Each press agency must be a digital platform for people to participate in updating information.

On the morning of June 13, in Hanoi, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh visited and worked with the Vietnam Journalists Association on the occasion of the 98th anniversary of Vietnam Revolutionary Press Day (June 21, 1925 - June 21, 2023).

Attending the meeting, Minister of Information and Communications Nguyen Manh Hung shared about the development of journalism and communication work. Journalists and Public Opinion Newspaper respectfully introduces his speech.

Using digital technology to make leather bags becomes a matter of survival for newspapers picture 1 — Minister Nguyen Manh Hung speaks at the Prime Minister 's visit and working session with the Vietnam Journalists Association. Photo: Son Hai

Paying attention to the Revolutionary Press means paying attention to the revolutionary cause, the revolutionary cause is the cause of the masses, and the press is the bridge between the Party and the masses. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh always pays special attention to the Revolutionary Press. The meeting to celebrate the 98th anniversary of Vietnam Revolutionary Press Day (June 21, 1925 - June 21, 2023) is an expression of that sentiment.

The Revolutionary Press was born in 1925, 5 years after the founding of the Communist Party of Vietnam, 20 years after the successful revolution, which shows the importance of the press in the task of information and propaganda.

Revolutionary Press is revolutionary in its pioneering and leading role. On March 21, 2023, the Prime Minister issued Directive 07/CT-TTg on strengthening policy communication work. It affirmed that policy communication is a function of governments at all levels, so governments at all levels must organize their apparatus and allocate regular budgets to do communication work and place orders with press agencies.

Previously, communication work was the responsibility of press agencies, while the press was one of the media. To change the perception of this work, communication work is very important because it will fundamentally change policy communication work.

The Ministry of Information and Communications is revising relevant legal documents to perfect the press ordering mechanism, especially decrees and circulars on royalties and technical and economic norms to suit the market. Press agencies should coordinate with the Ministry because only then can this task be carried out well.

For nearly 100 years, our press has focused on content creation, on the pen and paper, and rarely had to worry about technology. But digital technology has become the basic productive force of most fields, especially journalism.

The first, strongest and most profound impact of digital technology is on the field of media and journalism. The use of digital technology in journalism has become a matter of survival for journalism.

On May 6, 2023, the Prime Minister issued Decision No. 348/QD-TTg approving the Strategy "Digital transformation of journalism to 2025, with a vision to 2030". To implement this strategy, the Ministry of Information and Communications has established the Center for supporting digital transformation of journalism (under the Press Department).

Any press agency that has any difficulties or needs any support should contact the Press Digital Transformation Support Center. The Ministry of Information and Communications has been, is, and will mobilize Vietnamese telecommunications and digital technology enterprises to provide comprehensive support. Both in terms of infrastructure, technology platforms, and IT human resources.

The Ministry of Information and Communications will take the lead in building a number of shared technology platforms for press agencies, especially small press agencies that are facing difficulties and limitations in applying technology. Large press agencies can invest resources in technology, but small press agencies are facing difficulties in this activity.

Using digital technology to make leather bags becomes a matter of survival for newspapers image 2 — Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, leaders of the Vietnam Journalists Association, Minister of Information and Communications, leaders of several central ministries, agencies, and press agencies discussed at the working session. Photo: Son Hai

Previously, the press had a monopoly on content and distribution channels, but with the emergence of social media, that is no longer the case. An individual on social media can influence many newspapers, information reaching people will be through many different digital platforms. It can be the web, social networks, so what will the press do?

Revolutionary journalism needs to be the mainstream in cyberspace, leading information in cyberspace. Instead of writing many articles, write articles to lead. 5% of press articles must lead the remaining 95%. Each press agency must be a digital platform for people to participate in updating information.

Before, investing in people is now investing in tools. Tools used to be pens and paper are now technology, digital application platforms, investing in digital platforms.

On this occasion, the Ministry of Information and Communications respectfully requests the Prime Minister to pay attention to investing in platforms for press agencies, and increase investment in press agencies. Without weapons, we cannot be proactive. If we want Revolutionary Press, we must invest in technology for the press.

Digital transformation is not only about technology but most importantly about changes in operating models. The Ministry of Information and Communications is working with press agencies to propose to the Government a model for the management and operation mechanism of digitally transformed press agencies in a new ecosystem.

Revolutionary press is nourished by the revolution. Currently, regular spending on the press is through ordering tasks. However, some press agencies have no or very little support for ordering from the budget.

When paying attention to the country's press, we need to pay attention to the political factor, both in terms of people and the press economy. We hope that the Prime Minister will direct the authorities at all levels to increase the budget for ordering press by 30%, currently, the annual investment in the press is less than 0.2% of the total budget investment...

On the occasion of the 98th anniversary of Vietnam Revolutionary Press Day, the Ministry of Information and Communications would like to wish press agencies, journalists and journalists nationwide to promote the spirit of revolutionary journalism, adapt to all changes but always maintain the core values of revolutionary journalism.

I wish the press to continue to innovate more, so that each journalist can be proud of their profession and society will respect them. Press agencies will always maintain their orientation. Governments at all levels will consider the media as an activity and function of the government, organize specialized activities on media, and have an annual budget for media work to order press. I wish you all good health and more success.

* Title by Congluan.vn.

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