Digital Journalist

Reporter Hoang Thu - a young face of Lao Cai Newspaper, belongs to the class of dynamic reporters, gradually adapting to the requirements of journalism in a multi-platform media environment. If in the past, her work included taking photos, writing news and articles for print and online newspapers, now she has mastered many more skills such as filming, editing clips, storytelling with animated images, and livestreaming on many platforms.

Reporter Hoang Thu in her first livestream of a pickup truck race.

She said that her journey to self-renewal had a difficult start. The first time she livestreamed at a pickup truck race - in an open space, harsh sunlight, malfunctioning equipment and unstable connection, she was almost overwhelmed by a series of interaction requests from online viewers. Managing alone, recording, hosting and responding to readers' comments, she understood the pressure of her new role: a multi-tasking journalist amidst a constantly moving stream of information. From that first challenge, she gradually accumulated lessons: always carefully preparing content, mastering technology equipment and, above all, maintaining a strong spirit, being flexible and proactive in all situations that arise.

Not only racing for speed, digital journalism also places strict demands on content depth and the ability to connect with the public. Ms. Hoang Thu believes that an attractive journalism product in the digital environment must have three elements: speed to avoid losing the flow of information, interactivity to maintain a two-way connection with readers, and content depth to build trust and sustainable value. "Speed helps reach readers, but authenticity and richness of information are the factors that make them stay longer," she concluded from her practical work.

An attractive press product in the digital environment must have three elements: speed to keep up with the flow of information, interactivity to maintain a two-way connection with readers, and depth of content to build trust and sustainable value.

It can be clearly seen that the image of today's journalists is not only flexible but also requires courage, proactive adaptation and responsibility. They do not stand outside the flow of the times, but engage in real life, convey information, connect the public with emotions and spread good values from each land and people.

Besides the reporters who work directly, in today's multimedia environment there is also a team that silently contributes to the quality and spread of press products, which are translators.

Mr. Phan Van Hiep, a translator at Lao Cai Newspaper, is one of those who are proactively adapting to the changing requirements of journalism in the digital environment. With experience accumulated from television, journalism and translation, he believes that translation today is no longer about translating each sentence and each word, but rather a shift from "original translation" to "creative translation" to create content suitable for social media audiences, which must be fast, concise, easy to understand, evoke emotions while still respecting the original.

Mr. Phan Van Hiep, translator of Lao Cai Newspaper, is one of those who is proactively adapting to the changing requirements of journalism in the digital environment.

Reality shows that each digital platform, from Facebook, YouTube to TikTok, has its own "language", with its own rhythm and specific reception psychology. In that context, translators not only need to be proficient in foreign languages, but also need to grasp and convey the "tone" of modern audiences. A subtitle line must not only be accurate in meaning, but must also be in the right rhythm and tone. A video title must not only be a close translation, but also be suggestive, attractive, and arouse interest at first sight. In this role, a translator is not simply a translator, but also a teller of a global story in a native tone.

For Mr. Phan Van Hiep, translation is now just a part of his daily work. In the role of "digital editor", he also directly participates in clip editing, simple graphic processing, writing subtitles, adjusting video and audio duration, and optimizing content according to search criteria of social networking platforms. The products he has created, from international news reports to community media videos serving local communities, are the result of a combination of language skills, editorial thinking, and technology operation ability.

In the role of "digital editor", Mr. Phan Van Hiep also directly participates in clip editing, simple graphics processing, writing subtitles, adjusting video and audio duration, and optimizing content according to search criteria of social networking platforms.

"We now have to multitask, understand tools, be technically proficient, be fluent in language, and be sensitive to public psychology. Each translation not only conveys information, but also preserves the identity of the press agency," said Mr. Phan Van Hiep.

From his own perspective, journalist Pham Vu Son, Head of Digital Content Development Department, Lao Cai Newspaper said: "Digital transformation in journalism is not only about changing the form of transmission or applying new tools, but also about changing the mindset of journalism, in which the team of journalists plays a central role. Technology only truly brings out its value when led by a team that knows how to create content and has clear professional qualifications."

According to journalist Pham Vu Son, in the converged journalism environment, each journalist, reporter, translator, and editor cannot continue to follow a single-task model. They are forced to become "multi-talented journalists", both mastering traditional skills and proactively mastering digital platforms, responding quickly to changes in the way the public receives information. Examples such as reporter Hoang Thu or translator Phan Van Hiep, who are proficient in the profession from livestreaming, editing short videos, creative translation to designing content suitable for social networks, are vivid proof of the maturity of the young local journalism team in the digital environment.

Today's journalists, in addition to writing correctly and well, also need to understand the platform, read data, measure user behavior and be ready to interact with the public at every information touchpoint. Writing articles and making them "live" in digital space, reaching the right people, spreading at the right time, that is the true value of modern journalists.
Journalist Pham Vu Son commented

In the 100-year history of Vietnamese revolutionary journalism, digital transformation is an opportunity for local journalism to affirm its role and improve the quality of its services to the people. However, to do that, the first thing is that journalists must master technology and not let technology control them.

Source: https://baolaocai.vn/nha-bao-so-post403420.html