Streamlining the press agency apparatus: Encouraging journalists to be more versatile and effective

According to leaders of press agencies, Resolution 18 on streamlining the apparatus has had positive impacts and encouraged journalists to strive to change and become more versatile and multi-tasking.

Resolution 18 on streamlining the apparatus creates major changes in agencies, opening up more space and new developments. For press agencies, streamlining the apparatus requires journalists to become more dynamic and multi-tasking, thereby creating development opportunities for the press in the new era.

That was the issue mentioned in the discussion session "Resolution 18 and the requirement for innovation in press personnel" at the National Press Forum 2025 on the afternoon of June 20.

Lean organization opens up new opportunities

Opening the discussion, Mr. Pham Van Tuan, Director of Hai Phong Media Center, said that the center was established based on the merger of Hai Phong Newspaper and Hai Phong Radio and Television Station, and started operating in early March this year.

After the merger, this unit had the "difficulty" of how to do multimedia journalism instead of each person doing only one job like before.

Mr. Pham Van Tuan, Director of Hai Phong Media Center, spoke at the discussion session. (Photo: Khanh Hoa/VNA)

“Another challenge is that when merging provinces and cities together, the way of doing journalism in the two provinces was different before. Difficulties range from culture to financial mechanisms, and we have to focus on retraining human resources, especially when applying artificial intelligence to the journalism model,” Mr. Tuan raised the issue.

In difficult times there are opportunities, Mr. Pham Van Tuan said that the unit has a plan to train reporters in a multimedia direction.

Sharing the same opinion with Mr. Tuan, Editor-in-Chief of Culture Newspaper Nguyen Anh Vu said that the merger would create disruptions such as: having to rearrange the apparatus, personnel, assign tasks to each reporter, leadership thinking, management thinking while the working perspective and culture of the editorial offices are different.

“The Culture Newspaper of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has received five civil servants from the To Quoc Newspaper. The newspaper’s leaders assign tasks according to each person’s strengths and abilities. We find it effective to organize more events and seminars,” said Mr. Vu.

Mr. Nguyen Anh Vu, Editor-in-Chief of Culture Newspaper, discussed at the discussion session. (Photo: Khanh Hoa/VNA)

The Editor-in-Chief of the Culture Newspaper assessed that everything is getting much better because there is competition in all areas, progress in each work; development of digital transformation, multimedia, multi-platform; combining in-depth content with the sensitivity and quick response of electronic newspapers.

“Adding more staff also opens up more space and new developments. Resolution 18 has a positive impact and stimulates all agencies to strive for change as the Prime Minister said, ‘nothing is impossible’,” journalist Nguyen Anh Vu emphasized.

Discussing this issue, Mr. Nguyen Van Hoai, Editor-in-Chief of Nong Thon Ngay Nay Newspaper/Dan Viet Electronic Newspaper, said that the merger according to Resolution 18 creates new space and momentum and resolves the stagnation that hinders each agency.

Accordingly, the Central Committee of the Vietnam Farmers' Union has the Today's Rural Newspaper and the New Rural Magazine. When implementing Resolution 18, the Today's Rural Newspaper has reduced from 22 departments and units to 12 departments and units.

Mr. Nguyen Van Hoai, Editor-in-Chief of Nong Thon Ngay Nay/Dan Viet Electronic Newspaper, discussed at the Discussion Session. (Photo: Khanh Hoa/VNA)

“Resolution 18 is not too far in the past for us because we have organized our apparatus since March 1. After 3 months of merging, everything has gone very well. Reporters have become more versatile, taking on many tasks such as writing news articles, doing events, and doing journalism economics,” said Mr. Hoai.

Journalism training 'takes shortcuts'

Streamlining the apparatus requires improvements in the way journalism human resources are trained.

Dr. Phan Van Kien, Director of the Institute of Journalism and Communication, University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, said that streamlining is not simply about reducing focal points but reducing duplicate work. When reducing focal points, reporters' multitasking needs to increase, "streamlining without refinement is very stressful." This is a requirement of journalism in the new era.

Dr. Phan Van Kien, Director of the Institute of Journalism and Communication, University of Social Sciences and Humanities (Vietnam National University, Hanoi) discussed at the Discussion Session. (Photo: Khanh Hoa/VNA)

“Now a person can do many different tasks. If the demand for human resources decreases, will journalism students become unemployed? I affirm that it will not because we have been preparing for this for 10 years. Journalism students do not only write articles but also have to multitask. If they do not work in journalism after graduation, they can work in communications and that is the responsibility of the training units,” said Mr. Kien.

From an educational perspective, Dr. Le Thu Ha, Deputy Director of the Institute of Journalism and Communication, Academy of Journalism and Communication, said that not until Resolution 18 was issued, but for many years there have been many changes related to the press context and changes in the labor market, so training institutions must stay ahead of trends related to human resource requirements to stay close to reality.

"Regarding the story of enrollment, there are many concerns from journalists, parents, and students about how the enrollment input will decrease in this trend. In fact, we have been proactive in the enrollment and training process," said Ms. Ha.

Experts and speakers at discussion session 10 with the topic "Resolution 18 and the need to innovate press personnel". (Photo: Khanh Hoa/VNA)

She shared an interesting fact that this year the number of postgraduate students has increased compared to previous years. The refresher courses are very regular.

“We determined that even if the number of students decreases, it is not a difficulty but an opportunity because the training facility will select students who are truly passionate about journalism. The training is moving towards interdisciplinary and applied aspects so that students can basically meet practical requirements,” Dr. Le Thu Ha added./.

(Vietnam+)

Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/tinh-gon-bo-may-co-quan-bao-chi-khich-le-nguoi-lam-bao-da-nang-hieu-qua-hon-post1045433.vnp