Many newspapers only exploit the dark side of society to 'attract views'.

Many newspapers only focus on exploiting the negative side, causing a part of the public to mistakenly believe that this is the nature of society.

On the morning of December 29, in Hanoi, the Central Propaganda Department, the Vietnam Journalists Association, and the Ministry of Information and Communications jointly organized a national conference with the theme "Journalism 30 years of innovation - theoretical and practical issues".

Journalist Ho Quang Loi, Permanent Vice President of the Vietnam Journalists Association, affirmed: Looking back on the 30-year journey of renovation, we have the right to be proud of the very important contributions of the Vietnamese revolutionary press to the cause of building and defending the Fatherland.

The workshop attracted a large number of managers, leaders of press agencies and journalists nationwide.

However, besides that, the press also revealed some shortcomings and weaknesses; at the same time, it is facing very severe difficulties and challenges that need to be focused on to overcome and resolve.

The press is afraid of information, social networks will "speak for"

The presentations emphasized the work of directing and managing the press and media. Accordingly, in the face of new requirements of the revolution, strengthening management work and promoting the role of the press is an objective requirement of special importance. The article “Identifying the risks of “self-evolution” and “self-transformation” in the field of journalism” by Dr. Truong Minh Tuan, Minister of Information and Communications, helped professionals and the public answer some questions and better understand the challenges of journalism in the current era of information explosion.

Mr. Truong Minh Tuan said that the achievements of 30 years of renovation have important contributions from the press, that is undeniable. However, there have been and are some journalists and press agencies that have exposed many negative aspects, or are showing signs of deviant tendencies, degradation in political ideology, ethics, lifestyle, "self-evolution", "self-transformation" which can cause unpredictable impacts.

Taking a very specific approach to promoting the role and responsibility of the mass media in preserving the purity of the Vietnamese language, Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen The Ky - General Director of VTV said that the language of the press must ensure accuracy, responsiveness, completeness and of course honesty and objectivity.

Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen The Ky - General Director of VTV presented a paper at the Workshop

To achieve these requirements, the thinking, capacity, qualifications and skills of journalists are essential; including language qualifications and skills. Respecting the use of Vietnamese and preserving the purity of Vietnamese in all forms and media, each press agency should have a department that regularly takes care of improving the language in its media.

Mr. Nguyen The Ky also emphasized that in the context that social networks have become a "formidable" opponent of traditional journalism, journalism activities are increasingly difficult and complicated, posing an urgent need to continue to innovate. "Many things we are afraid to say, afraid to inform in the mainstream press, social networks will"speak for",even say wrong, say slander.

The above situation poses an urgent requirement to constantly innovate, improve the capacity, mettle, quality and effectiveness of the Party's leadership, the State's management of the press; the content, thinking, style and method of the Party's leadership over press agencies, the content, thinking, style and method of the Party's leadership over press agencies" - said the General Director of VTV.

Warning about the decline of journalistic ethics

The workshop also acknowledged that in recent years, the issue of journalists’ violations of professional ethics has always been a topic of concern to public opinion, especially to associations at all levels as well as press agencies. Negative manifestations of press ethics have not only not decreased, but are on the rise, causing serious damage to people’s trust in the press and the leadership of the Party and State.

Journalist Phan Quang, former Chairman of the Vietnam Journalists Association, pointed out: “Many journalists deviate from the principles and goals of their agencies, receiving salaries from one newspaper but working for another. Of concern are incorrect perceptions of freedom of speech, careless statements, and unverified use of information sources from social networks…”

Journalist Nguyen Van Chuong, Chairman of the Dien Bien Province Journalists Association, admitted that many newspapers only focus on exploiting the negative side of society, and the way they shorten headlines, write forewords, and present these contents boldly, has made a part of the public mistakenly believe that this is the nature of society.

Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Van Hai - People's Army Newspaper warned that there have been and are some journalists abusing their journalistic authority, disregarding professional ethics for fame and profit; seriously affecting the honor and reputation of the press and causing loss of trust in the public and society.

Many press agencies and journalists have had their operations suspended by the authorities, their press cards revoked, and they have been disciplined to varying degrees. This has sounded the alarm about the alarming decline in professional ethics that cannot be ignored.

In addition, journalists share the same view that in the era of information explosion, capturing information quickly and sharply is always the most important factor determining the survival of each press agency. To enhance responsibility as well as journalistic ethics, the most important thing is that journalists must have a firm stance and ideology, have the ability to analyze problems and be skillful in conveying information in a correct, attractive and beneficial way for society./.

According to VOV