'Revolutionary journalism must take the lead'

Minister of Science and Technology Nguyen Manh Hung said that revolutionary journalism is demonstrated in its pioneering spirit, that is, taking the lead and committing itself.

During his visit and work at VnExpress on July 9, Minister Nguyen Manh Hung gave a speech about VnExpress and the press in general.

Minister of Science and Technology Nguyen Manh Hung works at VnExpress newspaper on July 9. Photo: Ngoc Thanh

VnExpress has many strengths

1. Strong digital: Digital newsroom, digital distribution technology, good digital interaction.

2. Neutral, accessible style: Close to intellectuals and middle class.

3. Have a professional content team: Can guide public opinion if there is a methodical strategy.

But the newspaper also has some problems.

1. VnExpress has not clearly shown its revolutionary journalism identity: There is not much politically oriented information. Social and lifestyle content accounts for a large proportion.

2. Focus on current news, markets, algorithms..., sometimes unclear directional role.

3. Not yet fully promoting the role of the newspaper under the Ministry of Science and Technology : Not yet a leader in science and technology, innovation, digital transformation, intellectual property, standards - measurement - quality (news articles in this field only account for 5-6%).

VnExpress is a widely read newspaper, not a newspaper that leads and creates society in terms of values and ideology.

What's next?

So, after a large readership, neutral news reporting, following algorithms, avoiding sensitive issues, what will be next? Is that the ultimate goal? The ultimate goal must be to contribute to the development of Vietnam, to contribute to solving Vietnam's big problems, to stick to and focus on the country's development strategy. That is, Vietnam becomes a developed country with high income by 2045, with double-digit growth, a two-level model, high-quality growth, improving labor productivity, digital transformation, green transformation, solving environmental pollution problems, improving national governance capacity, and developing based on science and technology/innovation/digital transformation/intellectual property/standards - measurement - quality.

Should we change our role from reporter to moderator? That is, shaping public opinion, proposing policies, connecting experts, people and the State. There is nothing wrong with neutral reporting, but we need to focus more and delve deeper into the country's major issues.

Should we lead the public on digital transformation, green transformation, AI transformation, energy transformation, and development based on science and technology/innovation/digital transformation? We are in a period of great transformations that only happen once in a hundred years, so what will VnExpress do to lead these transformations? Revolutionary journalism is revolutionary in leading and pioneering.

Should we create a broad knowledge community for all people, not just readers but also participants? Innovation and digital transformation are for all people. And only when it is for all people will this work be successful. Only revolutionary journalism can make it for all people. Organize online dialogues on transformation issues, let people submit articles, videos, debate but censor the quality. Open voting for community initiatives, startups solving social problems ( VnExpress has done a part but needs to do it at a higher level, linked to the innovations of the industry and the country).

VnExpress needs to become a new type of online newspaper, having a real influence on the awareness of science and technology/innovation/digital transformation/IP/TDC, on innovation, transformation, policies, and development thinking. It is a newspaper that creates a rational public (the press not only provides information, but also fosters a community of people who think independently, have critical thinking, make decisions based on reason, evidence and data, instead of emotions, prejudices or fake news), and stands with the nation and people.

So, there is some direction correction, but no manual correction.

1. The Ministry needs to have clearer political and ideological strategic direction, set goals for the newspaper in the new period, closely following national development strategies and major problems of the country.

2. Assign specific tasks to newspapers on policy communication, science and technology, innovation, digital transformation, intellectual property, resettlement, and digital culture.

3. Create a core content line with the identity of modern revolutionary journalism: Value orientation, inspiration, social construction.

4. Training a team of reporters in the direction of soft politics and hard techniques.

Some new directions for journalism

VnExpress is a revolutionary newspaper, a revolutionary press. It is a Party newspaper, placed under the comprehensive management of the Party. This is a matter of principle. Building a clean and strong Party organization is the first thing to do. VnExpress must be an organization within the Ministry of Science and Technology. VnExpress is not a closed organization, not an oasis ( VnExpress and Tia Sang publications must now be under one roof, one place, merged into one organization, one apparatus, one common pot, the parts that are heavy on magazines must be transferred to the Science and Technology Magazine ), but an open organization, the functional agencies of the Ministry must manage and supervise the newspaper's activities. The newspaper's leaders must also determine the same. That only makes the newspaper develop more sustainably, not limit the newspaper's development. The Department of Personnel Organization, the Department of Financial Planning, the Ministry Office and the Party Committee's agencies must consider VnExpress as a focal point like any other unit to manage, supervise and comply with the regulations of the Party and the State, and create conditions for the newspaper's development. The Department of Financial Planning must make an annual plan to order VnExpress equivalent to 20-30% of the newspaper's total revenue, have public investment in the newspaper so that the newspaper becomes number one in technology, has a team to develop technology within the newspaper, especially in AI, big data. The Ministry Office allocates about 3,000 m2 for the newspaper so that the brothers do not have to rent tens of billions/year from outside. The Department of Personnel Organization must support personnel work, organizational work, and Party work, because VnExpress is a large organization. Increase the percentage of party members from 10-20% and higher. The agencies of the Ministry must pay attention, management must always go with development, management to develop and development to manage better.

VnExpress newspaper goes beyond information, it is knowledge . From information to knowledge and beyond. In addition to reporting differently, different from social networks, it must go beyond news. Many new digital tools greatly support reporters in doing this.

Put policy communication on science and technology/innovation/digital transformation/IP/renewable energy and nuclear energy applications at the center of VnExpress's content . In addition, there are fields such as post, telecommunications, and digital technology industry. Because VnExpress is the mouthpiece of the Ministry of Science and Technology, the number one focus must be on the fields of the Ministry. Doing well and doing these contents well will get both in 1, have many readers and contribute to the development of the industry and the country. There must always be a news about science and technology in the top 5 news group, after appearing there, it will enter the science and technology section.

Data-driven Journalism: Using data to tell good stories. Telling stories without data can still move people. But good stories with data will stimulate technocratic thinking, analytical thinking, which is what we lack.

Some sharing about journalism

On the occasion of the 100th anniversary of Vietnam Revolutionary Press Day, I would like to share some thoughts about journalism.

Journalism is a special profession, requiring special people. It is a profession that holds a sharp blade in its hands - it can pave the way for knowledge, truth and progress, but it can also cause harm if not careful. The power of the press is great, but it also comes with a great responsibility, because if used properly, it will bring great benefits to society, but if abused or lacked standards, the consequences can be extremely serious.

Revolutionary journalism is at the forefront. Pioneering means taking the lead. That is why journalism is a profession of dedication.

Journalism today is not only about information but also about knowledge. It is about analysis, about finding gems in a mountain of information. Above knowledge is understanding. Above understanding is insight. Above insight is enlightenment. That means that besides information, there are many other levels for journalism to exploit, especially when information is now being encroached upon by social networks.

Journalism is not only about pen and paper, but also about technology. As times change, tools change. Journalism must always use new tools. Tools do not change the profession, they only help it to be done better, at higher levels. But if we do not use new tools in time, the profession can be taken away.

Revolutionary press must be nourished by the revolution. Press that is completely based on the market can be marketized and led by the market. Revolutionary press that develops sustainably must be nourished by the state, that is, by ordering 20-30%.

If you want to write well, you have to dive into life. The tree of life is always green. That is why journalism, if it wants to be green, has to cling to life. Journalists nowadays like to dive into the internet, but if they want to live, they have to go out there. On the internet, information is already secondary.

If you want to write short, you need to know a lot to say one thing. You can't write short because you know one thing but want to say two or three things. If you want to write short, you also need more time to think. The 17th century mathematician Blaise Pascal, in a letter to a friend, apologized as follows: "I didn't have enough time to write a shorter letter, so I wrote a long one."

The press must tell a good story. A story that touches people's hearts will travel far and penetrate the reader's awareness. Changing awareness is the goal of the media. A good story can change a person's life. Information is quickly forgotten and overshadowed by other information.

For fast news, social media is better than newspapers. If it is authentic news, newspapers are better. If it is analysis and knowledge creation, newspapers are even better. So social media takes away some things so that newspapers can return to their main profession, return to the core values of journalism: authenticity, transparency, independence, balance, humanity and responsibility to the community.

Humans have an animal part which is the original instinct and a part which is good and human. Journalism focuses on the second part of human beings. It is less materialistic and more spiritual. Therefore, journalism in the true sense is difficult to be rich in material things. Journalists should accept this. If they do not accept it, they should choose another profession.

Modern people need to be proficient, such as knowing how to read and write, 3 languages: Vietnamese to preserve identity, English to connect with the world, and digital language to work, create and live proactively in the digital age. Journalists are the same and must be even more so.

A country that wants to become a developed country must rely mainly on spiritual strength - that is, the ability to think, the desire to rise up and the spirit of innovation and creativity in each citizen. That spiritual strength does not come naturally, but is formed from new perceptions of the world, of oneself and of the road ahead. The press, as a pioneering force on the ideological front, has a special mission: not only to reflect reality, but also to contribute to shaping it, by leading public opinion, clarifying issues, opening up thinking, and changing social awareness. When awareness changes, thinking is innovative, new resources will be released, from intelligence, creativity, to belief and action. That is the driving force for Vietnam to enter a new era of development, more proactive and confident.

Minister Nguyen Manh Hung

Source: https://mst.gov.vn/bao-chi-cach-mang-phai-linh-xuong-tien-phong-197250718163552156.htm