Improving the effectiveness of press work in the new situation

(Baonghean) - After 10 years of implementing Resolution No. 13-NQ/TU of the Provincial Party Committee on the Action Program to implement the Resolution of the 5th Conference of the Party Central Committee (10th tenure) on "Ideological, theoretical and press work in response to new requirements", the press work of Nghe An province has achieved many remarkable results. However, the information explosion is posing many opportunities and challenges for the provincial press.

Nghe An is one of the major press centers of the country, with 7 provincial press agencies. The whole province has 41 central and local press agencies licensed to open representative and permanent offices and more than 10 press agencies with reporters and collaborators working regularly but not registered in Nghe An.

Comrade Ho Phuc Hop - Member of the Provincial Party Committee, Head of the Provincial Party Committee's Propaganda Department, talked with people of Dien Quang commune (Dien Chau).

In order for press activities in the area to become more and more organized in accordance with the Party's orientation and State management, the Provincial Party Standing Committee regularly pays attention to leading and directing press activities in the area, creating the best conditions in terms of facilities, equipment, mechanisms and policies for press agencies to operate with quality and efficiency.

The Provincial Party Committee's Propaganda Department, in coordination with the Department of Information and Communications and the Journalists' Association, has continuously innovated and improved the quality and effectiveness of press work; through directing, monitoring, and urging the handling of issues raised by the press, organizing monthly press conferences, quarterly and annual press conferences to promptly provide information on the economic, social, defense, security, and Party building situation in the area; promptly explaining issues that are of interest to public opinion and the press, while correcting limitations in press work, orienting propaganda on key topics, thereby promoting the critical nature of the press in social management.

Reporters of Nghe An Newspaper working at Ban Ve Hydropower Reservoir. Photo: Archive

During the 10 years of implementing Resolution No. 13-NQ/TU of the Provincial Party Committee on the Action Program to implement the Resolution of the 5th Conference of the Party Central Committee (10th tenure) on "Ideological, theoretical and press work in the face of new requirements", the provision, publication and processing of press information in the province has been effectively implemented. At the same time, the handling of press information has been directed by Party committees and authorities at all levels. In particular, the Provincial Party Committee's Propaganda Department and the Department of Information and Communications regularly synthesize press issues and report to the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee and the Provincial People's Committee for direction and handling. Up to now, most of the contents of the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee's direction on press issues have been reported by units and localities for handling results.

It is worth noting that over the past 10 years, journalism has grown in both quantity and quality. The number of journalists, reporters, collaborators, and technicians is increasing, with about 700 people working in the journalism field. Along with improving professional quality, training and fostering staff, improving the ethics of journalists as well as journalism skills are always focused on by press agencies. Thanks to that, the leadership team, editorial board, editors, reporters, and technicians of press agencies in the province have increasingly matured, meeting the requirements of the political tasks set forth.

Reporters from Nghe An newspaper and officials from the Propaganda Department of Quy Hop district learn about the new rural construction movement in Chau Cuong commune (Quy Hop). Photo: Thanh Le

The provincial press agencies have performed well their functions as both the mouthpiece of the provincial Party Committee, the government, and socio-political organizations, and as a forum for the people, thereby contributing to consolidating and enhancing consensus among cadres, party members, and people, improving the leadership capacity and fighting strength of the Party, meeting the requirements and political tasks in the new revolutionary period. Typically, Nghe An Newspaper has constantly innovated its operating methods; focused on training human resources; assessed the capacity and ability of each position to appropriately organize and arrange the publication of publications. Currently, Nghe An Newspaper is considered one of the leading newspapers in the local Party newspaper system nationwide. In 2015, Nghe An Newspaper was honored to be awarded the title of Labor Hero in the renovation period by the Party and State.

Nghe An Radio and Television Station has continuously invested in building spacious facilities, modern technology, improving content quality; opening a number of new programs, meeting the listening and viewing needs of people at home and abroad; maintaining the time to broadcast national television and radio and is striving to be worthy of being the radio and television center of the North Central region. Other press agencies of the province are also affirming their prestige with readers at home and abroad, many press works have contributed to promoting the image of Nghe An province to domestic and international readers...

Reporters Dao Tuan and Thuc Anh discuss and interview the Chairman of Bac Ly commune (Ky Son)

At the same time, the work of publishing and using the Party's newspapers and magazines has gradually become routine, promoting positive effects in social life. The number of Party newspapers and magazines distributed is basically stable, of which Nghe An Newspaper has published nearly 16,300/issue. The Party's newspapers and magazines have reached a large number of readers who are cadres, party members, compatriots, and soldiers, especially in remote areas, border areas, and islands, meeting the need for information, improving political and cultural levels, contributing to the propaganda of the Party's guidelines and policies and the State's policies and laws.

Every year, the Provincial Journalists Association coordinates with relevant units and localities to organize the Spring Press Festival to display and introduce to readers over 1,000 press publications of all kinds and attracts 50-53 press units in localities with publications to participate. In addition, in the past 10 years, Nghe An press agencies have had quality publications participating in the National Spring Press Festival, the annual National Press Festival; actively participating in the annual national press awards, including 4 A prizes, 3 B prizes and many other awards; there are 6 press awards on the topic of studying and following Ho Chi Minh's ideology and morality. In 2017, Nghe An Newspaper won the B prize of the "Golden Hammer and Sickle" press award...

To recognize, honor and commend press works, the province annually organizes many press competitions, such as: Nghe An Press Award; Press Award on traffic safety; Press Award on new rural areas and hunger eradication and poverty reduction... Press competitions in the province have attracted a large number of journalists to actively participate and have many quality works. In addition to the achieved results, it must be frankly acknowledged that press work still has many limitations, especially the leaders of some press agencies have been lax in management, political and ideological education for staff, reporters and editors, including some central newspapers that are not strict with resident reporters, leading to some journalists and collaborators causing harassment to agencies and grassroots units, violating the ethics of journalists, and even in some cases violating the law...

To continue to improve the effectiveness of press work in the new situation, the task in the coming time is to promote the achieved results and continue to innovate in press direction and management, especially to carry out Nghe An press planning according to the Project on planning for national press development and management until 2025 and the provisions of the Press Law 2016. Strengthen press leadership and management, specifically to innovate the quality of monthly press meetings. Strictly handle cases of violations of press law, deviating from the Party's leadership in press work. Strengthen coordination, inspection and strict handling of violations reported by the press. Closely coordinate with press management agencies to strengthen leadership and direction of press agencies, representative agencies and permanent offices in the area. At the same time, orient the press to actively propagate the Party's guidelines and policies, the State's laws, and the province's mechanisms to create unity in thought and consensus among the people, and fulfill the province's common goals.

For press agencies, it is necessary to quickly overcome limitations and shortcomings, promote effective information and propaganda activities to encourage the entire political system and people to implement the Resolution of Party Congresses at all levels. Pay attention to discovering, encouraging and motivating advanced models and promote the role of the press in fighting and criticizing negativity, signs of degradation in ideology, morality and lifestyle; and fight against signs of corruption, waste and group interests.

The press actively and effectively participates in the fight against and refutes the wrong viewpoints and distorted arguments of hostile forces, reactionary organizations, opportunists, and political dissidents who sabotage the Party, the government, and the great national unity bloc. At the same time, it creates a forum for people from all walks of life to contribute ideas and solutions, promote socio-economic development, and ensure national defense and security. In addition, it continues to pay attention to training, fostering, and improving the quality and professional qualifications of journalists. It directs the strict implementation of the Regulations on professional ethics of journalists.

Ho Phuc Hop

(Standing Committee Member, Head of Provincial Party Committee's Propaganda Department)