Data journalism is an inseparable direction in the flow of Vietnamese journalism.

On the afternoon of March 15, the third discussion session with the theme "Data Journalism and Outstanding Content Strategy" was organized by the Vietnam Journalists Association. Presenting at the forum were Mr. Kah Whye Lee - Director of Asia Region, World Association of Journalists and Publishers; Associate Professor, Dr. Tran Quang Dieu - Director of the Center for Information Technology Application, Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics; MSc. Ngo Viet Anh - Deputy Head of the People's Electronic Department of Nhan Dan Newspaper and MSc. Tran Le Thuy - journalism and media expert.

Participating in the discussion at the forum were journalists: Ngo Duc Kien - Editor-in-Chief of Nghe An Newspaper; Vu Minh Viet - Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Vietnam Agriculture Newspaper; Bui Thi Thu Huong - Deputy Director of Quang Ninh Provincial Media Center and Tran Anh Tu - Deputy Editor-in-Chief in charge of Information and Communication Magazine.

Associate Professor, Dr. Do Thi Thu Hang - Member of the Standing Committee, Head of the Professional Department of the Vietnam Journalists Association spoke at the forum. Photo: Thanh Cuong

The rapid development of science and technology, social networks and recently artificial intelligence (AI) has affected the behavior of Internet users and the development trend of modern journalism. According to research by the Korea Press Foundation (KPF), the number of people receiving information through traditional media is decreasing sharply. Korean media agencies are now developing content and forms suitable for new media, in which social networks are fully utilized.

According to the 2024 Journalism and Media Trends Report by the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism (UK), there are three main trends affecting journalism and media: First, many new types of devices are emerging. Second, digital platforms and social networks specializing in audio and video creation are developing explosively. Third, the wave of artificial intelligence. Some newsrooms call this change the “second phase” of the digital revolution, requiring news agencies to have a different and outstanding content strategy to retain the public.

Mr. Kah Whye Lee – Regional Director for Asia, World Association of Newspapers and Publishers delivered a speech. Photo: Thanh Cuong

In the world, the New York Times is one of the successful examples of building a digital transformation strategy based on core values, the fundamental strength of their unlimited data warehouse combined with modern technology to produce and distribute content. In Vietnam, some press agencies are promoting multimedia content strategies, combining data journalism with science and technology and creative ideas; some press agencies focus on in-depth content strategies for niche markets...

The discussion session “Data journalism and outstanding content strategy” introduced the trend of innovation and creativity in the global journalism space, the outstanding content development experiences of some press agencies in Vietnam, thereby suggesting to newsrooms to choose and implement appropriate and different content development strategies.

Ms. Tran Le Thuy - media expert gave a speech at the forum. Photo: Thanh Cuong

The forum also focused on introducing one of the outstanding content strategies that many press agencies are successfully implementing, which is developing data journalism, combining official information and data with science, technology and creative ideas, to attract and retain readers and increase revenue.

At the forum, delegates will listen to speakers presenting papers on Outstanding press content strategy: World trends and experiences; Experience in building strategies and the role of data journalism, Methods of organizing and implementing data journalism in press agencies in Vietnam; Applying data science to develop outstanding press content...

Mr. Ngo Duc Kien - Editor-in-Chief of Nghe An Newspaper spoke at the seminar. Photo: Thanh Cuong

Speakers and guests discussed, clarified difficulties and challenges, shared experiences in implementing data journalism, and built outstanding content strategies in their own editorial offices. Thereby, they proposed solutions and recommendations to build a professional and modern journalism and media ecosystem.

The discussion results show that press agencies that want to implement an outstanding content strategy must develop data journalism. Open data sources, linked data, and self-data of press agencies, especially data for analyzing press trends, will be the basis for selecting and enriching data, analyzing and evaluating, and visualizing data. These are basic operations to apply data journalism in multimedia storytelling, creating uniqueness and superiority of press content.

To develop data journalism, it is necessary to clearly understand its nature, role, and conditions for implementation, and have a comprehensive solution based on the theory and practice of capacity, resources, world trends, and the public characteristics of each press agency. There will only be outstanding content when press agencies innovate in all four areas: product and service strategy, professional field, public - customer field, and press and media economics.

Delegates attending the forum. Photo: Thanh Cuong

Data journalism is an inseparable direction from the flow of Vietnamese journalism. For sustainable development, in addition to the press agencies themselves proactively researching and finding their own data journalism models and outstanding content strategies, it is necessary to build a professional, modern press and media ecosystem, oriented towards digital journalism. Through this ecosystem, press agencies are able to readily share and connect data. To do this, the role of guiding, managing and leading agencies such as the Central Propaganda Department, the Ministry of Information and Communications, and the Vietnam Journalists Association is very important. Accordingly, the Central Propaganda Department, the Ministry of Information and Communications need to advise and perfect the Party's guidelines and policies, the State's policies; the Vietnam Journalists Association has a leading and consulting role in building management models and professional models for press agencies in building this ecosystem.

The discussion session opens up new ideas, journalistic works and new creative journalism projects for each of us, contributing to the effective innovation that is constantly taking place throughout the Vietnamese press!

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