Party spirit - Political orientation in journalism activities

Stick to the principles, goals, and direction to have your own identity.

The press of our country plays the role of propagandist, agitator, collective organizer, one of the driving forces of the revolutionary movement, the vanguard on the ideological and cultural front of the Party, and cannot be separated from the political and ideological orientation factor... This also poses a great role and responsibility of the official press agencies in orienting the current mainstream information flow, especially the issue of enhancing Party spirit and political orientation in press activities.

To gain more perspective on this topic, reporters from the Journalist & Public Opinion Newspaper interviewed Journalist, Dr. Nguyen Cong Dung - Editor-in-Chief of the Communist Party of Vietnam Electronic Newspaper:

Journalist Nguyen Cong Dung. Photo: Son Hai

+ Sir, it is known that you have conducted research on "Political and ideological orientation of electronic newspapers in Vietnam today", raising many urgent issues in enhancing Party spirit and orientation of electronic newspapers... How do you assess the current challenges in communication on digital platforms?

- Dr. Nguyen Cong Dung: Thank you, it is true that in 2013, I carried out the topic: "Political and ideological orientation of electronic newspapers in Vietnam today", which has been more than 10 years. And to relate my research to the current context, it can be briefly summarized as follows: Practice shows that the strong development of electronic newspapers and new forms of media on the Internet in recent times has posed and is posing new problems that need to be solved.

Most press agencies have closely followed the reality of social life, properly implemented the leadership, direction and information orientation of the Party and State; provided quick, complete and comprehensive information on all aspects of life and society. However, there are still some press agencies and journalists who have shown signs of not being serious in implementing the Press Law, reducing the effectiveness of press information, negatively affecting social discipline; there are still electronic press agencies that provide inaccurate information, lacking political sensitivity...

Not only that, in order to attract readers, some newspapers and electronic information sites follow trivial tastes, exploit personal privacy, "view-baiting" stories with sensational, offensive headlines, loosening the orientation of public opinion; disregarding the political and ideological functions of revolutionary journalism; straying from the principles and purposes... This is truly a painful problem that has been and is being raised for press management agencies, press agencies in general and electronic newspapers in particular. In addition, many information channels similar to newspapers called personal information sites, Facebook, YouTube... are also disrupting information, providing unverified information.

So how to provide oriented information to guide readers, avoiding creating unnecessary public skepticism... is an extremely urgent issue, as well as a big challenge for mainstream press agencies.

Delegates visit the newspaper's booth at the 2022 National Press Festival. Photo: Pham Cuong

+ Urgent problems certainly need urgent solutions. So, in your opinion, what are the solutions for official press agencies to enhance Party spirit and political orientation in press activities in the new context?

- Dr. Nguyen Cong Dung: One of the most important solutions is to strengthen the leadership of the Party and the management of the State over the press and media, which is an objective and urgent requirement. Accordingly, the Vietnam Revolutionary Press continues to strictly implement the absolute and comprehensive leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam. The Party leads the press and the press protects the Party, including activities to protect the Party's ideological foundation, which are two inevitable and objective tasks.

It is necessary to apply and creatively develop Ho Chi Minh's ideology, which is also to implement his teachings on press and media work: "Our press must serve the working people and serve socialism". The 12th National Congress (2016) and the 13th National Congress (2021) of the Party both clearly stated: Press and media agencies must properly implement their principles, purposes, and service objects, enhance their ideological, humanistic, and scientific values, promote social responsibility, civic duty, and contribute to building Vietnamese culture and people.

Continue to effectively implement the Party's Resolutions and Directives on press and media development, including Directive No. 43-CT/TW dated April 8, 2020 of the Secretariat on strengthening the Party's leadership over the activities of the Vietnam Journalists Association in the new situation. Accordingly, it is necessary to continue to develop and supplement regulations and statutes to create a political basis for press leadership and direction; continue to amend and supplement the Press Law; develop and perfect legal documents; build strong enough sanctions to create conditions for the press to develop in the right direction, promptly innovate the leadership and management of the press system in general and electronic newspapers in particular.

In addition, the work of political and ideological orientation is meaningful as a "compass" guiding all activities of the press. On the other hand, it is necessary to improve the quality and effectiveness of information and propaganda, and build a working style in the direction of professionalism and specialization for each functional department, individual staff and reporters of the newspaper. Because the effectiveness of political and ideological orientation is demonstrated by the quality of the newspaper's information, which is "fast, sensitive, honest, accurate, and reliable", and is received and evaluated by the public and readers, not just the subjective perception of the newspaper.

To do so, newspapers must focus on “sticking to the principles and purposes to have their own identity”, avoiding getting carried away, commercializing, spreading information, copying, and deviating from the direction. Each newspaper must build an organizational system, determine the number of publications, columns, topics, etc. in accordance with the principles, purposes, and political orientation of the newspaper. Organize a streamlined and compact apparatus, ensuring the assignment and decentralization of the team of reporters and editors in accordance with the strengths and specialized expertise of each individual. Do a good job of training and fostering cadres and reporters, etc., to constantly improve their political qualities, professional qualifications, skills, and techniques to meet the requirements of the task, as well as master the technical infrastructure system serving new journalism technology, especially electronic newspapers.

Harmony between "fast, responsive" and "right direction"

+ As the leader of a press agency, how have you determined the position and responsibility of the Communist Party of Vietnam Electronic Newspaper in organizing and implementing the newspaper's information orientation on the internet, sir?

- Dr. Nguyen Cong Dung: We clearly identify the superiority and strength of electronic newspapers as "fast" and "sensitive", accordingly, electronic newspapers must promptly update "political and ideological orientation" faster than other types of newspapers. However, that strength can only be affirmed and effectively promoted when closely combining the quickness, sensitivity, and updating with the correctness and precision in the political and ideological orientation of electronic newspapers. If these characteristics are not closely combined, it will cause unpredictable consequences from the advantages of electronic newspapers. The unity between the quickness, sensitivity, and updating with the correctness and precision in the political and ideological orientation is a concrete manifestation of the unity between the characteristics and nature of activities with the functions, tasks, purposes, and principles of the Newspaper.

It can be said that, over the past 25 years, the Communist Party of Vietnam Electronic Newspaper has always promoted the Party spirit and orientation in all its activities. We adhere to the principles, purposes, and tasks, as the voice of the Party and the State on the Internet. Therefore, we have paid special attention to investing in the quality of press works and propaganda content in the right direction...

Journalist Nguyen Cong Dung welcomed delegates to visit the booth of the Communist Party of Vietnam Electronic Newspaper at the 2022 National Press Festival. Photo: Son Hai

Currently, the Newspaper has 11 publications including: Vietnamese, English, French, Chinese, Russian, Spanish pages, Internet TV Program, Ho Chi Minh Electronic Information Page, Party Documents - Document System, VCNet Social Network, Communist Party of Vietnam Electronic Information Portal.

The most obvious result is that the newspaper has proactively and actively propagated the Party's guidelines and resolutions, the State's legal policies as quickly and as early as possible, bringing the resolutions and policies into life; promoted propaganda on protecting the Party's ideological foundation, fighting against erroneous and hostile viewpoints; actively participated and pioneered in the fight against corruption and negativity.

It can be affirmed that the Communist Party of Vietnam Electronic Newspaper not only promptly reflects all aspects of life, economy and society in a fast, sensitive, honest manner and updates current events, but also plays a role in orienting information to the public in an effective and convincing manner. The Party's character and orientation are also shown through each news and article published by the Newspaper. These are sharp analyses and comments, reflecting on the correctness, scientific nature and revolutionary nature of the Party's Resolutions; honest reflections on typical examples in studying and following President Ho Chi Minh that have been creating a positive influence in the social community...

To achieve these results, there are significant contributions from the collective leadership of the Editorial Board through the periods and the reporters and editors of the Newspaper. Accordingly, the Newspaper has created a discipline in the work of organization, leadership, management, as well as professionalization and specialization of the activities of the Newspaper's departments and specialized units, contributing to increasing professionalism in the production of content, news and articles.

In particular, to encourage the improvement of content and news quality, the Newspaper has organized regular weekly and monthly meetings to openly and democratically discuss leadership and management activities, as well as professional and technical activities, with direct dialogue between reporters, editors and leaders of the Editorial Board, thereby resolving difficulties, questions and concerns raised in the meetings have been promptly answered... creating high solidarity and consensus throughout the Newspaper.

+ So how has the Communist Party of Vietnam Electronic Newspaper satisfactorily and harmoniously resolved the dialectical relationship between "fast, responsive", "updated" and "right direction", especially in the current era of information explosion, sir?

- Dr. Nguyen Cong Dung: Firstly, the Communist Party of Vietnam Electronic Newspaper has strictly implemented its principles and objectives, not getting carried away or chasing after news and articles that deviate from the political and ideological orientation of the newspaper. We always focus on the core values ​​and advantages of the electronic newspaper; promoting the strength of being the Central mouthpiece - the voice of the Party, State and Vietnamese people on the internet.

Over the years, the Newspaper has reflected and reported promptly on the domestic and foreign affairs activities of Party and State leaders in the fastest, earliest and most accurate manner, thereby creating a reliable source of information for readers, fulfilling the role of a major Party newspaper in guiding information in the social community.

The Communist Party of Vietnam e-newspaper attaches importance to propaganda cooperation activities with the provinces, closely following the newspaper's principles and purposes. Photo: Pham Cuong

Second, the work of reporters and editors is carried out according to strict and rigorous procedures. In particular, the publishing process requires speed, sensitivity, timeliness and updates but must always ensure the right direction and purpose. All content and propaganda information are from official sources and are strictly verified.

Third, to quickly, sensitively and promptly reflect the breath of life and activities taking place in daily society, the Newspaper has established a special working group, called the "mobile reporter group" consisting of elite reporters, who are sharp writers in the fields of economics, politics, culture and society selected from the Newspaper's professional departments. This special working group consists of journalists with a firm political stance, good professional skills, and the ability to process multi-dimensional information to produce journalistic works with a full range of genres such as: Political commentary, editorials, comments, special essays, investigations... reflecting on prominent issues taking place in society, of interest to readers and public opinion... published in the columns: "Spotlight", "Speak or Don't", "Let's Discuss"...

Fourth, as you mentioned, in today's information explosion era, many social media platforms such as Facebook, YouTube, Zalo, Twitter... are tools for spreading news at breakneck speed. If reporters are not alert when receiving information and calm when dealing with information on social media, they can easily make mistakes with this unverified information. Therefore, we require each reporter and editor to have a political perspective and information sensitivity; we require reporters not to use information on social media to produce news articles, only consider information on social media as a source of reference information, especially not to follow the speed of fast news reporting, but use information sources on social media.

Fifth, the Communist Party of Vietnam e-newspaper proactively develops content to creatively apply Ho Chi Minh's thought; the Party and State's orientations in developing Vietnamese press and media in the new context. The newspaper also encourages reporters and editors throughout the newspaper to constantly practice, maintain professional ethics, improve professional capacity, and creatively apply operational activities.

Every journalist must be close to the grassroots, go into practice, grasp the breath of life, of the times, grasp the aspirations of the masses, promptly propagate and disseminate the policies of the Party and State, contributing to political and social stability. Strive to turn the Communist Party of Vietnam Electronic Newspaper into a professional, modern, multi-media press and communication agency, worthy of being the voice of the Party, the State, political and social organizations, a "bridge" between the Party and the people, serving the people.

+ Thank you very much!

Van Ha (Performed)

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/tinh-dang--dinh-huong-chinh-tri-trong-hoat-dong-bao-chi-post299563.html