The pages readers look forward to every day

(Baonghean) - Exactly 51 years ago, on November 10, 1961, Nghe An Newspaper officially published its first issue to meet the requirements of propagating the policies and guidelines of the Party and State to the people and to be a bridge to bring the voice of the people to the Party. Throughout the process of formation and development, generations of Nghe An Newspaper have always strived to write the pages that readers look forward to every day.

Since the first issue was published (November 10, 1961) until now, Nghe An Newspaper has always been considered a local party newspaper with the top quality in the country. The early upgrading of the printed newspaper to a daily newspaper and the printed newspaper Weekend with the Mountainous - Ethnic supplement, along with the launch of the electronic Nghe An Newspaper, has created conditions for Nghe An Newspaper to soon meet the requirements of timeliness and updating; reflecting both the breadth and depth of social life and initially building a highly professional journalism team. In particular, in recent years, the team of Nghe An journalists has been working in a spacious material facility, with basic working equipment meeting the requirements of the task... Inheriting and continuing such a "foundation" and tradition that is full, proud and respected, Nghe An journalists today are always aware of having to make every effort to write the pages that readers look forward to every day.

Reporter Thanh Chung interviews former Youth Volunteers at the Commemoration Ceremony
44 years of Truong Bon Victory (October 2012) Photo: Huu Nghia

In order for the publications of Nghe An Newspaper to improve the quality, increase the attractiveness, meet the requirements of new tasks, and fulfill the mission of being "the voice of the Party, the Government and the forum of the people of Nghe An", first of all, we must mention the special and regular attention of the leaders of the Provincial Party Committee and the Provincial People's Committee to the provincial party newspaper, especially the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee and the Provincial Party Executive Committee in the role of the governing body. In particular, in addition to carrying out the task of propagating the guidelines, policies and laws of the Party and the State, the provincial party newspaper has been considered one of the most effective channels of social criticism; has limited the situation of "deep intervention" in the content, professional development orientation and affirmed the journalistic attributes of the party newspaper. Next, the Editorial Board has clearly defined the propaganda content, reflecting the issues that the majority of people are interested in, meeting the most common information needs. At the same time, the leaders of Nghe An Provincial Party Committee have held many meetings and discussions with leaders and reporters of Nghe An Newspaper and related sectors to jointly find measures and solutions to improve the quality of the newspaper. The issue of building the content of a party newspaper with high social criticism has been raised and considered the number one criterion in the "renovation". Based on the direction and orientation of the Provincial Party Committee and the requirements for development and integration of the press as well as practical life, Nghe An Newspaper has developed the Project "Improving the quality of Nghe An Newspaper's activities in the period of 2011 - 2015 with a view to 2020" and on October 17, 2011, the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee officially approved the project.

Immediately after the project was approved, improvements and innovations in the journalism process were implemented such as: Investing in film printers, specialized page-editing computers, laptops, cameras, and recorders; implementing a mechanism of partial financial autonomy; performing page-editing and editing news articles entirely on computers; establishing a hotline connecting with people 24/7 to receive information; for Daily Newspaper publications, increasing from 4 pages to 6 pages and printing in 4 colors, increasing the number of publications on Saturday, increasing the number of publications to 7 issues/week; opening discussion, exchange, and forum columns... to increase attractiveness and closeness to readers. Arranging, organizing, and perfecting the staff, reporters, and employees; establishing additional Weekend - Mountainous Areas and Distribution - Social Activities departments; Conduct training and professional development for cadres, reporters, and employees in various forms such as professional training, long-term advanced courses, studying with other newspapers, participating in high-level political training courses, bachelor's degrees... Complete the agency's regulations in the direction of strengthening contracting, management, and assignment of responsibilities; be clear and transparent about financial work, emulation and rewards, recruitment, appointment, dismissal...

Reporters of Nghe An Newspaper working in Thach Ngan commune - Con Cuong.
Photo: SM

After a year of solidarity and unanimous efforts to implement the "renovation", Nghe An Newspaper has initially made progress. In addition to meeting the requirements of the task of propagating the policies, guidelines, and laws of the Party and State, of Party committees and local authorities at all levels, Nghe An Newspaper has become an effective channel of social criticism and public opinion orientation of the province on major issues, new policies, sensitive and complicated issues of public interest, such as: Finding martyrs' graves by spirit possession, incidents related to the religious field; Implementing policies for meritorious subjects, Agent Orange victims, teachers, the poor, women and policies on socio-economic development in the West, new rural areas, urban areas, islands, borders, ethnic groups..., which have been recognized by provincial, district, sectoral and reader leaders. Not stopping at issues within the scope of local resolution and handling, Nghe An Newspaper has begun to reach out to coordinate with party newspapers nationwide to investigate, reflect, and mention issues and incidents in other localities related to the area and people of its hometown, creating a good effect on readers. Besides focusing on innovation and improving the quality of content, the Newspaper also focuses on improving the form of publications. From the presentation, the layout, each photo used shows the meticulousness and thoughtfulness of the team of editors, artists, and technicians. In the condition that the software and interface are too outdated and inadequate, the editors, reporters, and technicians of Nghe An Electronic Newspaper are still determined to research and innovate to create changes and quality of information and columns. The tireless efforts of the entire editorial office have been duly rewarded with extremely meaningful figures: the print newspaper circulation reached approximately 14,000 copies/issue (in 2010 it reached nearly 10,000 copies/issue); the number of visits to Nghe An Electronic Newspaper reached over 60,000 times/day (in 2010 it reached nearly 10,000 times/day). Every day, every hour, the hotline's phone rings, the small room where the disadvantaged and dedicated readers can confide their thoughts and feelings, always ringing hurriedly, imbued with the love and trust of people and readers everywhere. It would also be unfair if today's Nghe An Newspaper picture did not include some highlights from the first "Golden Moment" Press Photo Contest initiated by Nghe An Newspaper with the desire to create a new playground, which will create the premise for a new, effective and attractive style, way of thinking and working of the party newspaper...

Those results, successes and innovations are distilled not only by the minds, hearts and enthusiasm of generations of Nghe An journalists but also by the sincerity and great responsibility that the leaders, collaborators and people of their hometown have for Nghe An Newspaper. Those who work for Nghe An Party newspapers also know that that is not enough, and cannot meet the expectations of the Party Committee, Government and People of the province for the Party newspaper. Officials, reporters and employees of Nghe An Newspaper must continue to make more efforts to reduce and completely eliminate articles and photos that are not attractive, not close to reality, lacking the breath of life, and dogmatic; continue to worry, work hard, and blend with the flow of life to contribute to changes, shine, fairness, and love to build a rich and integrated homeland; To celebrate its birthday every year, each generation of Nghe An Newspaper can confidently continue to write in its traditional history the words "We are continuing to write the pages that readers look forward to every day".

Pham Thi Hong Toan - Editor-in-Chief of Nghe An Newspaper