Technology 'gives wings' to modern journalism to explode

With the explosion of information technology, journalists are forced to change themselves to stay ahead of technological trends, becoming "new generation reporters" to provide information quickly and accurately.

Technology and smartphones make it easier for newspapers to reach readers.

If in the past, information in newspapers was “a little slow, it was okay”, now, online newspapers have to compete every minute, and in some cases even every second. Because readers’ information needs are measured every… second, and according to the Ministry of Information and Communications, by the end of 2015, the rate of Internet users in Vietnam had reached 52% of the population.

A news reporter said that when reporting on a fire, any reporter with a strong smartphone, good Internet connection, who can send the news back and get it processed quickly, will immediately have more readers for that newspaper’s news. Meanwhile, even if it is more “polished”, the number of readers for late news will be limited.

When arriving at the scene, reporters will take out their phones to take pictures, type a few words and post them on social media (in some cases, video). In the newsroom, editors will quickly push news and videos online and update them regularly when there are new developments. At those times, a pen, notebook, and cumbersome cameras, along with steps like turning on the computer to send back, will "slow down the progress" of the news.

In some cases, reporters even filmed and broadcast live to the press...

Vietnam's Revolutionary Press over 91 years. (Source: VNA)

The fast way of working also requires reporters to be tech-savvy and sensitive to information. In addition, fast reporting is almost the “minimum requirement” of electronic newsrooms. Immediately after sending the initial information, asking reporters to update detailed information, sharp photos, and unique camera angles is always a priority and the newspaper is ready to add to the article or make changes if necessary.

Many online newspapers in Vietnam require reporters to write - in addition to writing and taking photos - to be able to record clips and 360-degree photos to support their articles. This is also a way to prove to readers that reporters are present at the scene, not just reporting through stories...

From another angle, in a workshop with the theme "Press and Social Networks" held at the end of 2015, many journalists said that social networks have been and are a source of news for the press, and news from Facebook posted by the press has created great debates in society.

However, due to characteristics such as openness, fast but "virtual" information, and difficulty in filtering information, social networks have become a source of support for many new types of crimes. In particular, some reporters have not verified the source of information and have formalized information on social networks into news and articles in newspapers, leading to unpredictable consequences. Sensational, clickbait news easily leads to imitation, especially in entertainment-oriented electronic newspapers.

Reporter at work.

From the editorial office's perspective, in addition to requiring accurate information and evidence when reporters exploit information, many editorial offices have proactively invested money in technology, designing newspapers on multimedia platforms to reach readers.

Grasping the reading and video viewing trends of readers, many newspapers have designed highly customizable websites, not only serving readers on computers but also changing to suit readers on tablets and smartphones. International newspapers even allow reporters to shoot videos vertically on the phone instead of the traditional horizontal way to serve smartphone users to watch full screen without having to rotate the phone horizontally.

Clearly, the technology platform is giving wings to the development of journalism, especially electronic journalism. However, for technology to be truly useful, each journalist must improve their knowledge, especially their ethics, to ensure that information reaches the people quickly, accurately, accurately and well./.

According to Vietnamplus