On June 14, the Ministry of Information and Communications in collaboration with the University of Social Sciences and Humanities (Vietnam National University, Hanoi) organized the Workshop "Vietnam's journalism and media economy in the context of digital economic development".

Attending the workshop were Party Central Committee member, Editor-in-Chief of Nhan Dan Newspaper Le Quoc Minh; Deputy Minister of Information and Communications Nguyen Thanh Lam; Deputy Minister of Information and Communications Nguyen Huy Dung; Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities (Vietnam National University, Hanoi) Hoang Anh Tuan, Editor-in-Chief of VietNamNet Newspaper Nguyen Van Ba, Editor-in-Chief of Information and Communications Magazine Nguyen Van Hieu.

The workshop was also attended by representatives of the Vietnam Journalists Association; the National Assembly's Committee on Culture and Education, agencies of the Central Propaganda Department, along with delegates and experts from many state management agencies directly related to press and media activities; leaders of central and local press and media agencies nationwide.

Deputy Minister of Information and Communications Nguyen Thanh Lam chaired the plenary session to identify the economic picture of Vietnam's press and media.

Speaking at the conference, Associate Professor, Dr. Dang Thu Huong - Vice President of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities emphasized that the development of journalism in the new context is also one of the main topics for the school to build training programs, research topics as well as activities to connect with the domestic and foreign journalism community.

That is also the orientation to create the content of today's workshop on the issue of amending and perfecting the 2016 Press Law.

This is the most important legal corridor for the development of press activities, so that the people's freedom of the press and freedom of speech in the press are guaranteed and promoted within the framework of the Constitution and laws, in accordance with the spirit of the resolution of the 13th National Congress of the Party: "Building a professional, humane and modern press and media".

According to Ms. Dang Thu Huong, the "June Press Forum" and other annual events will provide more useful documents for the State press management agency, press agencies and journalists, as well as the current press training system.

Social media platforms have taken away about 70% of mainstream media advertising revenue.

Speaking at the opening of the workshop, Deputy Minister of Information and Communications Nguyen Huy Dung said that Nobel Prize-winning economist Gary Becker loved and often quoted George Bernard Shaw's saying: "Economics is the art that shapes most of life."

“In the field of journalism, the economy also contributes to the healthy development of the Vietnamese revolutionary press. Without effective economic support, there cannot be a strong press agency,” the Deputy Minister of Information and Communications emphasized.

Deputy Minister of Information and Communications Nguyen Huy Dung delivered the opening speech.

Mr. Nguyen Huy Dung cited data up to the end of 2023 showing that for newspapers and magazines, the rate of self-guaranteed regular expenditures accounted for 39%, partially self-guaranteed regular expenditures accounted for 36%, and the State budget guaranteed regular expenditures accounted for 25%.

As for radio and television, the ratio of ensuring regular and investment expenses accounts for 6.94%, self-guaranteeing regular expenses accounts for 26.39%, and partially self-guaranteeing regular expenses accounts for 66.67%.

Revenue of newspapers and magazines in the first 9 months of 2023 decreased by 9.4% compared to the same period in 2022. Total revenue of radio and television stations in 2023 decreased by 23% compared to 2022.

Most stations do not exploit all of their advertising time per day; some stations only advertise a few minutes per day.

The Deputy Minister of Information and Communications also pointed out that in reality, whether it is print, electronic or radio and television, they still rely heavily on advertising revenue. At times, advertising revenue always accounts for over 60%, even 90% for some press agencies.

At the conference, President of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities Hoang Anh Tuan presented flowers to congratulate Editor-in-Chief of Nhan Dan Newspaper and President of the Vietnam Journalists Association Le Quoc Minh on June 21.

"However, press agencies are currently facing the risk of a sharp decline in revenue, in the context that social networking platforms such as Facebook or Google have taken away about 70% of advertising revenue of mainstream press," the Deputy Minister of Information and Communications cited.

Mr. Nguyen Huy Dung also informed that press agencies are currently facing some difficulties and problems in implementing regulations. For example, problems in the financial autonomy mechanism of public service units; the mechanism of assigning tasks, ordering or bidding for production and provision of public services using the state budget.

Besides, tax policies for press agencies need to continue to be improved to promote the development of the press economy.

Editor-in-Chief of VietNamNet newspaper Nguyen Van Ba ​​and delegates attending the conference

Meanwhile, the annual regular expenditure on the press is less than 0.5% of the total regular expenditure of the State budget. The expenditure on press investment is also low, accounting for only about 0.25% of the total investment expenditure of the State budget. In particular, some large press agencies have little or no support or orders from the budget.

The Deputy Minister of Information and Communications also said that there are currently 5 press agencies implementing content fees on electronic newspapers, including: VietnamPlus Electronic Newspaper (2018), VietnamNet Newspaper, Ngay Nay Electronic Magazine (2021), Nguoi Lao Dong Newspaper, Tuoi Tre Newspaper (2022) and some forms of fee collection such as rewarding authors or inviting authors to a cup of coffee (Labor and Trade Union Magazines...).

However, these press agencies have only tested a few sections, with more investment in quality and content. The content charging model in Vietnam is only in its infancy, and has not yet generated significant revenue for the press agencies.

Solutions to remove "bottlenecks" related to the press and media economy

Mr. Nguyen Huy Dung said that recently, the Ministry of Information and Communications has made efforts to direct advertising to the press by creating a Whitelist with the message "Creating clean content will receive advertising, and advertising will seek out clean content".

The implementation has had initial results, but it is necessary to continue to promote the implementation to promote the expected effectiveness.

In addition, the digital transformation strategy for newspapers by 2025 sets a goal that by 2025, press agencies will optimize revenue sources, with 30% of press agencies increasing revenue by at least 20%.

“This is a big challenge in the context of economic difficulties, with limited funding, ordering, and assignment of tasks to press agencies to carry out propaganda on political tasks, essential information, and policy communication,” Mr. Dung noted.

Editor-in-Chief of Nhan Dan Newspaper Le Quoc Minh outlines the picture of the press economy, the journey from tradition to the digital age.

The Deputy Minister of Information and Communications hopes that the opinions of representatives of agencies, speakers, scientists, and leaders of press agencies at the workshop will be objective and comprehensive views on all aspects related to the current press and media economy.

Thereby, proposing and recommending to the press steering agency, the State press management agency, the governing body, the press agency and the competent authority with explanations to remove the "bottlenecks" related to the press and media economy.

“The Ministry of Information and Communications will listen to and acknowledge valuable comments from agencies and delegates present at today’s workshop. We will review, absorb, and synthesize the comments to report to competent authorities for consideration to promote the development of the press economy,” said Deputy Minister of Information and Communications Nguyen Huy Dung.

Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/khong-co-su-ho-tro-dac-luc-cua-kinh-te-khong-the-co-mot-co-quan-bao-chi-manh-2291425.html