Revolutionary journalism in the new era: Challenges and opportunities

(Baonghean) - On the occasion of the 90th anniversary of the Vietnamese Revolutionary Press Day, Nghe An Newspaper had an interview with Comrade Ho Duc Phoc, Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, about the role of the press in stabilizing security and politics, developing the economy and society today, as well as future directions in the face of new opportunities and challenges opened up by the information technology era.

Reporter:Dear Comrade Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, the power of the media is something that history has recognized. In many countries, the media is considered the third or fourth power, having a significant impact and influence on the socio-economic development process. So, how do you assess the role of the revolutionary press in Vietnam in general and Nghe An Newspaper in particular in the current socio-economic development?

Comrade Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee:Communication plays an extremely important role in human society because, in every context and era, the need to convey information remains as urgent as ever. In fact, today, that need is even increasing, as we live in an era of information explosion and technology.

Speaking of revolutionary journalism in Vietnam, it must be affirmed that the role, significance, and tasks of this highly reliable and official media channel are in direct correlation with the information needs of society. This is due to two reasons: Firstly, considering the principles and objectives of revolutionary journalism, it is the official source of information, the voice of the Party and the State. Disseminating the Party's policies, guidelines, and laws to the people is absolutely essential, and moreover, this dissemination must be complete and accurate.

Secondly, in the context of the world entering the media era and the specific context of our country's opening up and integration, we are exposed to a multitude of information streams; however, due to the nature of modern media as an open environment, the issue of information authenticity, cultural values, and the correct standards that society is striving for is raised as a major question. Therefore, this is the time when mainstream media must clearly assert its stance and viewpoint to effectively fulfill its function of guiding public opinion, ensuring social order and security, and maintaining political stability amidst diverse information flows.

That is the general context of revolutionary journalism nationwide. On behalf of Nghe An Newspaper, I am extremely pleased with the growth and strong development of the newspaper, which serves as the mouthpiece of the Provincial Party Committee. Established in 1961, Nghe An Newspaper has accompanied the Provincial Party Committee, government, and people for 54 years. The newspaper has made many noteworthy contributions to socio-economic development as well as maintaining security, order, and political stability in the province.

Depending on the historical context, the development of the newspaper can be divided into stages with different specific tasks. There was the period before 1975, with the task of disseminating information on topics appropriate to the characteristics and circumstances of wartime. There was the period of journalistic innovation, accompanying the renewal of the homeland and the country from the late 20th century. Particularly in recent years, the socio-economic development has made strong strides, but the demand to achieve high goals (according to Resolution 26 of the Politburo, by 2020, the province should be the economic center of the North Central region and a relatively prosperous province in the North) presents both opportunities and challenges. This requires the newspaper to constantly innovate, keep pace with the times, and, moreover, to be a fast, strong, accurate, and complete flow of information to "inspire" public opinion and create new momentum.

Some notable contributions of Nghe An Newspaper to the province in recent times include: raising public awareness of Vietnamese policies, guidelines, and laws on religious issues (2013); promoting compliance with the law and accelerating land clearance on National Highway 1A through Nghe An (2014); disseminating information on maritime sovereignty and providing timely updates on new developments in the East Sea; attracting investment, poverty reduction; building new rural areas; and refuting opposing viewpoints based on the Party and State's policies and guidelines (2014, 2015). In addition to addressing current political issues, Nghe An Newspaper regularly accompanies the people in their daily economic, cultural, and social lives, receiving feedback from the public on emerging social issues and addressing them satisfactorily.

Thus, it can be said that Nghe An Newspaper has successfully fulfilled its functions and duties as both a newspaper and a Party newspaper. Why such a distinction? In today's information "storm," speed and relevance, while remaining accurate and beneficial to the country and its people, are paramount criteria for attracting public attention. Nghe An Newspaper has promptly grasped these trends and societal needs to disseminate information on current events of public interest. At the same time, it has consistently maintained alignment with the general policies and guidelines of the Party and State, and has pioneered and predicted new developments in socio-economic development. It can be said that Nghe An Newspaper has made a significant contribution to the province's stable and sustainable development, aiming towards becoming a regional economic center.

Reporter:Comrade, 2015 was a year with many major events, such as the Party Congresses at all levels, the Investment Promotion Conference, the Meeting of Localities - Diplomatic Corps in the North Central region, Towards the ASEAN Community, the Regional Summit on Security and Economy, etc. If you were to choose one event as a highlight in the direction of propaganda and communication work in Nghe An province, which event would you consider?

Comrade Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee: This year, 2015, we are welcoming many outstanding events across various fields such as economics, foreign affairs, politics, security, etc. From the perspective of a local government, I believe that our propaganda work must have a focus and key points closely linked to the development situation of our locality. Therefore, if given the choice, I would choose all of the above contents, reflecting the vibrant aspects of the province's development process. However, it is necessary to identify the propaganda about the Party Congresses at all levels as the central theme for the provincial media agencies this year.

This is a crucial milestone, marking the end of a five-year period with specific development directions. On the one hand, we review the results of implementing these policies, assessing their effectiveness and practicality. This identifies strengths and weaknesses, and gathers feedback from the grassroots on shortcomings, problems, and emerging needs. On the other hand, along with an assessment of the current context and future development trends, we formulate new policies for the upcoming period. It can be said that this is a critical transitional moment, requiring the maintenance of security and political stability to ensure the most synchronized and effective implementation of this transition.

Understanding the significance and tasks of the Party Congress at all levels, Nghe An Newspaper has implemented planned and effective propaganda campaigns that have resonated well with readers. The method of organizing propaganda along vertical lines (for Party committees of departments and agencies) and at the grassroots level (for Party committees of districts, cities, and towns) allows readers to have both a comprehensive and specific view. In particular, the focused propaganda, highlighting the unique characteristics of each Party committee through the achievements of the past term, has truly created a distinct and memorable "Term Mark" for each unit.

To date, the grassroots Party Congresses in 21 districts, cities, towns, and departments, agencies, and public service units have been successfully held, fostering confidence in the stable political situation among cadres, Party members, and the people, and ensuring security and order. This encouraging result is largely due to the significant contributions of the media in general and Nghe An Newspaper in particular. It can be said that the official media is a powerful extension of the Party and State in bringing policies and guidelines to the grassroots level in a comprehensive and widespread manner. Building on these achievements, and looking towards the Nghe An Provincial Party Congress and subsequently the National Party Congress, the task of disseminating information and supporting the Party Congresses at all levels by the media in general and Nghe An Newspaper in particular remains significant.

As a local Party newspaper, propaganda on Party building must always be the top political priority of Nghe An Newspaper. Against this backdrop, events such as Party Congresses at all levels are significant milestones that receive more attention, but it must be recognized that propaganda on Party building is a permanent content and the "brand" of the newspaper. Propaganda on Party building is not limited to simply relaying the content of leadership guidelines and policies, but must also reflect feedback from the grassroots and practical realities. It must demonstrate and prove the practicality, feasibility, and effectiveness of the Party's guidelines, policies, and leadership, and conversely, highlight the Party and State's policies and theories in their implementation models at the grassroots level. Only then will propaganda work reach and resonate with the people, penetrate the grassroots, and truly create optimal motivation and effectiveness.

Thanks to effective public awareness campaigns, the land for National Highway 1A has been cleared and handed over to the contractor for upgrading, ensuring the project's progress. Photo: Sy Minh

Reporter:We are living in a society where the speed and "concentration" of information are constantly increasing. This poses many challenges for the press in general and for Party newspapers, including Nghe An Newspaper in particular. Could the Party Secretary please share some directions and guidance for the development of Nghe An Newspaper in the coming period, maintaining its position as the mouthpiece of the Provincial Party Committee and making even more positive contributions to the industrialization and modernization process?

Comrade Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee:The current development landscape has given rise to two somewhat novel "criteria" for the field of media: "speed" and "concentration." Speaking of speed, one immediately thinks of multimedia communication supported by the internet. This represents a significant leap forward in media, and it must be acknowledged that, from this point on, there has been a restructuring of the media network. Traditional newspapers still exist, but alongside them is the strong rise of online news, television, social media, etc. In short, technological development maximizes the speed at which people can exchange information.

I think it's an inevitable trend in society. Speed ​​is not only a criterion in the media field but in many other fields as well. Party newspapers and other official information channels must quickly catch up with this trend, immersing themselves in the flow of the times to maintain their position and role. Nghe An Newspaper has also promptly built an online platform, regularly updating information and demonstrating certain advantages. For example, the media section with video clips on political, cultural, and social issues that readers are interested in; or the way news is presented according to events, ensuring the timeliness of the issues;... It is known that the Nghe An online newspaper has now built a very reputable image; With a stable and growing readership both domestically and internationally, boasting tens of thousands of daily visits, it is considered one of the Party newspapers with rich and engaging content, fast and broad information, clear and coherent viewpoints, and a strong, positive, and influential role in shaping public opinion on the internet. These are commendable and encouraging results for a local Party newspaper, and further efforts are needed to build upon them.

Regarding the dense concentration of information, this is an inevitable consequence of the integration process, not only in Vietnam but also in many other countries around the world. First, it must be acknowledged that this is a challenge for mainstream media. To put it into perspective, Vietnam currently has over 300 radio and television channels and more than 800 newspapers and magazines. Not to mention, with the internet, readers can access foreign information channels, leading to information saturation, or even information "noise," because not all information streams are recognized for their authenticity. However, this very challenge also opens up a new opportunity for the Party's newspapers to assert their role as the "conductor" of media. Information in the Party's newspapers is highly accurate, useful, predictive, and integrated into the flow of life, thus being widely accepted by readers.

Recently, several media outlets have been penalized by the Ministry of Information and Communications for violations in the format and content of their news articles. This shows that media management policies are undergoing certain changes to improve the country's media environment towards a more modern, civilized, and healthy trend. This is an opportunity for media in general, and journalism and revolutionary journalism in particular, to develop better and more systematically within a suitable legal framework.

Nghe An Newspaper is no exception to this general development trend. It is facing the "whirlwind" of information from society and the world, and must adapt to avoid falling behind. At the same time, it must not be passively swept along, but maintain its stance and viewpoint, controlling the speed and intensity of information in accordance with its principles, objectives, and political tasks. To give a specific example, I think that at this time, the East Sea issue is receiving a great deal of attention, not only from Vietnamese readers but also from foreign readers. In conjunction with the nationwide media's propaganda efforts on maritime sovereignty, we have created unique highlights that harmonize with the overall policies and guidelines of the Party and State, and have been positively received by readers (Special Feature "Nghe An Fishermen Venturing Out to Sea," May 2015). I believe this is a very proud and encouraging achievement.

This means that, based on the Party and State's policies and guidelines for propaganda, we need to be proactive and creative in finding new approaches, avoiding clichés and empty theories, and instead focusing on practical realities, especially those in our own localities. Only then can we attract the attention and gain the support of readers. It's crucial to understand that while journalism arises from the information needs of readers, it must also receive and respond positively to sustain its existence. That is, the attractiveness of a newspaper should motivate readers to voluntarily seek out information and enthusiastically embrace it. This information must be truly useful to readers, serving their lives today and pointing the way to a brighter tomorrow.

Reporter:Thank you, Provincial Party Secretary, for the conversation!

Thuc Anh(Perform)