Press management is both principled and flexible.

In the context of the Industrial Revolution 4.0 and strong digital transformation, the press is facing unprecedented opportunities and challenges. Not only is it a channel for transmitting information, the press also plays a role in guiding public opinion, contributing to maintaining political stability and promoting socio-economic development. However, with the explosion of social networks and multi-dimensional information, local press management is facing many complex problems such as fake news, newspaperization, unfair competition, etc. Therefore, improving the effectiveness and efficiency of management, building a professional, humane and modern press environment, suitable for the requirements of the new period is an urgent requirement.

The Provincial People's Committee held a press conference to provide information on the socio -economic situation so that reporters and journalists could access accurate and timely information (Photo: Archive)

Under the leadership and direction of the Provincial Party Committee and the People's Committee of Long An province, press activities have been quite active and active in the past time within the framework of legal regulations. With the strong direction and synchronous coordination between functional agencies, press management in Long An has achieved many outstanding results.

The quality of information has been improved, the province's image has been promoted domestically and internationally; new forms of journalism, especially electronic newspapers, social networks, etc., have been promoted effectively by press agencies. Therefore, management work must be flexibly adjusted to suit the characteristics of the digital environment, ensuring freedom of the press along with social responsibility and compliance with the law.

Long An currently has 2 press agencies ( Long An Newspaper and Radio and Television Station , Economic - Industrial Magazine) with 4 types: Print newspaper, radio newspaper, television newspaper and electronic newspaper. The Central Press has 2 representative offices (Vietnam News Agency Resident Office in Long An Province; Nhan Dan Newspaper Representative Office in Long An Province).

As a locality with quite vibrant press activities, there are 58 reporters and journalists from 48 press agencies outside the province registered to work in the province, actively contributing to conveying the Party's guidelines and policies, the State's policies and laws into life, encouraging people to compete in labor, production, business, and successfully carry out the province's socio-economic development tasks.

In recent times, the state management of the press in the province has been carried out synchronously and closely, with the coordination between the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism (taking over the state management function of the press from March 2025), the Provincial Party Committee's Propaganda and Mass Mobilization Department, the Vietnam Journalists Association of the province and relevant agencies (according to Decision No. 664-QD/TU, dated November 16, 2016 of the Provincial Party Committee Standing Committee) being deployed and implemented effectively. Maintaining monthly and quarterly press meetings to evaluate propaganda activities; at the same time, rectifying and orienting propaganda work.

The Provincial People's Committee issued many documents and plans to direct: The strategy for digital transformation of newspapers until 2025, with a vision to 2030 in the province; the plan to strengthen leadership, direction and management of newspapers, magazines, electronic information pages and social networks in the current period; implementing the National Press Development and Management Plan until 2025 (according to Decision No. 362/QD-TTg, dated April 3, 2019 of the Prime Minister);... contributing to raising awareness of press management, planning, development and the trend of press development in a modern direction.

Every year, the Provincial People's Committee organizes training courses to improve legal knowledge and professional skills, etc., thereby improving the quality and professionalism of press activities; inspection and supervision of press activities are carried out periodically and suddenly; training and professional development for journalists and reporters are also given attention.

Monitoring and synthesizing information published by newspapers outside the province about Long An every day (an average of about 5,000 news and articles are published each year), positive information posted accounts for more than 97% of the number of news and articles. Press agencies outside the province actively publish and promote the image of Long An province quite comprehensively in all fields, especially achievements in socio-economic development. For news and articles reflecting negative aspects and limitations in the direction and management of the locality, they are promptly advised to report and propose to the Provincial People's Committee to direct relevant agencies to proactively inspect and resolve according to their authority.

The work of speaking and providing information to the press in the province has had many positive changes, contributing to improving transparency, creating conditions for the press to effectively perform its propaganda function, orienting public opinion and honestly reflecting social life.

Currently, the province has 228 spokespersons and information providers for the press (including 27 provincial level, 15 district level and 186 commune level), which are publicly posted on the provincial electronic information portal (https://www.longan.gov.vn) and the website of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism (https://svhttdl.longan.gov.vn/).

Agencies and localities in the province strictly implement regulations on speaking and providing information to the press according to Decree No. 09/2017/ND-CP of the Government. Most of the spokespeople have good skills in interacting with journalists and reporters and establish quite good relationships with media agencies, creating favorable conditions for the dissemination of official information. Responding to information faster, organizing regular press conferences in accordance with regulations, helping the press access accurate and timely sources of information.

In addition to the results, press work still has certain limitations such as handling bad and toxic information on cyberspace still faces many difficulties; coordination between relevant agencies is not very effective; some agencies and localities have not proactively provided information to the press, leading to one-way information, lack of diversity, affecting the objectivity and reliability of information.

To improve the effectiveness of press management, it is necessary to continue to synchronously implement the following solutions:

Firstly, strengthen the leadership, direction and management of newspaper, magazine, electronic information page and social network activities in the current period; strengthen policy communication; effectively implement the Digital Transformation Strategy of the press until 2025, with a vision to 2030.

Second, focus on applying information technology in press management; regularly review and detect incorrect information posted on social networking sites related to the province for timely handling.

Third, strengthen coordination among relevant agencies in sharing information, handling violations and supporting press agencies in accessing official information.

Fourth, organize training courses to improve legal knowledge and journalism skills for journalists, reporters and publicists; improve professional qualifications, expertise and press management knowledge of heads of press agencies and reporters.

Fifth, strengthen inspection and examination activities, promptly prevent and rectify the situation of "newspaperization" of magazines, "newspaperization" of general electronic information sites, social networks, and manifestations of "privatization" of the press.

Effective press management is not only about complying with legal regulations but also requires close coordination between the government, agencies, organizations and journalists. Effective press management is the foundation for the press to promote its role in accompanying the socio-economic development of the province./.

For the press to develop, it must go hand in hand with strict, proactive, timely, and regulated management. Strict management is the prerequisite to ensure that the press develops according to plan, in accordance with scale and quantity, and to avoid waste. Press management requires both principles and flexibility to be effective. Along with that, the quality and capacity of journalists and journalists must be improved.

Director of Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism - Nguyen Thanh Thanh

Source: https://baolongan.vn/quan-ly-bao-chi-vua-nguyen-tac-vua-linh-hoat-a197391.html