Accelerating the digital transformation of journalism and publishing

On the morning of November 30, in Thai Binh, Nhan Dan Newspaper, Thai Binh Provincial Party Committee, National Political Publishing House Truth, Communist Party of Vietnam Electronic Newspaper, Academy of Journalism and Propaganda organized a scientific workshop "Digital transformation of journalism and publishing - Theory and practice".

The workshop was chaired by comrades: Le Quoc Minh, member of the Party Central Committee, Editor-in-Chief of Nhan Dan Newspaper, Deputy Head of the Central Propaganda Department, President of the Vietnam Journalists Association; Ngo Dong Hai, member of the Party Central Committee, Secretary of Thai Binh Provincial Party Committee; Associate Professor, PhD Vu Trong Lam, Director, Editor-in-Chief of the National Political Publishing House Truth; Associate Professor, PhD Pham Minh Son, Director of the Academy of Journalism and Communication; PhD Nguyen Cong Dung, Editor-in-Chief of the Communist Party of Vietnam Electronic Newspaper.

The workshop also had the participation of leaders in the fields of journalism and publishing, experts in the field of journalism training, leaders of press agencies and publishing units nationwide.

Speaking at the opening of the workshop, Comrade Le Quoc Minh, Member of the Party Central Committee, Editor-in-Chief of Nhan Dan Newspaper, Deputy Head of the Central Propaganda Department, President of the Vietnam Journalists Association affirmed that the fourth industrial revolution and the rapid changes in techniques and technology have greatly affected the operation and development of press agencies. Faced with these challenges and opportunities, the Government issued Decision No. 348/QD-TTg dated April 6, 2023 of the Prime Minister, approving the Strategy "Digital transformation of journalism to 2025, with a vision to 2030". The goal of the strategy is “Digital transformation of journalism with the aim of building press agencies in a professional, humane, and modern direction; fulfilling the mission of information and propaganda to serve the revolutionary cause of the Party and the cause of national innovation; ensuring the role of leading and orienting public opinion, maintaining information sovereignty in cyberspace; effectively innovating readers' experiences; creating new sources of revenue; promoting the development of the digital content industry”.

Comrade Le Quoc Minh emphasized that digital transformation is an inevitable trend of modern journalism to serve readers best and fastest. Digital transformation is not simply investing in technology equipment and software, but must change the mindset from leaders to cadres, reporters, and employees; innovate the entire content production process, editorial office operation process. Digital transformation must ensure increasingly high quality journalism, build a team of loyal readers. Press agencies must boldly implement digital transformation activities; constantly innovate, adjust while doing instead of waiting; strengthen training, innovate training forms; build a shared data warehouse, measurement tools, collect reader data... Only then can digital transformation be successful and effective.

In the field of publishing, the Party and the State pay special attention to digital transformation. The political orientation of the Party and the State requires the press and publishing industry to accelerate the digital transformation process, go fast, and go ahead to attract resources. Up to now, many stages of press and publishing activities have approached and strongly applied technology.

Comrade Le Quoc Minh hopes that, from this scientific conference, press and publishing managers will listen, share and resolve difficulties for press agencies that are still in the early stages of developing modern journalism; leaders of press agencies and publishing units will gain more experience to implement digital transformation of press and publishing in a manner appropriate to the capacity, practical operations and development strategy of the editorial office, while press and publishing training experts will focus on new skills, practice the model of "bringing the editorial office to the classroom", linking training with vivid practice.

The workshop attracted dozens of speakers with presentations clarifying three basic contents: journalism and publishing in digital transformation: theoretical and practical basis; journalism and publishing in digital transformation: Current situation and experience; journalism and publishing in digital transformation: issues, orientation, solutions and recommendations.

Many new, creative ways and experiences in digital transformation in press units were shared by leaders of press agencies, publishers, and experts in the field of press and publishing at the workshop. The speakers discussed the following contents: digital transformation of press and publishing - theory and practice; digital transformation of publishing in the world and suggestions for Vietnam; digital transformation in press activities - benefits and challenges; digital transformation of Vietnamese press - opportunities and challenges; digital transformation and the issue of building a converged newsroom today...

The speakers also shared their experiences in digital transformation of press and publishing in practice: digital transformation of Vietnam radio: pressure of digital transformation on press and media agencies; digital transformation of press - practice, experience of Bac Giang Newspaper; solutions to promote digital transformation in the field of press and publishing in Ho Chi Minh City in the coming time; initial results and issues raised for digital transformation of press in Tuyen Quang Newspaper; digital transformation from the perspective of graphic information and data journalism of Vietnam News Agency...

63 papers submitted to the scientific conference were compiled by the Organizing Committee and the National Political Publishing House published the book "Digital transformation of journalism and publishing - Theory and practice".