On the morning of June 28, in Hanoi, the Department of Grassroots Information (Ministry of Information and Communications) held an online conference to disseminate and implement Decree No. 49/2024/ND-CP dated May 10, 2024 of the Government regulating grassroots information activities. The conference took place with more than 6,000 connecting points and more than 27,000 delegates attending.

Online conference on grassroots information work. Photo: Giang Pham

The unique role of grassroots information Grassroots information is a communication system that directly reaches people, providing essential information, close to the needs of people in each village, hamlet, residential group, commune, ward, and town; is an information means that effectively serves the direction and administration of grassroots Party committees and authorities. Speaking at the conference, Deputy Minister of Information and Communications Nguyen Thanh Lam said that the Minister of Information and Communications directed that it is necessary to innovate in institutions and policies so that grassroots information can develop in a modern direction, affirming the unique position and role of grassroots information in the country's communication system. The promulgation of Decree No. 49/2024 has opened up a new development space for grassroots information activities, from traditional types of information to using modern, multimedia, and multi-platform types of information. This is the first time that grassroots information has a legal document at the decree level, regulating all activities in the field. In particular, Decree No. 49/2024/ND-CP has transformed grassroots information activities from mainly one-way information to interacting with people, receiving feedback information and providing information on the response content of competent agencies, organizations and individuals to people's feedback information.

Deputy Minister of Information and Communications Nguyen Thanh Lam. Photo: Giang Pham

According to Deputy Minister Nguyen Thanh Lam, the existence and development of the grassroots information system is a unique feature of Vietnam compared to other countries in the region. The role of the grassroots information system in reaching out to people will be increasingly important. The Deputy Minister hopes that the grassroots information system must transform digitally, apply more technology, receive people's feedback and send information to competent authorities for resolution, then return the results, ensuring two-way interaction between people and the government. Digital transformation of grassroots information In the strong digital transformation trend of journalism, multimedia and multi-platform communication, grassroots information is gradually changing, applying technology in innovating its methods of operation. At the conference, Director of the Department of Grassroots Information Nguyen Van Tao said that the grassroots information sector is actively transforming digitally, especially with the commune-level broadcasting system.

Director of the Department of Basic Information Nguyen Van Tao. Photo: Giang Pham

According to Mr. Nguyen Van Tao, currently 95% of communes and wards nationwide have radio stations, of which 22% of stations apply telecommunications IT. The goal is that by 2025, 100% of communes, wards and towns will have radio stations, of which at least 70% of radio stations apply telecommunications IT. “ Each locality has its own effective way of doing things. Typically, in Binh Phuoc province, due to investment, in just a short time, 100% of communes and wards have radio stations applying telecommunications IT, and have a provincial source information system for management. This is the only province that has both a source information system and 100% connection to communes, wards and towns, ” said Director Nguyen Van Tao. Currently, 19 provinces have source information systems, 17 provinces are implementing them. The Department of Grassroots Information recommends accelerating the connection of provinces with the central source system. Localities that have not yet implemented it need to urgently develop a plan and submit it to competent authorities for issuance for investment or outsourcing. For places facing difficulties, the Ministry of Information and Communications will have support solutions. Regarding the digital transformation of professional training, more than 30 provinces and cities have used digital platforms to train grassroots information workers at district and commune levels such as Vinh Phuc, Quang Ninh, Nghe An, Thua Thien Hue, Da Nang, Quang Nam, Quang Ngai, etc. The whole country currently has 3,792 Zalo OA accounts of communes, wards and towns (reaching a rate of 36%). This is a tool and means for localities to communicate at the grassroots level, in addition to traditional channels such as radio stations and grassroots propaganda teams.

Vietnamnet.vn

Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/he-thong-thong-tin-co-so-la-net-dac-sac-rieng-co-cua-viet-nam-2296264.html