Journalism embarks on a journey of profound transformation

In recent years, the press has faced many pressures: social networks have flourished, fake news has spread, and the wave of artificial intelligence (AI) has exploded. Digital transformation is no longer an option but an inevitable path for the press to maintain its mission and adapt to the times.

Digital transformation to maintain identity and spread value

In the context of strong development of social networks, people all have modern journalism tools in their hands and according to statistics, every day in the world , there are up to 7 billion pieces of information posted, including many fake and incorrect contents. Unable to compete with the speed of social networks spreading with the old model, press agencies have been and are strongly transforming.

In Ho Chi Minh City, Saigon Giai Phong Newspaper (SGGP) has just launched the project "Data Journalism", applying AI and multi-platform to help digitize the 50-year historical archive. The project is presented in multimedia forms such as longform, infographic, video , which are both intuitive and vivid, helping readers easily follow, experience, and look up information.

Journalist Nguyen Khac Van, Deputy Editor-in-Chief in charge of SGGP Newspaper, said that the newspaper is digitizing all SGGP paper issues to create multimedia data journalism products to serve the public or to serve the search, lookup, and research needs of organizations and individuals. To do this, SGGP Newspaper strongly uses AI tools. On the other hand, SGGP Newspaper's digital transformation project clearly defines: building a modern agency technology infrastructure, ensuring information security; promoting digital applications, AI to serve the publishing process and readers; transparency, improving the quality of management and administration work. In addition to the digital transformation strategy in terms of content and convenience for readers, digital transformation in internal administration is also strongly implemented.

Similarly, Ho Chi Minh City Law Newspaper is also implementing a systematic digital transformation project until 2025, with a vision to 2030. Deputy General Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Law Newspaper Editorial Board Do Van Thien said that the main axis of Ho Chi Minh City Law Newspaper's digital transformation activities is to proactively build a digital culture; using data as a resource, using technology as a launching pad for operating the digital newsroom and producing digital products of the newspaper based on the perception of readers - viewers - listeners as the center. In journalism, Ho Chi Minh City Law Newspaper is gradually applying AI to content production.

Among the newspapers in Vietnam, Thanh Nien Newspaper is considered one of the first newspapers to transform from a traditional print newspaper model to a multimedia newspaper, integrating digital platforms such as websites (thanhnien.vn), mobile applications and social networks (Facebook, Zalo, YouTube, TikTok...) to reach readers more quickly and effectively. Thanh Nien Newspaper has also established a Digital Content Development Center. This is considered an important transformation of Thanh Nien Newspaper.

Journalist Nguyen Ngoc Toan, Editor-in-Chief of Thanh Nien Newspaper, believes that digital transformation is not only about technology, but also about changing the mindset of journalism. To do so, we must rely on data and objective assessments to adjust content and business strategies.

Associate Professor, Doctor, Journalist DO CHI NGHIA, National Assembly Delegate:

Grasping the public's psychology of receiving information through technology

During the period when the country enters a new era - the era of national development, prosperity and wealth, many new and great tasks are being implemented with great determination, at a very fast speed, even many tasks are unprecedented.

The press must increase the application of science, technology and digital transformation, especially in research, understanding the needs and psychology of public information reception.

Make skillful use of new media technologies, promote the role of press information in the digital media environment, consider it the main front in the struggle to protect the Party's ideological foundation; at the same time, it is an opportunity to promote the role of social criticism.

Human resources and technology are the keys to success

Not just a race for infrastructure or software, digital transformation requires a comprehensive restructuring of the press team. Deputy Head of the Central Propaganda and Mass Mobilization Department Ngo Dong Hai affirmed that training and improving the capacity of the press team is the key solution for the press agency to operate effectively.

Ho Chi Minh City press is constantly changing, proactively integrating technology to bring information to the public in a diverse and attractive way (in the photo are reporters from central and Ho Chi Minh City press agencies working at the Ho Chi Minh City Press Center). Photo: HOANG HUNG

From that requirement, many press agencies have proactively trained reporters and editors with multiple skills, from writing articles, filming videos, mining data to using AI tools. Journalist Do Van Thien shared that the goal is not only to invest in technology but also to create professional joy, inspire creativity so that each employee can truly master digital transformation. However, the transformation process is not easy.

Journalist Nguyen Ngoc Toan believes that traditional newsrooms are not fully equipped with advanced management tools and lack people who can understand data and analyze trends to advise leaders on revolutionary solutions. In addition, choosing new, unprecedented ways of doing things also creates a sense of apprehension, because the majority want stability rather than disruption.

The press is facing a very important turning point, with many challenges but also opportunities to work professionally and creatively; to compete and affirm the position of the mainstream press. This is also an opportunity for each press agency and each journalist to demonstrate their abilities.

- President of Vietnam Journalists Association LE QUOC MINH

Journalist Nguyen Khac Van commented that in the context of digital media and social networks developing strongly today, each newspaper must clearly demonstrate its role and reliability to readers. In particular, SGGP Newspaper identifies itself as a channel to verify information, helping readers have a more accurate information filter. Therefore, SGGP Newspaper focuses on training its team of reporters and editors to be steadfast in political ideology and good at professional expertise.

Vietnam's Revolutionary Press is on a journey of profound transformation. It is not just a change in technology, but a comprehensive "transformation" to adapt to the new era - where readers' trust is the most important measure of each newspaper's success.

THU HUONG - VAN MINH - PHAN THAO

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/bao-chi-buoc-vao-hanh-trinh-chuyen-doi-sau-sac-post800327.html