Building cultural press agencies, cultural journalists

Dear Comrade Vo Van Thuong - Politburo Member, Permanent Secretary of the Secretariat,

Dear Comrade Vu Duc Dam - Member of the Party Central Committee, Deputy Prime Minister,

Dear delegates, comrades!

Today, I am very pleased to join the leaders of the Party and State to attend the launching ceremony of the emulation movement "Building a cultural environment in press agencies" jointly organized by the Central Propaganda Department, the Ministry of Information and Communications, the Vietnam Journalists Association and Nhan Dan Newspaper. This is a very meaningful activity for press agencies and journalists to realize the goal of "Building a professional, humane and modern press and media" according to the documents of the 13th National Party Congress and implementing the conclusions and directions of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong at the National Cultural Conference held at the end of 2021. This is also a meaningful event to open a series of activities to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Vietnam Revolutionary Press Day (June 21, 1925 - June 21, 2025).

On the occasion of the 97th anniversary of Vietnam Revolutionary Press Day (June 21, 1925 - June 21, 2022), on behalf of the Party and State leaders, I would like to express my most sincere gratitude to senior revolutionary journalists and veteran journalists; and send my best wishes to journalists nationwide.

Dear comrades,

Speaking about the role of culture, at the first National Cultural Conference on November 24, 1946, beloved President Ho Chi Minh, a world cultural celebrity, the founder and an outstanding journalist of the Vietnamese revolutionary press, emphasized: "Culture must light the way for the nation to go". Over the past 97 years, generations of revolutionary journalists, soldiers on the Party's ideological and cultural front have thoroughly grasped and deeply imbued with his teachings, correctly identifying the position and importance of culture in the cause of national liberation struggle and building and defending the Fatherland; thereby building for themselves a cultured mindset and journalism style, worthy of the expectations of the Party and the People. With the attention, leadership, direction and management of the Party and the State, the press agencies have clearly demonstrated their pioneering role on the ideological and cultural front, making important contributions to information and propaganda on the political, cultural, economic and social aspects of the country; affirming and deepening the fine traditional cultural values ​​of our nation and people...

Reporters working at the 19th Congress of Nghe An Provincial Party Committee, term 2020-2025. Photo: Nguyen Son

Many press agencies, during the process of establishment and development, have themselves formed cultural values, good cultural environments, standards, and cultural ethics for each cadre, reporter, and journalist to voluntarily implement, considering it as obvious and inevitable for journalists and cultural workers. Thereby, the quality of journalists and the quality and effectiveness of press activities have been gradually affirmed, and many good cultural values ​​in the press have been spread positively in social life.

However, it must be frankly recognized that the construction of a truly cultural environment in press agencies has not been invested in and synchronized; the awareness of the role, position, and mission of journalists in preserving, building, and promoting good cultural values ​​of some leaders, press agencies, reporters, and journalists is not really thorough, complete, and profound. There are even signs of cultural deviation and substandardism; criticizing and disparaging others without seeing themselves in them; deviating from standard values, forgetting the honor and dignity of revolutionary journalists, following trivial tastes in some press products and in the way some journalists behave with colleagues, the public, and society; sometimes being swayed, tempted by material interests, leading to unethical behaviors, violating Party regulations and State laws. The above limitations and shortcomings have many causes, including the lack of due attention to building and creating a cultural environment in press agencies and the press culture of journalists.

I agree and appreciate the Central Propaganda Department, the Ministry of Information and Communications, the Vietnam Journalists Association and Nhan Dan Newspaper for choosing the right time with a very accurate and correct topic, "Building a cultural environment in press agencies" to launch an emulation movement in press agencies nationwide.

Dear comrades,

The good values ​​of Vietnamese culture are the source of strength, helping our nation to survive, overcome all difficulties and harsh challenges in the face of natural disasters and enemies. With the glorious mission of a shock soldier on the ideological and cultural front, each journalist needs to clearly define his or her responsibility in preserving, conserving and promoting the national cultural identity, lighting the fire of knowledge and humanity in the whole society. Each article must be a cultural work, imbued with humanity, imbued with national cultural values, capable of moving people's hearts, towards the noble values ​​of truth - goodness - beauty. Each press agency must be a leading example in building office culture and agency culture.

In that spirit, at today's launching ceremony, I request that the press management and leadership agencies, the governing bodies, press agencies and the team of journalists in our country need to promote spirit, awareness and responsibility, and perform well the following key tasks:

Firstly, continue to thoroughly grasp and raise awareness of Party committees, Party organizations and Party members in press agencies about the position, role and responsibility of the Vietnamese revolutionary press in the cause of building and defending the Fatherland; about the position and role of culture in the cause of building and developing the country; so that each cadre, reporter, editor and journalist in the agency has a deep understanding of the emulation movement "Building a cultural environment in press agencies", promote and spread the response and active and effective participation in building a cultural environment in press agencies; be determined and persistent in implementing the Set of Cultural Criteria in press agencies and the culture of journalists.

Second, build, perfect and implement well the working process, ensuring the highest standards of accuracy, reliability and humanity in each news report and article. Continue to promote information and propaganda work on culture, orienting the promotion of cultural values ​​in life. Actively build press products rich in cultural content, with the ability to spread so that each press product brought to the public ensures aesthetic and educational factors, becomes a model in communication and cultural behavior in the community, especially in cyberspace, contributing to the formation of a healthy cultural environment both in real life as well as in the media space.

Third, building a cultural press agency environment, cultural journalists in the new period associated with development and integration need to focus on standard values ​​that are consistent with the family value system, social value system, national - ethnic values, smoothly combining traditional values ​​with modern values ​​so that culture is truly the "spiritual foundation", "development driving force" as the General Secretary's guiding spirit at the National Cultural Conference; strongly arousing patriotism, the aspiration to develop a prosperous and happy country, creating a very meaningful and good combined strength of the press.

Fourth, continue to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of state direction and management of the press so that the press develops in line with the Party's political, ideological and cultural orientation. Focus on building culture in press agencies and journalists, focusing on building a team of cadres, reporters and editors with moral qualities, a pure lifestyle, a spirit of dedication, wholeheartedly serving the Fatherland, serving the people, and being closely attached to the people; having a sense of respect for the law; democracy combined with discipline; personal freedom associated with social responsibility and civic duty. Take measures to prevent and push back the degradation of political ideology, ethics and lifestyle among a number of cadres, reporters, civil servants and journalists.

Fifth, building cultural press agencies and cultural journalists is a very broad topic that requires attention and investment of time and effort, so the emulation movement must be spread deeply and substantially into each press agency and each journalist. I propose that the Vietnam Journalists Association guide, monitor and urge the implementation of the movement at all levels of the association and press agencies; annually conduct an assessment of the implementation results, review, award emulation titles and rewards, propose forms of rewards for collectives and individuals with outstanding achievements in the emulation movement to create confidence, motivation and new spirit for each Vietnamese journalist in the coming period.

Delegates visit the Convergence Newsroom model of Nghe An Newspaper. Photo: Duc Anh

Dear comrades!

Building cultural press agencies and cultural journalists is the responsibility and also the inherent problem of each press agency and journalist. In order for the movement "Building a cultural environment in press agencies" to increasingly go into depth and become truly effective, I suggest that press agencies and journalists nationwide practically respond to, implement, and spread the movement to society; maintain it regularly and continuously, creating a routine, thereby creating many quality press products, rich in good cultural values, contributing to arousing and orienting positive cultural flows in social life.

Thank you very much./.