Journalists need to demonstrate courage and guide public opinion well in all issues raised.

(Baonghean) - Exchange by comrade Pham Thi Hong Toan - Member of the Provincial Party Committee, Editor-in-Chief of Nghe An Newspaper on the occasion of the Vietnam Revolutionary Press Day June 21.

PV:In the current era of information technology explosion, what do you think party journalists need to do so that the provincial party newspaper can play the role of "conductor" in guiding information and public opinion?

Comrade Pham Thi Hong Toan:As is known, in the context of the current "digital age" explosion, which has led to increasingly fierce information competition, press agencies in general and Nghe An Newspaper in particular have encountered certain difficulties. In order not to become outdated, to constantly meet the new requirements of modern media and information must be "fast, correct, accurate, and interesting", Nghe An Newspaper always implements many solutions to continuously improve the quality of publications, attracting more and more readers, contributing significantly to orienting public opinion.

Central leaders awarded the first B Prize - "Golden Hammer and Sickle" to the authors. Photo: VNA

Currently, Nghe An Newspaper is one of the first editorial offices in the country to successfully implement the convergent editorial model, optimize news products, improve information quality, and create increasingly high prestige for readers. In addition to the printed newspaper continuing to have many innovations in presentation form and information content, Nghe An electronic newspaper constantly applies new technology, builds and develops many publishing support tools, increases information sharing on Facebook, Fanpage to serve the diverse needs of newspaper readers, creating outstanding results in terms of traffic; at times, the number of visits to Nghe An electronic newspaper reached more than 250 thousand per day, the highest among local party newspapers in the country.

In addition to boldly applying modern journalism methods, Nghe An Newspaper regularly improves the professional quality and working qualities of its reporters and collaborators. Every year, the Newspaper organizes training courses in districts, cities and towns for collaborators; opens professional training classes "holding hands and showing work", exchanging careers between groups of reporters in the agency; sends people to attend short-term journalism training courses taught by domestic and foreign organizations...

Working side by side with a team of professional reporters with multimedia skills, regularly staying close to the base and locality, Nghe An Newspaper has a fairly strong team of collaborators with more than 700 people (an increase of 200 people compared to 2015), working in many different fields across the country. Of which, there are more than 300 active and regular collaborators. Thanks to the initial feedback from the collaborators at the base areas, the editorial office has deployed it into a propaganda topic to serve the political tasks of the province well, which has been welcomed by readers.

Nghe An Newspaper is used for Party cell activities in Chau Phong commune (Quy Chau). Photo: Hai Yen

In the face of socio-political events of the province, the country, and hot developments at the grassroots level, Nghe An Newspaper always proactively grasps information, performs well the task of propagating and orienting public opinion, provides fast, timely and accurate information to readers, contributing to creating solidarity and unanimity among cadres, party members and consensus and support from all walks of life. In order to promptly convey the policies and guidelines of the Party, the State, and Nghe An province in an easy-to-understand manner, inspiring cadres, party members and the masses to support and implement effectively, the Newspaper regularly opens new pages and columns, with many rich and diverse forms, becoming a place to send the thoughts and aspirations of readers, along with their thoughts, enthusiastic opinions and suggestions to build an increasingly prosperous homeland.

Along with the recognition of readers, Party committees and authorities at all levels, Nghe An Newspaper also affirmed the results of implementing propaganda tasks with quality works, awarded high prizes in provincial and national press competitions. In recent years, Nghe An Newspaper has always had works winning high prizes at national press awards. For example, in 2017, at the first national "Golden Hammer and Sickle" Press Award, Nghe An Newspaper was honored to win 1 B prize, at the National Press Award, Nghe An Newspaper won 1 C prize, along with many First, Second, Third prizes at provincial press awards...

Staff and reporters of Nghe An Newspaper met at the publishing center. Photo: PV

PV:Promoting the title of Labor Hero in the renovation period, in the coming time, what development strategy will Nghe An Newspaper have so that Nghe An Newspaper can continue to strive to achieve new results in performing its tasks, comrade?

Comrade Pham Thi Hong Toan:From the awareness of the trust and expectations of the Party Committee and people of Nghe An for the development of the provincial party newspaper, the collective of Nghe An Newspaper continues to promote the spirit of solidarity, high collaboration, determined to complete well the tasks assigned by the Party Committee and people of the province, worthy of the trust of readers in general. First of all, the Editorial Board of Nghe An Newspaper determines to well implement the Job Position Project, foster and train the team of reporters and managers, so that the team of reporters, editors and managers are good at their profession, have a deep understanding of political theory, and maintain professional qualities.

On the basis of quality human resources, developing diverse types of media in line with the development of science and technology; focusing on solutions to improve the quality of publications, increase the circulation of printed newspapers and access to electronic newspapers with a steadfast ideology, demonstrating the role of "conductor guiding public opinion" of the party newspaper, that is, implementing the correct principles and purposes, demonstrating the capacity, guiding public opinion in all issues raised, worthy of being "the voice of the Party, government and people of Nghe An", accompanying the cause of innovation, building and protecting the homeland, for the happy life of the people.

PV:Thank you very much, comrade!

Duc Chuyen(Perform)