Amidst the surging wave of technological advancements, the revolutionary press of Vietnam is entering a period of profound transformation. Streamlining organization, improving quality, mastering digital platforms, but above all, maintaining its role in guiding ideology and consolidating national unity. In relation to this issue, a reporter from the Industry and Trade Newspaper had an interview with Mr. Vu Van Tien, Member of the Presidium and Head of the Propaganda Department of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front .
Mr. Vu Van Tien, Member of the Presidium, Head of the Propaganda Department of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front.
Restructuring to maintain leadership
- Faced with the pressures of digital transformation and fierce information competition, how should the press reposition itself to maintain its pioneering role on the ideological and cultural front?
Dr. Vu Van Tien: We are living in a major turning point in the history of media. Digital technology , especially artificial intelligence, big data, cloud computing, the Internet of Things… along with the explosive development of social networks, has completely disrupted the model of information production and distribution that has existed for decades.
This context places a demand for change in journalism. If it maintains old management styles, is slow to innovate, lacks investment in digital infrastructure, and fails to improve the quality of its human resources, journalism will face the risk of falling behind, losing its position, declining social influence, and even losing its leading role.
Therefore, restructuring is an objective necessity. But I want to emphasize that reorganization is not about mechanical contraction. It is about opening up a new space for development, where each media outlet must be more streamlined, more efficient, and stronger; operate effectively and efficiently based on its principles and objectives; reduce duplication; build its own identity; and strengthen the flow of official information.
More importantly, the press must fill the gaps in public opinion, using the good to overcome the bad, using the positive to push back the negative, and always accompanying the lives of the people with a professional, humane, and modern style.
To achieve this, we must first overcome our own inertia. If we are still afraid of change and continue to follow the beaten path, we will not be able to break through. When innovation becomes a imperative, commitment must be a continuous journey. Only by renewing ourselves from within can journalism capture the hearts and minds of the digital age public.
- In your opinion, what is the foundation for journalism to both ensure political direction and meet the increasingly diverse needs of the digital audience?
Dr. Vu Van Tien: The mission of revolutionary Vietnamese journalism has never changed: it is the loyal voice of the Party and the State, a forum for the people, and a bridge between the Party's will and the people's aspirations.
Over the years, the application of science and technology in the production, storage, and distribution of content has created many works with strong appeal, catering to new tastes. However, technology cannot replace the role of human beings.
Technology is the foundation, but people are at the center. Today's journalists must possess a "dual skill set": strong political conviction, impeccable professional ethics, and expert skills; while simultaneously mastering technology, becoming proficient in digital skills, knowing how to tell stories through various formats, and knowing how to interact with the community.
I believe that the completed Press Law will create an important legal framework for building strong media organizations capable of leading and shaping public opinion.
In this new context, the press must bring the Party's guidelines and the State's policies closer to the people; create a space for democratic dialogue; and at the same time, maintain a strong presence in the online environment, refute misinformation, and uphold the national information front.
Repositioning journalism in the digital age to maintain ideological ground. Photo: Nam Nguyen.
Putting people at the heart of innovation.
- In a multi-platform environment, how should journalistic training requirements change to truly master technology?
Dr. Vu Van Tien: If we consider digital transformation as a revolution in journalism, then human resources are the decisive force in the success of that revolution. Technology, no matter how modern, cannot create value on its own. It only fulfills its purpose when placed in the hands, minds, and responsibilities of journalists.
Therefore, the demands placed on training today no longer stop at simply transmitting professional skills in the old way. We need a new, more flexible approach that closely links theory with practice, schools with newsrooms, and training with the ever-changing practical needs.
Journalists in the digital age must be prepared to enter a multi-platform work environment where each piece of work is not just words but also images, data, graphics, and interactions. To achieve this, there must be a long-term resource investment strategy, mechanisms to encourage creativity, identify and utilize talent, and create conditions for them to dare to think, dare to act, and dare to take responsibility for the common good.
When a team with strong political convictions, impeccable professional ethics, and mastery of modern technology and thinking is built, the press will not only adapt but also lead. Only then will each journalistic product truly have a wide reach, be close to the people, be persuasive, and become a pillar of trust for society.
- Based on the experience of the Fatherland Front, what are your expectations regarding the role of the press, especially the Industry and Trade Newspaper, in consolidating trust and strengthening national unity?
Dr. Vu Van Tien: The greatest spirit we always mention is the power of the people's will. The press, through truthful, multifaceted information and diverse methods of expression, has contributed to honoring good values, multiplying good models, promoting supervision and criticism, and building the Party and government.
However, the digital environment also brings about fragmentation. This requires the press to be more proactive and steadfast in promoting policies, protecting ideological foundations, refuting erroneous viewpoints, and listening to society to strengthen trust.
For the Industry and Trade Newspaper in particular, its more than 80-year history is a very proud one. Drastic innovations in organization and content, especially the formation of a digital media ecosystem across multiple platforms, have helped the newspaper become one of the leading newspapers among those affiliated with ministries and government agencies.
I expect the newspaper to continue to uphold that tradition, make even stronger breakthroughs, and always be a reliable and timely source of information for the industry and its readers, contributing to building social consensus in this new phase of development.
Thank you very much, sir !
According to Dr. Vu Van Tien: " When innovation is a mandate, commitment must be a continuous journey. Without overcoming old inertia, journalism cannot create breakthroughs ."
Source: https://congthuong.vn/tai-dinh-vi-bao-chi-trong-ky-nguyen-so-de-giu-vung-tran-dia-tu-tuong-443153.html
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