Publishing industry needs to focus on training and developing editors

In 2024, the entire publishing, printing and distribution industry will face huge challenges, including fluctuations in raw material markets, increased production costs and new difficulties due to declining purchasing power in the domestic market and disruptions in supply in the export market. However, overcoming subjective and objective difficulties, the entire industry has achieved relatively positive results.

In the publishing sector alone, as of December 31, 2024, the total number of publications achieved was 51,443 publications with 597,182,861 copies (an increase of 37.2% in publications and an increase of 11.3% in copies/visits compared to 2023). Total revenue of the whole industry reached more than 4,500 billion VND (an increase of 10.3%); budget contribution was more than 212 billion VND (a decrease of 44.67%); profit (after tax) reached more than 507 billion VND (an increase of 11.41%).

Mr. Nguyen Nguyen, Director of the Department of Publishing, Printing and Distribution, reported on the performance in 2024 and the direction for 2025 before the conference.

Also in the past year, digital transformation in publishing houses continued to receive attention. The number of publishing houses participating in electronic publishing increased by 29.1%, bringing the number of publishing houses participating in electronic publishing to 54.3%, exceeding the growth target. In particular, a number of common platforms for the entire industry have been developed, including the "Essential electronic book and newspaper platform" of the Information and Communication Publishing House, the political - legal book platform of the Truth National Political Publishing House, the scientific book platform of the Construction Publishing House...

Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Hoi, Deputy Director of the Department of Culture and Sports of Ho Chi Minh City, proposed building a shared platform for publishing units.

According to Mr. Nguyen Nguyen, Director of the Department of Publishing, Printing and Distribution, in 2025, the world situation will continue to have many rapid and complicated changes, especially the trade war with recent tense developments that are threatening the development and operation of the global economy , causing disruptions in the supply of raw materials and goods.

“Reading culture has made progress, digital transformation, artificial intelligence and globalization trends are gradually going into depth, creating new momentum for development. The development of e-commerce, social networks and new forms of communication; digital production trends, green production are creating many opportunities but at the same time posing great challenges in management and implementation,” said Mr. Nguyen Nguyen.

Ms. Pham Thi Kim Thoa, Deputy Director of the Vietnam Copyright Office, presented solutions to protect copyright for electronic publications.

In the key directions and tasks for 2025, Mr. Nguyen Nguyen proposed many tasks and solutions for each region. Notably, the work of training and fostering editors with professional skills and strong political will, especially the next generation of leaders, to avoid the prolonged shortage of personnel like some publishing houses in the recent past. In particular, focusing on directing publishing units in building staff strategies, organizing training, fostering digital human resources, copyright and international cooperation.

In addition, an equally important task in the current context is to pay attention to, support, and invest in publishing houses in implementing digital transformation; increase investment in synchronous technical infrastructure to contribute to developing the publishing industry into a modern economic and technological sector, first of all, investing in infrastructure and technology to apply information technology, making electronic publishing a spearhead and driving force for development.

On the same morning, in Ho Chi Minh City, the Vietnam Publishing Association held a Seminar to collect opinions on the Law amending and supplementing the Law on Publishing, with the participation of many experts, publishers, printing and publishing units in the Southern region.

The implementation of amendments and supplements to the Publishing Law aims at three goals: Perfecting the State's policies on publishing activities, strengthening management to protect the publishing market, combating piracy and copyright infringement in publishing activities; Improving the operational capacity of publishers, printing and distribution establishments, promoting digital transformation, developing publishing and distributing electronic publications; Reforming administrative procedures in the fields of publishing, printing and distribution.

QUYNH YEN

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/nganh-xuat-ban-can-quan-tam-dao-tao-boi-duong-nguon-bien-tap-vien-post791965.html