Building Nghe An press to develop and meet information needs in the digital age

Implementing the press planning in the spirit of Decision No. 362/QD-TTg dated April 3, 2019 of the Government, Nghe An has reduced from 7 press agencies licensed by the Ministry of Information and Communications to 3 press agencies including: Nghe An Newspaper, Provincial Radio and Television Station, Song Lam Magazine. In Nghe An, there are 62 press agencies and magazines with representative offices and resident reporters. The team of journalists in the province is quite strong, including 350 members of the Vietnam Journalists Association of Nghe An province. Nghe An press agencies always adhere to the principles and purposes, provide diverse information, continuously and promptly update, vividly reflect all aspects of life, well meet the ideological orientation and information needs of readers, actively contribute to the economic and social development of the province.

Executive Committee of Nghe An Provincial Journalists Association for the 2020 - 2025 term. Photo: Pham Bang

Through monthly press meetings, the Journalists Association coordinates with the Propaganda Department and the Department of Information and Communications to grasp the ideological situation of journalists, provide orientation in propaganda work; make recommendations to competent authorities to resolve issues raised by the press, helping press agencies and journalists always properly implement the principles and purposes of their newspapers.

Despite facing many difficulties and challenges, press agencies have strived to overcome and adapt to excellently fulfill their political tasks before the Party and the people.

From the beginning of 2020 until now, the situation in the country in general and in the province in particular has been full of difficulties and fluctuations, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, natural disasters, storms, floods, droughts, seriously affecting all aspects of socio-economic life. Press activities in the province as well as the whole country, despite facing many difficulties and challenges, press agencies have strived to overcome and adapt to excellently complete political tasks before the Party and the people. The press has informed, comprehensively and promptly reflected important political events of the country and the province; fully and correctly informed complex and sensitive issues taking place in the area.

The press propagates and clearly reflects the socio-economic management solutions of the provincial leaders, departments, branches and localities; foreign affairs activities, promoting the image of Nghe An country and people to the whole country and the world. In particular, the press focuses on effective propaganda aboutParty Congresses at all levelsterm 2020-2025, election of deputies to the 15th National Assembly and People's Councils at all levels for the term 2021-2026; propaganda on disease prevention, especially the Covid-19 epidemic, political security work, social order and safety, solidarity between religions and non-religious people, prevention and overcoming the consequences of natural disasters and floods; environmental issues, social security; shortcomings in implementing Decree 34 on commune-level allowances, building new rural areas; work on drug prevention and control, human trafficking...

Reporters working at the 19th Provincial Party Congress for the 2020-2025 term. Photo: Nguyen Son

The press does not compete with social networks in reporting news the fastest, but competes with accurate, verified information.

In the digital age, the press has many advantages in operations, information, as well as innovation and application of technology in journalism. However, the press alsofacing many challengesBefore social networks, when every citizen with just a phone became a "journalist", when the information they provided was not verified, leading to disturbances that affected society. However, the press did not compete with social networks in reporting the news the fastest, but the press competed with social networks with accurate information, verified information. From the limitation of social networks with a lot of fake news, the need of readers for accurate and authentic news is increasingly concerned. That is the opportunity for the press to face the challenge of social networks, helping society see more clearly the role and core value of the press: accuracy and truthfulness. Journalists must verify and filter information on social networks, to criticize and orient information, bringing readers accurate, honest and healthy information.

With that spirit, press agencies in the province have proactively fulfilled their roles and missions, always taking the initiative in front of social media. In the face of hot spots and hot issues, Nghe An Newspaper with a team of enthusiastic and responsible reporters has not been afraid of hardship, ready to go to places with natural disasters, epidemics, places with unstable security and order, border areas, remote islands to provide readers with information that is full of life. Many articles guiding public opinion carried out in difficult and dangerous conditions have created trust of the press with readers, helping Party committees and authorities at all levels to remove difficulties and obstacles for the people.

Comrade Nguyen Duc Trung - Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee visited Nghe An Newspaper and Nghe An Radio and Television Station. Photo: Document

The digital age creates countless opportunities for the development of journalism and media, if we know how to grasp trends, apply technical technology, and take advantage of the huge resources of human knowledge through digital infrastructure and network infrastructure. Grasping that opportunity, Nghe An Radio and Television Station (NTV) focuses on changing the mindset of content production. From only being interested in producing programs, columns, and news broadcast on traditional television and radio, NTV has organized many programs and video clips specifically for digital audiences through the station's official network infrastructures such as: Websites Truyenhinhnghean.vn; YouTube Nghe An TV; Fanpage Nghe An Television; app NTVgo... To meet the requirements of the new period, NTV has grasped the development trend of technical technology, digitizing the entire production and broadcasting chain. Thanks to the attention paid to the application of digital content transmission on network infrastructure, NTV's programs become close, familiar, highly connected and interactive with audiences, anytime, anywhere.

Besides promoting new factors, Nghe An press also performs well the role of social supervision and criticism, resolutely fighting against corruption, waste, bureaucracy, and negativity; fighting against "peaceful evolution"refuting the wrong views and arguments of hostile forces, contributing to strengthening people's trust in the Party and the government. Many journalists have devoted themselves, constantly struggling, not afraid of hardships, difficulties, and dangers, to produce excellent works, most clearly demonstrated in propaganda campaigns on Covid-19 epidemic prevention, propaganda on storm and flood prevention, rescue work for landslides, hydropower, relief in floods in the Central region; illegal exploitation of mineral resources, forest products... in which the press agencies in the province and central newspapers residing in the area have left a strong mark in the past time such as the provincial Radio and Television Station, newspapers: Nghe An Newspaper, Military Zone 4 Newspaper, resident offices in Nghe An such as Nhan Dan Newspaper; Tien Phong, VTV1, Vietnamnet, Lao Dong, Dan Tri; VTC, Song Lam Magazine; Photography and Life Magazine...

Reporters working while welcoming citizens returning from abroad via Vinh Airport. Photo: Thanh Cuong

Press agencies in the province proactively innovated the content and form of propaganda and achieved many important results, meeting the requirements of the tasks assigned by the Party and the people. Many works won national press awards, 43 works won the Press Award onParty Building themenamed Golden Hammer and Sickle; nearly 30 works won the Nghe An Press Award in 2020, many works won Gold and Silver Awards at the National Radio and Television Festival, along with many other awards from central ministries and branches such as the Press Award on Environment, Education, Great Solidarity..., have affirmed that.

Looking back at the achievements of a year of overcoming difficulties of Nghe An press, we are always proud of the tradition, determination and solidarity of the press team in the beloved homeland of Uncle Ho.

Accompanying the press agencies is the indispensable supporting role of the Nghe An Journalists Association, a professional socio-political organization, a common home for journalists. In addition to the continuous efforts of press agencies, especially in propagating the prevention of the Covid-19 epidemic, the Nghe An Journalists Association promptly organized and launched the "Press Award on Covid-19 prevention and control", to encourage, motivate and honor journalists and collaborators who have not been afraid of difficulties, hardships and dangers in the process of working. At the same time, it encourages organizations and people of all walks of life to support resources for the frontline of epidemic prevention.

In order for the press to meet the requirements of its tasks in the digital age, the Nghe An Journalists Association always pays attention to the quality of its journalists in terms of political qualities, professional ethics and professional qualifications. The Association coordinates with the Center for Journalism Training - Vietnam Journalists Association to organize many professional training courses for members, and send members to participate in professional training courses organized by the Vietnam Journalists Association. Implement well the high-quality journalism program, encourage journalists to create many good works...

Publications of Nghe An press.

In the trend of international integration, the role of the press is increasingly valued. When democratization is promoted in social life, the press must take the lead in undertaking the mission of leading the way with accurate, transparent and objective information, especially on issues that people and public opinion are concerned about. To fulfill that noble mission, Nghe An Press hopes to continue to receive the attention and direction of the Provincial Party Standing Committee, the support and companionship of Party committees at all levels, agencies, businesses and people, especially in the current conditions of press activities facing many difficulties and challenges in terms of operating mechanisms and financial resources.

In addition, the team of journalists in Uncle Ho's homeland must also make more efforts, continue to promote tradition, and accompany the development of the homeland and the country. Journalists, reporters, editors, and technicians always uphold civic responsibility and professional ethics, constantly learn, improve political mettle, hone skills, cultivate moral qualities, with a bright mind, sharp pen, and pure heart, create many excellent journalistic works, contributing to the socio-economic development of the province, building Nghe An journalism to be increasingly strong, creating social consensus, meeting the requirements and tasks in the period of innovation and development of the homeland./.