A year of unification: The power of resonance
July 1st, 2025, marks a special milestone in the history of Nghe An journalism as Nghe An Newspaper and Nghe An Radio and Television officially merge to form Nghe An Newspaper and Radio and Television. One year is a very short time for a media organization with a 70-year tradition, but the achievements have affirmed the power of synergy when resources are connected, values are inherited, and aspirations for development are nurtured together.
Thanh Huyen • July 1, 2026
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On July 1st, 2025, coinciding with the establishment of a two-tiered local government system, this also marks a significant milestone in the history of Nghe An's journalism: the Nghe An Newspaper and Nghe An Radio and Television Station officially merged to form the Nghe An Newspaper and Radio & Television. These two media organizations, with their long traditions and unique characteristics in terms of format, production methods, and professional culture, embarked on a journey to build a multi-media news organization encompassing all four types of media: print, online, radio, and television. The merger is not merely an organizational requirement; it represents a renewal of thinking and operational methods to create a more modern, professional, and competitive journalistic model.
One year is too short a time for a media organization with a 70-year tradition, but the results achieved have affirmed the power of synergy when resources are connected, values are inherited, and aspirations for development are nurtured together.
The biggest challenge in any merger is always the people and the way things work. Transforming two organizations with different organizational systems, work processes, and professional characteristics into a unified entity is no easy task that can be solved overnight.
However, with a strong sense of responsibility, solidarity, and high political determination, the reorganization of the apparatus has been implemented synchronously, systematically, and scientifically. The departments have been reviewed and streamlined (from 16 departments, after two reorganizations, the Nghe An Newspaper and Radio and Television Department now has only 7 departments); functions and responsibilities have been clearly defined.
Streamlined and efficient organization is not only reflected in the organizational structure but also in the professional mindset. While previously each type of activity operated relatively independently, now resources are connected within a unified production process. A single topic or event is simultaneously covered in print, online, radio, television, and digital platforms. This change not only saves resources but also enhances the effectiveness of communication, expands public reach, and creates more diverse and engaging journalistic products.
Despite initial difficulties, the new system quickly settled into stable operation. Gaps between different types of departments narrowed, and officials and employees quickly adapted, creating a unified and professional working environment.
It can be said that, after one year, the most important achievement is stability. And on that foundation of stability, new avenues of development have been opened.
Over the past year, the country and Nghe An province have witnessed many important political, economic, cultural, and social events. These include the streamlining of the organizational structure, ending the operation of district-level administrative units, and implementing a two-tiered local government system; the 80th anniversary of national independence; the 20th Provincial Party Congress and the 14th National Party Congress; the elections for National Assembly and People's Council representatives at all levels for the 2026-2031 term; and numerous major cultural and tourism activities… Notably, in Nghe An, just 20 days after the new commune-level government model came into operation, the entire province faced three consecutive, devastating storms – the most severe in history…
Over the past year, "organization, operation, innovation, and development" have been the most frequently mentioned keywords, representing the mandate and shared will of the entire Party, army, and people, but also the specific tasks and operational goals of Nghe An Newspaper and Radio & Television. With consolidation and synergistic strength, the political tasks and workload have increased exponentially. However, amidst this pressure and the prevailing circumstances, Nghe An Newspaper and Radio & Television have continued to affirm their role as the province's leading media agency, a bridge between the Party's will and the people's aspirations, and a reliable forum for cadres, Party members, and all segments of the population.
Along with major political events, investment promotion programs, and foreign affairs activities, the province's major policies on commune and village reorganization; urban planning; implementation of key projects; development of education and healthcare… as well as issues of public concern are all disseminated on a larger and more extensive scale.
Beyond simply reporting the news, long-term, meticulously planned propaganda campaigns, including specialized articles, investigative reports, panel discussions, interactive sessions, radio and television broadcasts, live television programs, podcasts, infographics, etc., are produced with great care, creating widespread impact.
The role of Nghe An Newspaper and Radio & Television – the province's official and leading media outlets – in shaping public opinion, verifying information, fostering social consensus, and encouraging patriotic emulation movements continues to be clearly demonstrated and affirmed.
While digital transformation was considered a key priority in previous years, after the merger, it has become the driving force for the development of Nghe An's newspapers, radio, and television.
The change begins with the awareness of the leadership team and extends to all employees. Reporters from Nghe An's newspapers, radio, and television, regardless of their background, must adapt to the multi-platform media environment.
In that spirit, the Editorial Board has actively promoted the development and improvement of the quality of the converged newsroom model, gradually perfecting the multimedia content production process; and applying technology to management, operation, and production organization.
The team of reporters has been engaging with all four traditional forms of journalism, while also developing a clearer mindset for producing digital content. During a reporting trip, reporters not only write articles for online or print newspapers but also produce videos, podcasts, short clips, and various other content formats for digital platforms.
Many modern journalistic products have been invested in by the online newspaper and digital channels of Nghe An Newspaper and Radio and Television, ranging from longforms, megastories, infographics to short videos, podcasts and livestreams.
Social media platforms such as Facebook, YouTube, TikTok, Zalo, and the NTVgo app continue to expand, gradually forming a digital media ecosystem with ever-increasing public reach. NTV currently owns many digital accounts/channels with significant reach, such as the Nghe An TV YouTube channel, which is nearing 3 million subscribers.
Most importantly, digital transformation is creating a shift in journalistic thinking. This shift is towards a mindset that is audience-centric, with content quality at its core, and technology as a tool to enhance value.
Perhaps no better proof of a media organization's maturity than the quality of its journalistic works. Previously, Nghe An Newspaper and Nghe An Radio and Television Station were both highly reputable names in journalism awards. Therefore, upon merging, amidst the multitude of tasks, the main concern of the Board of Directors and leaders of Nghe An Newspaper and Radio and Television was the disruption and break in the streak of achievements in national radio and television festivals and national, ministerial, and central government journalism awards. Consequently, along with decisively directing propaganda and fulfilling regular political tasks, the Board of Directors paid special attention to and closely supervised the production of high-quality journalistic works, especially before each festival or award season. From setting targets and guiding topics to approving script outlines and even directly participating in the production of works, the leadership and management played a crucial role.
And those efforts have been richly rewarded. Never before has Nghe An's press and broadcasting achieved such a golden harvest of awards as this year. In almost all major journalism awards and across all four categories (print, online, radio, and television), the unit had winning entries, and high-ranking ones at that. From the B and C prizes of the National Golden Hammer and Sickle Journalism Awards, to the First Prize of the National Traffic Safety Journalism Award; and the A Prize of the Vietnam Insurance Journalism Award. Most recently, at the 2026 National Radio Festival, Nghe An's press and broadcasting excelled, winning 2 Gold prizes, 1 Silver prize, 2 Bronze prizes, along with 3 awards: Best Live Radio Presenter; Best Podcast Host; and Best Technician. Following that were the First and Second prizes of the Central-Western Highlands Regional Journalism Awards. Notably, to commemorate the 101st anniversary of Vietnam's Revolutionary Press Day, Nghe An's newspapers, radio, and television won 3 C prizes at the National Press Awards, and had 3 works that reached the final round.
Consistently receiving accolades at prestigious journalism awards and across all media categories demonstrates the consistent professional growth, keen insight into topics, and innovative presentation skills of the staff, reporters, and technicians of Nghe An Newspaper and Radio & Television.
Behind each award are long field trips, immersion in real-life situations, sleepless nights at the editing table, and meticulous attention to detail in every word and every image. More importantly, these awards have partly demonstrated the synergistic power, correctness, and effectiveness of the converged newsroom model. When the strengths of print, online, radio, and television are combined, many topics have the opportunity to develop in a multimedia, modern, and more persuasive direction. Among the awards the unit received last year, there were quite a few works on the same topic, directed and produced across different media platforms. The B and C prizes of the National Golden Hammer and Sickle Award are prime examples. Both works (one television, one online newspaper) discuss the efforts of the Party Committee and government of Nghe An province, the unity and solidarity of the entire population in building and operating a two-tiered government, especially the nascent new commune-level model facing the challenges of natural disasters. These disasters, though natural, also serve as a test. Similarly, the first and second prize winners (one print newspaper, one television) of the Central-Western Highlands Journalism Awards both share the same theme: the sedimentation of hydroelectric reservoirs. These products are the result of a collaborative production team…
There are still many awards at central and provincial-level press competitions. These achievements are not only a source of pride for each individual but also a measure of the quality of the agency's operations after the merger. These are the first "sweet fruits" of the reform journey, and at the same time, a motivation for the team of journalists to continue conquering new heights.
The achievements in the first year are not just about numbers, awards, or new journalistic products. The greatest value lies in the collective unity, the aspiration for innovation, the readiness to adapt to the increasingly high demands of the digital media age, and a clearer mindset and goals in building a modern, professional, multimedia news agency for Nghe An Newspaper and Radio and Television.
One year is not long enough to fully assess the value of a merger. However, it will serve as a measure of the correctness of the policy, the level of effort, and the responsibility in fulfilling the political tasks of Nghe An Newspaper and Radio and Television.
