Associate Professor, Dr. Tran Quang Dieu: Digital transformation of journalism to fulfill the mission of Resolution 68

Digital transformation is an inevitable requirement for press agencies. In the context of Resolution 68-NQ/TW clearly defining the leading and accompanying role of the press in the development of the private economy , an important pillar of the economy.

In an interview with a reporter from the Industry and Trade Newspaper, Associate Professor, Dr. Tran Quang Dieu - Director of the Center for Technology and Digital Transformation, Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics - emphasized that "change" is the key word for the press to adapt, affirm its role in the national digital media ecosystem and bring policies into life.

Associate Professor, Dr. Tran Quang Dieu in a conversation with a reporter from the Industry and Trade Newspaper. Photo: Thanh Thao

Digital transformation of journalism is an inevitable requirement

- Sir, the content of the strategy "Digital transformation of journalism to 2025, orientation to 2030" has set many expectations. So, in your opinion, what is the biggest challenge in implementation?

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tran Quang Dieu: Vietnam's revolutionary press has made quite strong and rapid progress in digital transformation activities. We have the Press Law 2016, the Press Planning 2019 and especially Decision 348/QD-TTg approving the Press Digital Transformation Strategy to 2025, with a vision to 2030. It can be seen that technology has become increasingly popular, press agencies have also gradually changed themselves through digital transformation activities, bringing technology into all activities and initially achieved remarkable results.

Press and media agencies in Vietnam have also appeared on most multimedia platforms, or in other words, we have been and are integrating into the flow of world journalism. However, the first difficulty we are facing when implementing digital journalism is probably resources. Those resources, in many different aspects, are the perfection of the state's guidelines, policies, and laws.

Photo: Thanh Thao

For example, we have mentioned the press economy but the corridor for the press economy is not complete. We have mentioned the state's support for digital transformation activities in the press, but there are no common standards for press agencies to operate and deploy together. Another problem is that we do not have a national press ecosystem, and there is still a lack of a leading role for state management agencies in digital transformation activities for press agencies.

We should build a national press and media ecosystem so that press agencies can learn from each other and share information without losing the differences and characteristics of each press agency.

The key word is "change"

- If you were to choose a keyword for today's journalists, what would you choose? For a specialized press agency like Cong Thuong Newspaper, what do you think needs to be done to promote its role in leading economic information?

Associate Professor, Dr. Tran Quang Dieu: Change! Digital transformation means change, and journalists will also have to change. Change in methods, change in thinking, change in form, and change in operating model. Perhaps “change” is the most appropriate keyword in this context.

The press has a specialized nature, and that specialization plays an important and consistent role in the digital transformation activities of all press agencies. It is necessary to promote the strengths of the industry press. For example, the Industry and Trade Newspaper, in order to promote its own strengths, it is not simply a general reflection, but must be in-depth, specialized, and must be a place of real support for businesses, people and state management agencies. From there, gradually perfecting the way to respond to changes in society as well as the world.

I will talk more about “change” with a more specific example. Most recently, Resolution 68 NQ/TW is a typical example. General Secretary To Lam said that this is one of the four pillars to develop our country and the private economy is the most important driving force. Therefore, the participation, orientation and guidance of press and media agencies, especially the Industry and Trade Newspaper - the mouthpiece of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, is very necessary.

Associate Professor, Dr. Tran Quang Dieu commented: "Cong Thuong Newspaper is one of the leading newspapers in digital transformation of journalism." Photo: Thanh Thao

For example, if I am a business, I will read the Industry and Trade Newspaper. But when reading the Industry and Trade Newspaper, I expect to understand the processes, procedures, methods, and policies of the state to support businesses, how to implement tasks and work? What priorities and incentives do businesses receive, and what are the specific contents? The Industry and Trade Newspaper is not just an information portal, but must contain specialized data of a press agency in the industry, under the Ministry of Industry and Trade.

In my opinion, to remove the “bottlenecks” in the cause of building and developing the country, press and media agencies play an increasingly important role. For the economy, especially the private economy, the guidance, information provision and companionship of the Industry and Trade Newspaper in particular and other press agencies in general are very important for resolutions and policies to enter into reality and social life.

Resolution 68 NQ/TW clearly defines the role of the press.

- As you just shared, Resolution 68 clearly defines the role of the press in the national digital media ecosystem and especially the role of accompanying the development of the private economy. So how do you view the function and mission of the press through this resolution?

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tran Quang Dieu: Resolution of the 13th National Congress affirmed that it is necessary to build a professional, humane and modern revolutionary press. Resolution 68 realizes the directional instructions of Resolution of the 13th National Congress. Resolution 68-NQ/TW clearly defines that the press is not only an information channel but also a pioneering force in leading, accompanying and creating a positive public opinion environment for the development of the private economy - one of the important pillars of the country's economy.

Therefore, the companionship, sharing and guidance of press and media agencies help businesses have confidence, motivation and understanding of their operations as well as their contributions to the community.

Industry and Trade Newspaper - The mouthpiece of the Ministry of Industry and Trade. Photo: Thanh Thao

The function of the press is not only to reflect, but also to listen to the people, listen to the development of each region to lead and suggest specialized economic development for each region, field, and industry.

For example, the press can understand what people in this area are looking for guidance and sharing to avoid the situation of being “rescued” all day long. Previously, this area produced one product, the other area also produced one product and we did not create specialized product areas, so there was a surplus. As a business, it is completely possible to take advantage of the strengths of that product area to organize production and build your own business plan. The countries next to us all do the same.

When there are guiding viewpoints, the press will play the role of connecting people to help them understand each other. People understand the Government, the Government understands the people, people understand businesses, businesses understand the Government. So no one else, only the press and media can do this, instead of reflecting, we play the role of leading and orienting.

Thank you!

Resolution 68-NQ/TW clearly defines that the press is not only an information channel but also a pioneering force in leading, accompanying and creating a positive public opinion environment for the development of the private economy - one of the important pillars of the country's economy.

The press in the digital age plays a role in orienting social awareness, spreading effective and transparent business models. At the same time, it criticizes policies and promotes institutional reform, contributing to building a dynamic, competitive and sustainable private economic ecosystem.

Thanh Thao

Source: https://congthuong.vn/pgsts-tran-quang-dieu-chuyen-doi-so-bao-chi-de-thuc-thi-su-menh-cua-nghi-quyet-68-389005.html