Nurturing a team of journalists in the digital age with a desire for innovation and creativity

(CLO) It has been a 5-year journey full of efforts and attempts with remarkable results and successes; Thai Nguyen Journalists Association and press and information agencies enter a new term (2024-2029) with a new spirit, full of enthusiasm and aspirations for innovation.

Having gone through a journey with many achievements and challenges, now, members and journalists of Thai Nguyen not only face new opportunities but also great responsibilities, especially when the development context of the country and the whole province is entering a new stage of development.

Affirming the position, role and responsibility for the province's journalism career, creating momentum for Thai Nguyen journalism to make a strong change in the coming time, the theme of the 7th Congress of the Provincial Journalists Association determined the goal: "Building a clean and strong Association; Improving political qualities, professional ethics, and professional capacity for the team of journalists to match the tasks in the digital transformation period".

Welcoming press delegations to the source (In photo: 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 and provincial leaders visit the exhibition house at the Birthplace of the Vietnam Journalists Association - Roong Khoa hamlet, Diem Mac commune, Dinh Hoa district).

Common home of Thai Nguyen journalists

Thai Nguyen province currently has 03 press agencies and 01 media agency; 20 central and sectoral press agencies with representatives and permanent residents; 32 newsletters of departments, branches and sectors. Thai Nguyen press has fully developed all types: print, radio, television and electronic newspapers.

In order to gather, unite, train political qualities, cultivate revolutionary ethics, improve professional qualifications for members, and at the same time represent and protect the legitimate rights and interests of members - journalists in the province, on June 15, 1992, the People's Committee of Bac Thai province issued Decision No. 218 to establish the Journalists Association of Bac Thai province (now Thai Nguyen province). When it was first established, the Association had 40 members and has now grown to 241 members; 01 Inter-Association; 04 branches; 03 clubs.

Looking back on the past, the contributions of the Thai Nguyen press team are not only journalistic works, but also spiritual values, news streams, and vivid reports reflecting all aspects of local social, political, and economic life. In the flow of Thai Nguyen press, people not only see the information conveyed, but also the feelings, sharing... of the journalists.

Journalistic works, along with emulation movements and outstanding activities of the Journalists Association and press agencies, have made important contributions to building and strengthening people's trust in the Party, government and the sustainable development of Thai Nguyen today.

Comrade Nguyen Thanh Hai, member of the Party Central Committee, member of the National Assembly Standing Committee, Head of the National Assembly Delegation, authorized by the Prime Minister, presented the Emulation Flag to the Provincial Journalists Association (At this time, he was the Provincial Party Secretary, Head of the Provincial National Assembly Delegation).

The press agencies in the area always maintain their principles and purposes, perform well their functions as the mouthpiece of the Party and the State and the people's forum; actively propagate the Party's guidelines and policies, the State's and the province's policies and laws; propagate new factors and advanced models in the fields of socio-economics, national defense and security, Party building and the political system. The press actively participates in the fight against negativity, corruption, social evils, and wrongful actions and arguments that harm the great solidarity and interests of the entire nation.

Press agencies have actively implemented digital transformation in the production of press products and diversified forms of information transmission on traditional forms and social platforms. Facilities, equipment, and technological level of Thai Nguyen press have been gradually improved. Working conditions for journalists are increasingly favorable.

The team of journalists in Thai Nguyen has made important steps of growth, their awareness and professional expertise have been increasingly improved, they are more dedicated and passionate about their profession, and have a deep sense of responsibility towards the Party, State and People.

During the past term, the Provincial Journalists Association has closely followed the Resolutions and Directives of the Party on press work and activities of the Vietnam Journalists Association; Resolution of the 11th Congress of the Vietnam Journalists Association; constantly innovated the content and form of activities, successfully completed the goals and tasks set by the 6th Congress of the Association, actively and effectively contributed to the innovation and development of the province and the revolutionary press.

The Association has proactively coordinated with press agencies to manage reporters and members to ensure legal activities and compliance with the Code of Professional Ethics; organized learning and dissemination of Directives and Resolutions for journalists and members. Coordinated with advisory agencies to propose the Vietnam Journalists Association to issue a Decision to establish a Council to handle violations of the Code of Professional Ethics for Vietnamese Journalists in Thai Nguyen province. Thereby, it has contributed to preventing the risk of political and ideological degradation among journalists. No member has a journalistic work that is contrary to the views, guidelines and policies of the Party and State.

Comrade Nguyen Thanh Hai, member of the Party Central Committee, member of the National Assembly Standing Committee, Head of the National Assembly Delegation (At this time, he is the Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Head of the Provincial National Assembly Delegation) and other leaders took photos with the authors who won prizes at the first Huynh Thuc Khang Journalism Award of Thai Nguyen province in 2024.

In the trend of digital transformation, Thai Nguyen press is facing drastic changes. The 4.0 era opens up many opportunities but also requires journalists to quickly adapt and renew themselves so as not to fall behind. This is not only a task, but also a great challenge for every journalist - those who are both witnesses and creators of information flows. The digital revolution brings to the press unprecedented powerful tools, from social networking platforms, artificial intelligence, to big data analysis. For Thai Nguyen, a province with a strategic position in the industrialization and modernization of the whole country, the use of multimedia platforms is not only a trend but has become an urgent requirement.

The Association has organized 20 professional training courses, in coordination with the Professional Training Center (Vietnam Journalists Association) to organize 04 professional training courses for over 500 members, mainly on the production of multimedia and digital journalism works. Every year, the Association allocates support funds for the Inter-Associations and Sub-Associations to organize training courses according to the characteristics of each press agency and based on the needs of journalists. The Association and press agencies sent 150 members to attend training courses of the Vietnam Journalists Association. The Association also organized 10 field trips to create works in the province. Activities to support the creation of high-quality press works have become systematic and substantial. On the basis of the Association ordering a number of priority topics, the branches coordinate with the leaders of the press agencies to organize for members to register, implement the topics and review them publicly and transparently. On average, every year, Thai Nguyen receives support from the Vietnam Journalists Association from 160-200 million VND for creating high-quality journalistic works.

It can be affirmed that from the effectiveness of professional support activities for members, the quality of press works has been improved. In recent years, members of the Thai Nguyen Journalists Association have won hundreds of press awards, including the Golden Hammer and Sickle Award, the Dien Hong Award, the Press Award on preventing corruption and negativity, the National Radio and Television Festival, the Press Award for bringing the Party Congress Resolution into life, the Huynh Thuc Khang Press Award... especially 04 works were awarded at the National Press Award.

High achievements at press awards have encouraged journalists in the province to have more passion and enthusiasm for journalism, not afraid of difficulties and hardships, investing in producing long-term, multimedia articles that have high influence and are of interest to society.

From the above results, Thai Nguyen Journalists Association always excellently completes its annual tasks and leads the emulation movements, receiving the Government's Emulation Flag; Excellent Emulation Unit Flag and Certificate of Merit from the Vietnam Journalists Association; Excellent Emulation Flag and Certificate of Merit from the Provincial People's Committee.

Training a team of "red, professional" journalists

Thai Nguyen Journalists Association and press agencies always identify that the press must be a bridge between the Party, the government and the people. Journalists are not only those who convey information but also those who listen to and reflect the aspirations of the masses. Every work and press product in all forms must ensure accuracy and timeliness, not afraid to expose realities, no matter how difficult or complicated they are.

Comrade Pham Hoang Son, Standing Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People's Council presented the Flag of the leading unit in the emulation movement of the Provincial People's Committee to the Journalists Association on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the Association's founding (June 15, 1992 - June 15, 2022)

In the context of digital transformation, facing many new challenges, the press plays an increasingly important role as the frontline in protecting the Party and the regime, and the issue of fostering qualifications and expertise for members and journalists must be given even more importance. Some key tasks that the Thai Nguyen Journalists Association will continue to focus on implementing in 2025 and the following years include:

Strengthen political and ideological education, continue to implement Directive 05 of the Politburo on studying and following Ho Chi Minh's ideology, morality and style in conjunction with enhancing the responsibility, civic duty and ethics of journalists. Continue to implement Directive No. 43-CT/TW dated April 8, 2020 of the Secretariat on strengthening the Party's leadership over the activities of the Vietnam Journalists Association in the new situation. Continue to thoroughly grasp and strictly implement the provisions of the Press Law, the Charter of the Vietnam Journalists Association, the Rules for the Use of Social Networks, the Code of Professional Ethics for Vietnamese Journalists, the Regulations on Building Cultural Press Agencies and the Culture of Vietnamese Journalists and other regulations.

Continue to innovate activities, find effective solutions to create close ties and connections between the Provincial Journalists Association and the provincial press agencies, representative agencies, and resident reporters in the province. Advise and give advice to the province and state management agencies in the field of information and press to orient public opinion and protect the rights of journalists and members. Coordinate in managing and directing the press to effectively carry out information work in the right direction; effectively perform the task of coordinating the handling of press issues raised in the area.

Continue to focus on training and improving the professional qualifications, skills, and ethics of reporters and editors. Focus on organizing training courses and in-depth training for members on skills in using new technology in journalism. Increasing field trips helps journalists not only access information faster but also know how to turn that information into quality press products with value in orienting public opinion. This not only helps create quality press products to participate in the Provincial Press Awards but also participate in the National Press Awards and Press Awards of Central ministries, branches and sectors; affirming the important role of the press in orienting public opinion and developing society.

Organize well the Huynh Thuc Khang Journalism Award in Thai Nguyen province; Pay attention to investing in high-quality journalistic works to participate in the National Journalism Award and specialized journalism awards of central departments, ministries and branches; National Radio and Television Festival...

Continue to improve the quality of activities of the Secretariat of the Associations, Journalists' Associations; the Executive Boards of the affiliated Clubs; Amend and supplement the Regulations of the Journalists' Association to suit the operational requirements of the new term.

Comrade Pham Hoang Son, Standing Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People's Council and other leaders visited the spring newspaper display booth at the Giap Thin 2024 Spring Newspaper Festival.

Expanding foreign affairs and international cooperation. Strengthening coordination and exchanges with Journalists Associations of provinces and cities nationwide to affirm the role and position of the Association, the birthplace of the Vietnam Journalists Association and the Huynh Thuc Khang Journalism School.

Promote the application of information technology, improve the quality of the "Thai Nguyen Journalists" Newsletter and the Association's general electronic information page at hoinhabao.thainguyen.gov.vn and nhabaothainguyen.vn.

Building a team of Thai Nguyen journalists with strong political will and solid professional qualifications, meeting the requirements of journalism activities in the digital age is both the responsibility and pride of the Thai Nguyen Journalists Association in the homeland where the Vietnam Journalists Association and Huynh Thuc Khang Journalism School were founded.

Closing a journey with many successes, opening a new era; Thai Nguyen Journalists Association and press agencies in the province not only bring with them experiences and lessons learned through a term, but also the desire for innovation, creativity and dedication to the steady development of the press and Thai Nguyen province.

Nguyen Bao Lam

Member of Executive Committee of Vietnam Journalists Association

Chairman of Thai Nguyen Provincial Journalists Association

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/boi-duong-doi-ngu-lam-bao-thoi-ky-cong-nghe-so-voi-khat-vong-doi-moi-sang-tao-post320145.html