Applying technology to broadcasting.
Following the administrative boundary merger, Phu Hoa commune faced pressure to ensure that information was disseminated quickly and widely to the people in its larger area. If the old method of managing dozens of loudspeaker systems continued, it would be both labor-intensive and costly to maintain. Therefore, the local authorities chose a new direction: digitizing the public address system.
Staff at the Phu Hoa Commune General Service Center create images and process audio to support local propaganda efforts. Photo: PHUONG LAN
The old, costly-to-maintain analog loudspeaker system is gradually being replaced by a smart loudspeaker system utilizing 4.0 technology. According to Ms. Pham Anh Thu, Deputy Director of the Phu Hoa Commune General Service Center, the commune continues to invest in installing smart broadcasting systems using 4G networks combined with a cloud computing platform. Thanks to the integration of artificial intelligence (AI - Text-to-speech), text can be automatically converted to speech, broadcast schedules can be set remotely, and the entire system only requires one administrator on a computer or phone. With just a few clicks, content can be broadcast to each loudspeaker cluster and each hamlet at the right time.
However, according to Ms. Pham Anh Thu, modern equipment is only a necessary condition. The sufficient condition that gives radio broadcasting its vitality is still the content; therefore, the center boldly changed its approach. Instead of reading verbatim directives and resolutions, which are often dry and uninteresting, radio broadcasters switched to storytelling, creating short skits or engaging question-and-answer sessions that are easy for people to listen to and understand.
Local life is also featured more frequently on the airwaves. From the vibrant atmosphere of the village's sports festival to the heartwarming moments of the "Reunion Meal" cooking competition, everything is recounted in everyday language, making each radio program lively and full of life.
The center's staff also invite real people with real stories to participate in the program. This could include interviews with the Party Secretary of the commune sharing about the local development tasks, a village head talking about new developments in the residential area, or an elderly farmer recounting stories of successful economic development. These genuine voices make the news broadcast more relatable and trustworthy.
In addition to developing fixed loudspeaker systems, after each morning radio broadcast, the program is further designed into visual content and images to be posted on the Zalo OA and the commune's fanpage. Residents can listen to the broadcasts on the loudspeakers while also watching replays on social media platforms and sharing them with family and friends.
Behind this transformation are the people who quietly keep the flow of information uninterrupted. After 12 years in the profession, Mr. Nguyen Thanh Lam, an officer at the Phu Hoa Commune General Service Center, clearly feels the changes in his work with each step of digital transformation. Previously, his work mainly involved amplifiers, wires, and field inspections of loudspeakers. Now, he is proficient in AI tools, knows how to design promotional images on Canva, create short videos using CapCut, and operate the entire public address system via the internet. More importantly, he always proactively updates himself on new technologies, is ready to handle network and software issues, and prepares backup plans to ensure uninterrupted public address systems.
Keep the speakerphone on during the flow of information.
While in Phu Hoa, digital transformation is changing the way the public address system operates, in Vinh Binh commune, people appreciate the perseverance of those who tirelessly keep the loudspeakers running. Every morning, as people head to the fields to prepare for a new day of work, the loudspeakers continue to broadcast regularly throughout the village. Vaccination schedules, disease prevention announcements, seasonal production recommendations... Information is delivered regularly, allowing people to stay informed while doing housework or running their businesses.
Staff at the Vinh Binh Commune General Service Center write news articles and promotional materials at the local level. Photo: BAO TRAN
On the desk of Ms. Nguyen Thi Ngoc Mai, Deputy Director of the General Services Center of Vinh Binh commune, the draft of the radio program had been prepared in advance. Next to it was a computer screen with audio, image, and content files awaiting editing. Few people know that to produce a news bulletin lasting only a few dozen minutes broadcast over the loudspeakers, radio staff must simultaneously take on many roles: gathering information in the field, writing news, editing, recording, checking technical details, and assisting with other administrative tasks of the locality.
In that familiar work rhythm, Ms. Nguyen Thi Ngoc Mai said: “The commune radio station remains the most official and accessible information channel, especially for those who rarely use social media. It remains the place where people receive local policies, guidelines, and announcements every day.” Not lagging behind the digital transformation trend, the news production process has also modernized. Information gathered from meetings, conferences, or field activities is written, edited, recorded, stored on computers, and broadcast via the internet. Some content is also filmed and edited into videos, news articles, and photos for posting on the local electronic portal and social media platforms, helping information spread faster and reach a wider audience.
However, digital transformation has never been an easy path, and for many grassroots radio broadcasters, the challenges lie not only in equipment but also in skills. Ms. Nguyen Thi Ngoc Mai stated: “The biggest difficulty is constantly updating technology, adapting to new methods, and utilizing existing equipment to meet the increasingly high demands for speed and quality of information. Given limited personnel, each news bulletin is therefore not just a technical product but the result of the interplay between many different roles.”
The form may have changed, but what remains unchanged is the mission of connecting the government with the people. That is also the reason why public address systems continue to persistently accompany people's lives.
PHUONG LAN - BAO TRAN
Source: https://baoangiang.com.vn/truyen-thanh-co-so-doi-moi-de-gan-dan-hon-a490805.html
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