Innovating live broadcasting: Connecting with listeners' emotions in the digital age.
On the afternoon of April 12th, within the framework of the 17th National Radio Festival - 2026 in Quang Ninh, the Voice of Vietnam (VOV) organized a professional seminar with the theme: "Live Broadcasting in the New Era - Skills to Win Over the Audience".
Attending the workshop were: Mr. Pham Manh Hung - Head of the Organizing Committee of the 17th National Radio Festival, Deputy General Director of VOV, Vice Chairman of the Festival's Jury; Mr. Nguyen Van Chi - Deputy Secretary of the VOV Party Committee; Mr. Dong Manh Hung - Head of the VOV Editorial Secretariat, Chairman of the Live Broadcasting Council; and Ms. Duong Thi Minh Hang - Director of the Archiving and Program Production Center, VOV.
The delegation from Nghe An's press and broadcasting sector, led by Ms. Tran Thi Huyen - Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee and Deputy Director, attended the program. Also present were numerous journalists, editors, and broadcasters from radio and television stations across the country.
The workshop's main focus revolved around skills in attracting and winning over the public across various fields, from political commentary and social issues to humanistic stories.
The discussions focused on analyzing how a live radio program can retain listeners and encourage active participation. Many practical issues were raised, such as: selecting topics for live programs; applying digital technology in production and broadcasting; solutions for engaging and retaining the audience; and how to handle topics that are considered "dry" or have a limited audience.
According to journalists and editors participating in the workshop, live broadcasting always demands a high degree of timeliness and a sharp perspective. Sharing her experience in production organization, journalist Nguyen Thi Khanh Ly (Nghe An Newspaper, Radio and Television) presented a behind-the-scenes story from her work "Keeping the Flame of Human Resources at the Commune Level Alive," which will participate in the 17th National Radio Festival - 2026. According to journalist Khanh Ly, to excel in political commentary broadcasting, the prerequisite is early preparation, closely following highly topical issues, but approaching them from a humanistic perspective, stemming from practical experience at the grassroots level.
From the perspective of a "judge," Comrade Dong Manh Hung - Head of the Editorial Secretariat of VOV, Chairman of the Broadcasting Council - highly appreciated the approach of this work. The skillful reflection of the reality at the grassroots level, followed by in-depth analysis and proposals for practical solutions to help commune-level officials work better, is a major plus, demonstrating the social responsibility of journalists.
The skills and confidence of live radio presenters were also a topic of great interest at the workshop. Discussing this, MC Le Thi Thuy Linh (Nghe An Newspaper, Radio and Television) stated that behind the presenter's confidence lies the support of a dedicated team, from the Board of Directors to the editors and technicians.
MC Thuy Linh shared that the secret to captivating the audience is thorough preparation: in-depth research on the topic, a firm grasp of the script's core message, and clear direction. In particular, the host must always anticipate potential situations; maintain the habit of noting keywords to create a coherent and logical flow throughout the program. Most importantly, thoroughly understanding the personality and style of the guest is crucial to creating the most open and comfortable conversational space possible.
The workshop also provided an opportunity for delegates to share experiences in building a loyal audience and methods for connecting with the public's emotions through humanistic content.
At the workshop, journalist Nguyen Thi Hang (Quang Ninh Newspaper, Radio and Television) shared valuable insights on how to approach and deeply connect with listeners' emotions through voice and storytelling. Sharing the same perspective on the power of sound, the representative of the People's Voice Radio Station of Ho Chi Minh City – announcer To Khanh Tuong – offered a highly figurative viewpoint: The skill of a presenter lies in building a unique style and using vivid descriptive language so that listeners can "imagine" what is happening on air.
Meanwhile, given the nature of the topics with profound humanistic themes, journalist Huynh Thi Dieu Hang (An Giang Newspaper, Radio and Television) brought to the Festival a story about volunteer work and social welfare, sharing that the key to success lies in carefully selecting details and simple everyday stories that have a powerful impact in spreading kindness and touching people's hearts.
In his concluding remarks at the workshop, Mr. Pham Manh Hung, Head of the Organizing Committee of the 17th National Radio Festival and Deputy General Director of VOV, expressed his hope that the 26 live radio programs that participated in this year's festival would continue to be maintained and implemented by the participating units in the future. He emphasized the need to promote close and harmonious coordination among the teams as well as the role of the presenters so that live radio broadcasting truly becomes a forum for the voices of the people to be heard. At the same time, the Deputy General Director of VOV also requested that media agencies continue to promote the application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology in the field of radio broadcasting to increase productivity and program quality in the digital age.
The workshop provided a multifaceted perspective and practical insights for radio broadcasting in the digital age. The combination of modern journalistic thinking, meticulous preparation, and the art of engaging viewers emotionally is key to ensuring live radio broadcasting maintains its position and enduring vitality in the multi-platform digital media era.
