpoint (archive photo).

Throughout its long history, the district-level radio station has closely followed historical periods, reflecting many important political events of the country and the locality.

Mr. Nguyen Dinh Tuyen (85 years old), residing in Dong Quang commune (Gia Loc district), was formerly the Deputy Head of the District Information and Broadcasting Department, in charge of the Gia Loc District Radio Station in 1975. At noon on April 30, 1975, while on duty relaying the Voice of Vietnam radio broadcast on the Gia Loc District Radio Station system, he heard over the station's loudspeakers: "At 11:30, after the fall of the Independence Palace, the puppet President Duong Van Minh declared unconditional surrender…". He then produced propaganda programs revolving around this momentous historical event.

In a time of peace, reporters at district radio stations must overcome all difficulties to disseminate information about political, economic, and social events in their localities. Ms. Nguyen Thi Kha, Head of the Culture, Science, and Information Department of Kinh Mon town, recalls that in 1997, when she first started working at Kinh Mon District Radio Station, she traveled to the field by bicycle on difficult, rocky roads, having to record audio using cassette tapes. "I took on many roles, from writing news articles to being a broadcaster and technician…," Ms. Kha said.

In the current digital age and information explosion, district-level radio stations are constantly innovating. Many district stations have invested in modern cameras, audio recorders, and specialized computers. A reporter at a district-level station can do many things, from writing news articles, filming and editing videos, to recording radio programs, posting news articles on social media, and actively collaborating with central and provincial newspapers and radio stations. Many reporters also use editing software and artificial intelligence (AI) applications...

Reporter Nguyen Thi Hau from the Kinh Mon Town Cultural, Sports and Communications Center produces the radio program.

Currently, on average, a district-level radio station produces and broadcasts 4-5 news programs per week, each lasting 30 minutes; and maintains full relay of programs from the central and provincial radio stations according to the prescribed schedule.

Mr. Nguyen Van Nhat, Deputy Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, assessed that in recent times, the district-level radio broadcasting system has effectively fulfilled its role as a bridge between the Party committee, the government, and the people; disseminating the Party's guidelines and policies, and the State's laws; understanding and reflecting the thoughts and aspirations of the people; and contributing to the socio-economic development and ensuring local security and order. The district-level radio broadcasting system has been highly effective in disseminating information on the implementation of political tasks at the grassroots level, most recently the streamlining of the administrative apparatus...

Turning a new page

Recently, the People's Committee of Hai Duong province issued a plan for the reorganization of public service units under the People's Committees of districts, towns, and cities, as well as public service units under departments located in district-level areas, when organizing a two-tiered local government system.

Reporter Huu Hung from the Culture, Sports and Communications Center of Tu Ky District produced the documentary "Keeping the Flame of the Voi Rice Cracker Making Craft Alive," which was published on Hai Duong online newspaper in October 2024 (photo provided by the facility).

Establish 12 inter-communal (regional) Cultural and Sports Centers in communes and wards that already have Cultural, Sports and Communication Centers, Children's Houses, etc., at the district level to continue managing existing cultural institutions, facilities, and equipment; and establish 52 Cultural and Sports Centers in the remaining commune-level administrative units, ensuring they are appropriate to the actual situation.

In the future, the task of information and propaganda at the grassroots level will still be undertaken by the Cultural and Sports Center, with the core personnel being the former staff of the district-level radio station. The former staff of the district-level radio station will still be able to work, only on a different scale than before.

In the coming period, many new demands will be placed on the provision of grassroots information, including the system of commune-level and inter-commune radio stations. The rapid development of technology requires strong innovation in the content and form of information provision, shifting from traditional methods to multi-platform, multi-media approaches, applying the achievements of science, technology, and digital transformation. The staff working in information services at commune-level and inter-commune radio stations also need to improve their capacity and qualifications to meet these new requirements.

LE HUONG

Source: https://baohaiduong.vn/mot-thoi-dai-cap-huyen-413855.html