Nghe An Newspaper's online edition launches new interface: Affirming its pioneering spirit, innovation, and keeping pace with the digital transformation era.

Overview of the launch ceremony for the new interface of Nghe An Online Newspaper. Photo: Duc Anh

With content as the core, technology at the center, fulfilling political tasks, and serving the people as a prerequisite.

Nghe An Newspaper is the official organ of the Party Committee – the voice of the Party, Government, and People of Nghe An. Over 61 years of development and growth, Nghe An Newspaper has made continuous progress with the aim of becoming a multi-media news agency and one of the most reputable provincial newspapers nationwide.

Currently, Nghe An Newspaper has several publications including: Nghe An Daily, Nghe An Weekend, Mountain and Ethnic Minority Special Section, and Nghe An Online Newspaper. Throughout the development of our homeland and country, Nghe An Newspaper has left proud marks. Nghe An Newspaper was also honored with the title of Hero of Labor during the đổi mới (renovation) period in 2015.

Delegates attending the launch ceremony of the new interface of Nghe An Online Newspaper. Photo: Duc Anh

The Nghe An Newspaper online (baonghean.vn), established in 2008, has undergone two interface and publishing technology upgrades (in 2013 and 2018). However, given the rapid development of technology and the demands of digital transformation in journalism, the Editorial Board of Nghe An Newspaper decided to comprehensively redesign the Nghe An Newspaper online from the beginning of 2022, including changes to the interface and publishing system.

The new interface of Nghe An Newspaper's online version is designed to be modern and elegant, building upon the identity of Nghe An Newspaper while adding new values ​​and features to suit the development trends of modern journalism. Both versions of Nghe An Newspaper's online version, on computers and smartphones, are presented with a reader-centric approach, increasing the number of featured articles, creating more attractive highlights, and increasing font and image sizes to best meet the habits and behaviors of readers.

The new interface of Nghe An Newspaper's online edition.

Besides utilizing new features and technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) in content publishing and distribution, Nghe An Online Newspaper continues to apply modern display formats in its new version, such as automatic audio news, print news reading, podcasts, and emagazines. Nghe An Online Newspaper also develops new sections such as Activities of the Provincial Party Standing Committee, Nghe An Newspaper Television, Multimedia, and Digital Transformation.

Along with the interface change, on this occasion, Nghe An Newspaper also upgraded the Nghe An Newspaper application on Android and iOS operating systems to meet the increasingly high demands of readers; at the same time, it continues to make comprehensive changes in publishing technology, infrastructure, techniques and content; integrate the print newspaper publishing system into the online newspaper; and digitize data sources on the history, culture, and people of Nghe An to better serve the people... This is part of the comprehensive quality improvement project, linked with digital transformation of Nghe An Newspaper.

Comrade Ngo Duc Kien - Secretary of the Party Committee and Editor-in-Chief of Nghe An Newspaper - delivered the opening speech. Photo: Duc Anh

In his opening remarks at the ceremony, Editor-in-Chief of Nghe An Newspaper Ngo Duc Kien shared: Facing the challenges posed by the rapid development of technology and digital media, the fierce competition from various forms of social networks, and the increasingly high demands of readers and the people, Nghe An Newspaper has set a firm resolve to comprehensively innovate towards digital transformation, with content as the core, technology as the center, and fulfilling the province's political mission and serving the people as the top priority.

The launch of the new Nghe An Newspaper online interface is part of a roadmap and plan to continuously innovate and improve the quality of publications, aiming to consistently excel in fulfilling assigned political tasks, contributing to the concretization of Party Congress Resolutions at all levels into life, successfully implementing the Resolution of the 19th Provincial Party Congress, and meeting the requirements, expectations, and trust of readers in the Party newspaper in the homeland of beloved President Ho Chi Minh.

"We recognize that innovation and digital transformation are continuous processes, with a beginning but no end. This is also the mission that all generations of officials, reporters, and staff of Nghe An Newspaper have set and are fulfilling," the Editor-in-Chief of Nghe An Newspaper emphasized.

Comrade Thai Thanh Quy - Member of the Central Committee of the Party, Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Head of the National Assembly Delegation, and Chairman of the Provincial People's Council - delivered a speech at the ceremony. Photo: Duc Anh

Speaking at the launch ceremony of the new interface of Nghe An Electronic Newspaper, Comrade Thai Thanh Quy - Member of the Central Committee of the Party, Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Head of the National Assembly Delegation, and Chairman of the Provincial People's Council - assessed: "In the past period, we highly appreciate that you have done a good job of acting as a bridge between Party committees, the government, and the people, and have done quite well in the mission of disseminating the policies and guidelines of the Party, the State, and the province to the political system and the people in the area, contributing to creating social consensus and trust, and making a positive contribution to the socio-economic development process in Nghe An province."

Highly appreciating the new interface of the Nghe An Newspaper's online version from frequent use, the Secretary of the Nghe An Provincial Party Committee emphasized: The new interface is a very important step forward as the Nghe An Newspaper prepares to advise the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee on the Project "Improving the overall quality and digital transformation of the Nghe An Newspaper in the period 2022 - 2027, with consideration to 2030".

On behalf of the provincial leadership, Provincial Party Secretary Thai Thanh Quy acknowledged and commended the efforts of Nghe An Newspaper in the past period, especially recently.

Digital transformation is an inevitable trend in all areas of socio-economic life, including journalism today. In light of this, the Secretary of the Nghe An Provincial Party Committee, Thai Thanh Quy, has instructed the Nghe An Newspaper to steadfastly develop publications on multimedia and digital platforms to align with the trends of the times and the new era of journalism; and to regularly update on the development trends of domestic and international journalism to modernize the publishing process.

Nghe An Newspaper continues to actively promote its core role in disseminating and encouraging the best implementation of the Resolution of the 13th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam and the Resolution of the 19th Congress of the Nghe An Provincial Party Committee; publicizing the revolutionary traditions, culture, history, land, and people of Nghe An; the socio-economic achievements of the province; investment opportunities and access to investment for Nghe An province to the whole country and the world; strengthening training and improving the professional capacity of reporters and editors in Nghe An Newspaper; strengthening training, self-cultivation, and upholding professional ethics, "sharp pen, bright mind, pure heart" to build a team of journalists who are both politically sound and professionally competent.

Comrade Le Quoc Minh - Member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam, Editor-in-Chief of Nhan Dan Newspaper, Deputy Head of the Central Propaganda Department, and President of the Vietnam Journalists Association - acknowledged the efforts of Nghe An Newspaper. Photo: Duc Anh

Speaking at the ceremony, Comrade Le Quoc Minh - Member of the Central Committee of the Party, Editor-in-Chief of Nhan Dan Newspaper, Deputy Head of the Central Propaganda Department, and President of the Vietnam Journalists Association - congratulated Nghe An Newspaper on its extremely important progress.

Having followed Nghe An Newspaper for a long time, I've noticed that it's very quick to apply modern technologies in its journalistic production process. Journalists in President Ho Chi Minh's hometown are always striving for innovation. The Vietnam Journalists Association is very pleased with these changes.

Delegates attending the launch ceremony. Photo: Duc Anh

According to Le Quoc Minh, Editor-in-Chief of Nhan Dan Newspaper, the Covid-19 pandemic, which occurred intensely and had a severe impact worldwide, especially from July 2021, has brought about many changes and challenges for the press globally and in Vietnam. In this situation, media outlets are trying to reduce their dependence on advertising by increasing the number of paying subscribers, focusing on organizing online events, and expanding e-commerce activities. Revenue from users is increasingly becoming a priority for media organizations, with a series of strategies to unlock its potential. In addition, they are offering cheaper advertising products, diversifying advertising, and rapidly deploying traditional advertising.

Comrade Le Quoc Minh - Member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam, Editor-in-Chief of Nhan Dan Newspaper, Deputy Head of the Central Propaganda Department, and President of the Vietnam Journalists Association - affirmed that digital transformation is a necessary path for the press to take if it does not want to fall behind. Photo: Duc Anh

According to Comrade Le Quoc Minh, to achieve a long-term development plan, a newspaper must be like a marathon runner. It must inspire readers in the post-pandemic future with engaging content. To retain the public, it must create content that suits the post-Covid-19 lifestyle and meets the constantly changing needs of media. Newsrooms must also innovate, experiment, and think creatively to "save" journalism.

Reporters at work at the ceremony. Photo: Duc Anh

Faced with these challenges, the press will have to undergo digital transformation, and this transformation must come first, with benefits following. "This is a necessary path, even a fast and decisive one, if we don't want to fall behind. Digital transformation is essential across all media – print, television, and online… Digital transformation is not just about technology, but about mindset, from production processes and management processes to even the culture within the newsroom. In other words, digital transformation is needed in the content, commercial, and technology departments," emphasized Comrade Le Quoc Minh.

In particular, Comrade Le Quoc Minh stated that newspapers must undergo a strong digital transformation starting from the highest level, encouraging innovative ideas and creating conditions for everyone to have new ideas, and remaining steadfast when facing challenges. In addition, they must invest in human resources and promote their unique values. The unique values ​​of a media organization must be central to any digital transformation effort, and these values ​​must be clearly demonstrated to readers.

At the ceremony, comrades: Le Quoc Minh - Member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam, Deputy Head of the Central Propaganda Department, Editor-in-Chief of Nhan Dan Newspaper, President of the Vietnam Journalists Association; Thai Thanh Quy - Member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam, Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Head of the Provincial National Assembly Delegation, Chairman of the People's Council of Nghe An Province; Nguyen The Ky - former Member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam, former General Director of VOV, Chairman of the Central Council for Literary and Artistic Theory and Criticism; Nguyen Duc Trung - Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the People's Committee of Nghe An Province; Nguyen Nam Dinh - Member of the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee, Permanent Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Council; Nguyen Thi Thu Huong - Member of the Standing Committee, Head of the Provincial Propaganda Department; Ngo Duc Kien - Secretary of the Party Committee, Editor-in-Chief of Nghe An Newspaper, performed the ceremony to launch the new interface of Nghe An Newspaper's online version.

The leaders perform the ceremony to launch the new interface of Nghe An Online Newspaper. Photo: Duc Anh.

Nhan Dan Newspaper donated 5 new generation computer sets to Nghe An Newspaper. Photo: Duc Anh.

TH Group has sponsored 400 million VND for the upcoming 24th Nghe An Newspaper Cup Youth and Children's Football Tournament. Photo: Duc Anh

On this occasion, to support Nghe An Newspaper in its digital transformation and upgrading to modern journalistic technology, Nhan Dan Newspaper donated 5 sets of new generation computers to Nghe An Newspaper. TH Group also sponsored 400 million VND for the upcoming 24th Nghe An Newspaper Cup Youth and Children's Football Tournament. This is the oldest football tournament for young players in Vietnam; it is not only a playground for thousands of children from all over the country but also a place to discover talents for Vietnamese football, with names such as Cong Vinh, Van Quyen, Cong Phuong, Phan Van Duc, Nguyen Manh, Xuan Manh...

Nghe An Newspaper, in collaboration with TH Group, donated 50 million VND to Xieng My commune (Tuong Duong district) for new rural development. Photo: Duc Anh

The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development provided 400 saplings to Xieng My commune to help people create more sustainable livelihoods. Photo: Duc Anh

Also at the program, Nghe An Newspaper, in coordination with TH Group, donated 50 million VND to Xieng My commune, Tuong Duong district, for rural development; and donated a house of compassion worth 50 million VND to a disadvantaged family in Quang Son commune, Do Luong district - where Nghe An Newspaper was based and evacuated during the years of the resistance war against the US.

A house worth 50 million VND was donated to a needy family in Quang Son commune, Do Luong district. Photo: Duc Anh

On this occasion, to support Xieng My commune, Tuong Duong district, in building new rural areas, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development provided the commune with 400 saplings to help people have more sustainable livelihoods.

Delegates attending the ceremony pose for a commemorative photo with officials, reporters, and staff of Nghe An Newspaper. Photo: Duc Anh.