Building a professional press and media foundation, human...

The press interviewed General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong at polling station No. 3, Nguyen Du ward, Hai Ba Trung district, Hanoi on Election Day of the 13th National Assembly and People's Councils at all levels for the 2011-2016 term_Photo: VNA

Some general theoretical issues

The press is an essential means in people's social life, playing an important role in providing information, monitoring, social criticism and orienting public opinion. According to Article 4 of the 2016 Vietnam Press Law, "The press in the Socialist Republic of Vietnam is an essential means of information for social life; is the mouthpiece of Party agencies, state agencies, socio-political organizations, socio-political-professional organizations, social organizations, socio-professional organizations; is a forum for the people" (1). Article 3 clearly explains, “The press is an information product about events and issues in social life expressed in writing, images, and sounds, created, published periodically, distributed, and transmitted to the public through printed newspapers, radio, television, and electronic newspapers (2). Thus, the press is an activity that provides people with current information, new events, or urgent issues in society with the purpose of letting many people know, understand, change attitudes, and change behaviors.

To adapt to the development of information technology, to meet the needs and information reception level of the public, press agencies have been transforming from traditional press channels to a press associated with new types of media, on digital platforms, including newspapers, books, television, radio, podcasts (digital audio files available on the internet and users can download to listen on devices such as computers, phones, tablets) ..., streaming applications, YouTube ... Thus, press agencies do not only stop at producing information products about events, social issues in writing, images, sounds but also produce digital press products. It can be understood that digital press is a type of press that "uses digital technology to operate, simultaneously creates content, produces digital product lines, does business, and publishes on digital platforms, in a digital ecosystem" (3). With the development of the internet, individuals often use social media to publish information built on their personal activities. Based on the level, frequency and evaluation of the online community, many individuals become "public opinion leaders", "influencers" on social media channels with a large number of followers.

The formation and development of social media platforms have created many multi-dimensional changes in all fields, from economics, politics, security to culture - society, which have a profound impact on the field of journalism as well as a direct impact on the work of journalists. Many journalists and reporters have proactively used social media to effectively serve their journalism work, update news, and readers' needs to effectively guide public opinion with correct and positive viewpoints. Social media platforms have become part of the technological infrastructure of journalists due to the monitoring and quoting of news sources. On the contrary, because the same news sources are reused and rebroadcast on many different media channels, that information is automatically expanded and becomes richer in the new news ecosystem.

If in the past, the revenue of print newspapers and magazines mainly relied on two main sources: newspaper sales and advertising, now information technology and digital platforms have changed the business model of press agencies. Digital content published on digital platforms generates revenue in different forms, from traditional advertising to programmatic advertising, native advertising; personalized advertising with different packages and formats by using online user data to target users with more relevant advertising content. Press agencies are using social media as an "extension" in the production, distribution and transmission of information. Changes in the media ecosystem have affected the entire business model of journalism, including products, services and information, including different business actors and subjects. In fact, in recent years, the number of printed newspapers has tended to decrease, while electronic newspapers have increasingly developed with the trend of press agencies "electronicizing" their publications. The activities of press agencies tend to gradually shift to the model of multimedia media agencies with many types of press, providing content on multiple platforms, on the basis of combining the advantages of print, spoken, visual, and electronic newspapers. The convergence of technology and services in the digital age leads to the convergence of radio and television transmission and broadcasting infrastructure with telecommunications network infrastructure, with the trend of stations focusing on the task of producing program content, while the transmission and broadcasting part is shared with the telecommunications network infrastructure.

Comrade Nguyen Trong Nghia, Secretary of the Party Central Committee, Head of the Central Propaganda Department and delegates visited the press exhibition booth at the 2024 National Press Festival_Photo: baotuyenquang.com.vn

The world press in general and the Vietnamese press in particular have undergone dramatic changes in the process of formation and development. In Vietnam, after nearly 100 years since the birth of Thanh Nien Newspaper, the Vietnamese revolutionary press has increasingly affirmed its role as an essential means of information for social life, the voice of the Party and the State, socio-political organizations and a forum for the people. Through the development process, the Vietnamese revolutionary press has undergone a strong transformation, made outstanding efforts, flexibly adapted and continued to fulfill its mission well, making direct and important contributions to the dissemination, propaganda, research, study, organization and implementation of the Party's policies and guidelines and achieving fundamental and comprehensive results in all fields. Under the leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam, our country's press and media system has developed rapidly in terms of type, scale, means, technology, staff and qualifications; increasingly affirms its importance and profound and wide influence on social life, making worthy contributions to the cause of innovation, construction and protection of the socialist Vietnamese Fatherland.

Building a professional, humane and modern press and media in the digital age

To ensure the goals and requirements of building a professional, humane and modern press and media system as set forth in the Documents of the 13th National Party Congress, it is necessary to pay attention to the following solutions:

First, strengthen state management of press and media.

The press plays an important role in providing information, monitoring and social criticism as well as educating and orienting public opinion. In the face of the development of modern science and technology and the popularity of social media, it is necessary to strengthen state management of the press and media in order to "arrange the press system in association with innovation of organizational models, improve the effectiveness of press leadership and management to develop the system of printed newspapers, television newspapers, radio newspapers, and electronic newspapers. Build a number of key, multimedia press agencies as the core, playing a role in orienting public opinion". In the face of the development of communication technology, "some provisions of the Press Law have revealed inadequacies, failing to meet the practical needs of press activities" (4). Therefore, it is necessary to focus on improving the legal system on the press, in which the most important goal is to amend and supplement the 2016 Press Law and complete the National Press Development and Management Plan until 2025, with appropriate adjustments to create conditions for press agencies to have an optimal model, develop healthily, and in the right direction. It is necessary to strengthen inspection, examination, and strictly handle violations of press agencies, press publications, and responsible individuals. Penalize, suspend, and revoke operating licenses for press agencies and press publications that violate regulations. Review and rectify the association and publishing activities of press agencies. In addition, it is necessary to pay attention to strengthening the management of general electronic information sites and social media to promote the positive effects of this type of information in propaganda work and limit negative impacts.

Second, focus on developing modern technology and infrastructure to serve press and media work.

The digital media era requires an information technology infrastructure with sufficient conditions and capacity to build digital press and media agencies, gradually shifting to printing and distributing digital newspapers, promptly meeting the needs of readers. Decision No. 348/QD-TTg, dated April 6, 2023, approved the Strategy "Digital transformation of press to 2025, with a vision to 2030", with the goal of building press agencies in a professional, humane, and modern direction; fulfilling the mission of information and propaganda to serve the revolutionary cause of the Party and the cause of national innovation; ensuring the role of leading and orienting public opinion, maintaining information sovereignty in cyberspace; effectively innovating the experience of readers; creating new sources of revenue; promoting the development of the digital content industry. In addition, investment and technical upgrades are needed to support press agencies nationwide in opening up new forms of multi-platform communication, including television, radio, online newspapers, podcasts and social media platforms. On that basis, promoting the digital transformation process in press agencies in accordance with each type of press, contributing to innovating the methods of operation, management, and application of technology in the process of content production and distribution as well as the method of reaching readers.

Third, improve the professional capacity of journalists in the digital age.

The development of mass media, from films, radio, television, online newspapers and new media, requires journalists to increasingly improve their skills, capacity and expertise to meet the requirements of developing new press products on a modern media platform to reach all readers and meet the extremely diverse information needs of the modern public. Therefore, it is necessary to build a team of managers, reporters and editors with sufficient qualities and capacity to meet the requirements of press development in the new situation. In particular, the team of reporters and editors need to have in-depth knowledge and expertise in the fields assigned to them. The national press development and management plan until 2025 identifies and develops the press in line with the development trends of science - technology and information and communications in the world. Closely combine different types of journalism while promoting the advantages of internet information services and media to proactively provide official, oriented information, and increase coverage domestically and internationally. Therefore, in-depth training for journalists and those working in journalism to improve their professional capacity, technology skills and journalistic ethics is very important. In the process of digital transformation, press agencies need to pay attention to training, fostering and using a team of skilled, high-quality reporters, editors and information technology - communication engineers who know how to apply and use modern technology proficiently and effectively in organizing and operating the editorial office, ensuring network security. At the same time, sharing information and learning from each other's experiences among press agencies and journalists is very necessary. However, digital information is raising ethical and legal issues, such as copyright infringement, invasion of privacy, defamation that damages personal reputation, disguised advertising, etc. Protecting privacy and safety in cyberspace is a necessary requirement for both producers and consumers of information, not only a problem in Vietnam but also a common problem for countries around the world.

Photojournalists work in all circumstances and terrains to capture the most valuable images_ Photo: VNA

Fourth, focus on strengthening and improving the quality of press and media information.

Press and media information is a special form of social information, current, popular or specialized and very important in terms of politics and society, becoming a "bridge" between the press and the public. The effectiveness of press information, when promoted, will become a great strength, contributing to the formation of public opinion, building the dominant ideology of society, turning awareness into action in a positive direction to contribute to reforming and building a better society. Therefore, press information must ensure truthfulness, education, popularity, combativeness, in accordance with the interests of the country and the people; must make an important contribution to providing knowledge, improving people's intelligence, forming and orienting healthy public opinion; strengthening solidarity and consensus in political ideology and spirit among the people. Faced with the requirements of the new context, press agencies need to continue to promote the dissemination of good people, good deeds, advanced models, good practices, and new models. In addition, it is necessary to increase the number of articles and programs that contribute to providing readers and audiences with valuable knowledge of humanity; constantly foster, consolidate and promote the good values, ethics and traditional culture of the nation. The Fourth Industrial Revolution is developing strongly with the emergence of new media platforms, social media, press information, and media must create a positive, mainstream information flow, spread strongly, lead and orient public opinion towards good things in society; contribute significantly to building an advanced Vietnamese culture with a strong national identity; build a system of national values, a system of cultural values, a system of family values and standards for Vietnamese people in the new era.

Fifth, the press and journalists need to raise their sense of responsibility to society, maintain professional ethics, and promote their role as sharp tools and weapons of the Party, State and people.

In the trend of strong digital transformation, with their roles, functions, social tasks and professional characteristics, journalists need to maintain ethics, have a firm stance in receiving, processing information and participating in information. In addition, press management agencies and press agencies need to have strict regulations, have strict and strong sanctions to prevent and strictly handle subjects and acts that violate the provisions of law and professional ethics. Each journalist needs to constantly improve their sense of responsibility to society, maintain professional ethics, fight against people with wrongdoings, and properly demonstrate their roles and responsibilities on social media. Only then can the Vietnamese revolutionary press integrate and effectively promote its role as a "soldier on the information front". Strengthen discipline and order in complying with instructions and information orientation, in correcting and handling acts that violate the law and professional ethics; Promote the effectiveness and more substantial activities of the Council for Handling Violations of the Code of Ethics for Vietnamese Journalists to create deterrence and strictly handle members who violate the Code. Press management agencies and press and media agencies need to develop and promulgate a set of rules and regulations on conduct and interaction on digital media, ensuring that information is reflected accurately, honestly, objectively, balanced and humanely. The team of journalists must be steadfast in political and ideological fortitude, increasingly modern, professional and internationally integrated. The press needs to further promote its role as a sharp means and weapon of the Party, State and people, and at the same time an effective means of social supervision and criticism./.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. DINH THI THUY HANG

Former Director of the Center for Journalism Training, Vietnam Journalists Association

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(1) Law No. 103/2016/QH13 of the National Assembly: Press Law
(2) Law No. 103/2016/QH13 of the National Assembly: Press Law
(3) See: Do Thi Thu Hang: “Digital Journalism: Some Theoretical and Practical Issues”, July 17, 2023, https://hoinhabao.vn/Bao-chi-so-Mot-so-van-de-ly-luan-va-thuc-tien_bv-5381
(4) Government E-newspaper: “Amending and supplementing the 2016 Press Law to suit reality is necessary”, https://baochinhphu.vn/sua-doi-bo-sung-luat-bao-chi-2016-phu-hop-thuc-tien-la-can-thiet-102230610174444973.htm

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