In 2017, the press needs to strongly encourage innovation and inspire creativity.

Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam expressed his hope that, in 2017, following the general trend of the world, the press would make outstanding efforts; strongly encourage innovation, and inspire creativity throughout society and among individuals.

On February 7th in Hanoi, the Central Propaganda Department, the Ministry of Information and Communications, and the Vietnam Journalists Association jointly organized the Spring Press Briefing Conference – an event that has become a New Year's tradition for journalists nationwide.

A view of the press briefing. (Photo: Phuong Hoa/VNA)

Attending the conference were Politburo member, Secretary of the Central Committee of the Party, Head of the Central Propaganda Department Vo Van Thuong; Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam; representatives of the Ministry of Information and Communications, the Vietnam Journalists Association; leaders of news agencies and press... along with a large number of veteran journalists.

According to the Central Propaganda Department, information and propaganda work during the Lunar New Year of 2017 focused on the themes of celebrating the Party and the New Year, remembering President Ho Chi Minh, and promptly reflecting important issues in the implementation of resolutions on Party building and key political tasks in 2017. Press agencies also reflected the activities of the Party, State, and all levels, sectors, organizations, and associations in caring for the people during Tet; activities celebrating the traditional Tet holiday, the enthusiastic start of production at the beginning of the year; and cultural activities associated with national identity… Press agencies increased investment in publications and programs for the Lunar New Year of 2017; and showed creativity in content and form… However, some errors in content and form also appeared that need to be corrected.

Minister of Information and Communications Truong Minh Tuan acknowledged that the past year brought both joy and sadness to the journalistic community. The Minister expressed hope that in 2017, media agencies and journalists would perform their assigned tasks even better, actively reflecting and commending positive aspects, while criticizing negative behaviors and wrongdoings. The Minister also hoped that more examples of good people and good deeds would appear in newspapers, radio, and television programs; and that negative behaviors and wrongdoings would be promptly detected and eradicated.

On behalf of the Government, Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam thanked the press for its companionship with the Government over the past year in building an honest and constructive government; helping the Government fulfill its tasks in economic and social development, maintaining national security and defense, and strengthening foreign relations…

Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam expressed his hope that, in 2017, following the general trend of the world, the press would make outstanding efforts; strongly encourage innovation, and inspire creativity throughout society and among individuals.

Mr. Vo Van Thuong, Member of the Political Bureau, Secretary of the Central Committee of the Party, and Head of the Central Propaganda Department, speaks at a press briefing. (Photo: Phuong Hoa/VNA)

At the conference, Mr. Vo Van Thuong, Member of the Political Bureau and Head of the Central Propaganda Department, on behalf of the Political Bureau, the Secretariat, and the Central Propaganda Department, commended and highly appreciated the achievements of the press nationwide in the past year.

According to Vo Van Thuong, Head of the Central Propaganda Department, 2016, with the very high demands of the first year of implementing the Resolution of the 12th National Congress of the Party, and carrying out a number of tasks in economic, cultural, social, national defense, security, foreign affairs, Party building, and building the political system, the country achieved many good results, in which the press agencies made a significant contribution.

During the recent Lunar New Year holiday, thanks to the efforts of many broadcasting, television, and press agencies, many images and examples of hard work in production and combat were brought to the attention of people nationwide. The press also encouraged the activities of organizations and individuals in caring for those in difficult circumstances throughout the country during Tet, reflecting the thoughts and feelings of Vietnamese people abroad towards their homeland.

Mr. Vo Van Thuong also emphasized that 2017 is a crucial year, requiring high determination to create new breakthroughs and further develop Vietnam's reform process. Specifically in the field of journalism, relevant agencies must improve the quality of leadership, guidance, and management of information and propaganda; reward and punish; receive and respond to issues raised by the press; and improve the quality of journalistic activities...

In the new year of 2017, journalists need to continue to raise their awareness and deepen their understanding of the importance of themselves and their information products—newspapers; constantly learning to improve their political, professional, and ethical standards. Press agencies need to effectively implement the Party's Resolution on preventing and combating ideological, moral, and political degradation, and manifestations of self-transformation and self-evolution within the Party; enhance the capacity and fighting spirit of the press; and contribute to the successful implementation of economic, cultural, social, national defense, security, and foreign affairs tasks, Party building, and the construction of the political system, bringing Vietnam to a higher level of development and soon becoming a modern industrialized nation.../.

According to Vietnamplus