Digital transformation to make journalism more modern, with higher intellectual content

Lao Dong Newspaper reporter had an interview with Ms. Dang Thi Phuong Thao - Deputy Director of the Press Department (Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism) about the overall picture of press digital transformation in the past time, as well as the orientations to promote this process in the coming time.

Madam, how do you assess the overall picture of digital transformation in Vietnamese journalism today?

- The set of indicators assessing the maturity of press digital transformation implemented over the past 3 years has created very positive signs in the overall picture of Vietnam's press digital transformation.

Regarding the number of units assessed as excellent: In 2023 it was only 3.66%, but by 2025 it was 18.64%. This shows a significant change, the acceleration of a few units and the efforts of the overall press agencies.

In recent years, the investment of the State or governing agencies in the field of digital transformation of the press has also received more attention. By 2025, about 78.53% of press agencies have had overall plans, action programs and specific solutions to carry out digital transformation in their agencies and units. 70.06% of agencies have allocated funds for digital transformation.

It can be said that changes in awareness, personnel preparation and financial investment are the things that help the picture of press digital transformation of press agencies in Vietnam have many positive changes.

Reality shows that many press agencies have invested heavily in digital platforms, reader data and multimedia content production. However, the level of transformation between agencies is still uneven. According to you, what are the main reasons leading to this disparity?

- In my opinion, this disparity stems from three reasons.

The first reason lies in the awareness of the head of the press agency. If the editor-in-chief has not properly assessed the importance of digital transformation for the transformation of the press, for the newspaper itself and has not placed it as a key task in the immediate future, it will be very difficult for a press agency to successfully implement digital transformation.

The second reason lies in the investment in infrastructure for digital transformation in press agencies. The lesson shows that large press agencies that successfully transform digitally are all backed by technology companies.

The third reason is technology personnel. If there is no technology team working at the press agency, the story of digital transformation of the press is very difficult to implement. Because from the past until now, we have still done journalism in a traditional way and have not had the habit of approaching and applying digital transformation in the stages of the journalism process.

In the context of increasingly fierce information competition in cyberspace, according to you, what consequences will the slow digital transformation of press agencies lead to for the sustainable development of journalism?

- The journey to digital transformation of the press has put press agencies on a high-speed train. If anyone does not get on that train in time, they will definitely lag behind and will greatly affect the position and brand of the newspaper.

Previously, the press had a monopoly in producing and providing information. But now, the press must switch to producing content that readers really need, and at the same time direct it to each target audience group. Therefore, only digital transformation can bring new ways of doing things, helping to position the newspaper's brand in the hearts of readers.

If we do not transform the press digitally, we will lag behind in press products, not keep up with press products with high digital technology content, providing readers with more values and intellectual content and more suitable for young people. Therefore, press agencies that are lagging behind will not create press imprints and will not create their own identity.

In addition, not converting the press digitally or delaying digital transformation will directly affect the revenue of the press.

In its role as a state management agency, what specific policies and solutions has the Press Department been and is implementing to promote the digital transformation process in press agencies, Madam?

- From the perspective of state management of the press and with the responsibility of advising the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in this field, the Press Department will continue to identify a number of immediate tasks to implement and promote press agencies in the digital transformation journey.

The first is to continue to implement the strategy of digital transformation of the press to the vision to 2030 approved by the Government.

The second is to continue advising on institutional policies related to state management on changes in the digital transformation journey of the press; to issue sets of standards on journalistic ethics in the use of AI.

The digital transformation maturity assessment index of the press will still be a tool to promote ranking, but besides that, we also promote press agencies in the process of reviewing the internal work of press agencies to assess the substance.

In addition, post-inspection and supervision of the activities of press agencies in the process of digital transformation is also one of the functions that the Press Department will continue to carry out in the coming time. On the other hand, we will also coordinate more with domestic and foreign organizations as well as technology agencies to accompany press agencies in training and providing technology solutions.

Lao Dong Newspaper has been in the leading group in digital transformation of the press for many consecutive years. From the perspective of management agencies, what do you think this reflects on the development strategy and digital transformation approach of the editorial office?

- Through surveys, we see many interesting points for the digital transformation journey of Lao Dong Newspaper.

Firstly, we highly appreciate the approach of the Editorial Board, especially the Editor-in-Chief of Lao Dong Newspaper, to the story of choosing the path of digital transformation. I see that the Editorial Board of Lao Dong Newspaper has early assessed the importance and significance of digital transformation for the change of a newspaper, so it has chosen the way of going, the way of doing things, and choosing work, choosing points to invest in effective digital transformation. This can be said to be the first highlight that creates the success of Lao Dong Newspaper.

When approaching the digital transformation process of Lao Dong Newspaper, we found it very interesting with some models that the newspaper is implementing. We believe that it is suitable for both the target audience and the principles and purposes of the newspaper, and also brings specific benefits to the newspaper.

For example, building a Chatbot to advise readers on legal knowledge. I think this is a very good idea, because the target audience of Lao Dong Newspaper is workers, people who are directly involved in production labor in different fields. However, they are almost not equipped with legal knowledge about labor. Applying technology to create a Chatbot that can be ready to meet all the needs and questions of readers immediately on the online newspaper is a very interesting model. It is both close to the newspaper and brings specific benefits.

The application of AI to translate and open 6 more foreign language pages for Lao Dong Newspaper is also a very creative thing. Previously, maintaining a foreign language page on an online newspaper would cost a lot of personnel and money. But Lao Dong Newspaper has applied technology, digital transformation applications to implement this, and it is clear that it brings efficiency, bringing position and stature to Lao Dong Newspaper in the new era.

Or another story is in editorial management. When approaching CMS - the internal content management tool of the editorial office, I see that Lao Dong is a newspaper that applies many technologies, AI applications to help reporters and editors reduce stages and produce news articles in the fastest, most effective and most modern way, with the fewest errors.

Lao Dong's digital transformation method is both introverted (helping the internal journalism process to be more effective and better), and extroverted (meeting the principles and purposes and building the image and position of Lao Dong Newspaper to readers, providing more added value to readers).

According to you, what does the fact that a press agency like Lao Dong Newspaper maintains the top position in digital transformation for many consecutive years show about the adaptability and innovation of traditional journalism in the digital age?

- Journalism is already an extremely creative and almost unlimited job. We are always moving forward, always demanding new things, and the mission of journalism is to provide knowledge to readers.

Our readers are changing every day and every hour. With readers becoming younger, more modern, and more intelligent, adapting and changing for journalism in the digital age is indispensable in the current period.

However, there is no specific template or model to make a "uniform" for all press agencies. The problem lies in the thinking of journalists, the thinking of the heads of each press agency needs to find a separate path, a separate market for their newspaper to be able to change in the direction of approaching the right segment of readers in the best way.

I think Lao Dong Newspaper has been and is exploring to continue to make its newspaper more modern, richer in intellectual content to reach the right readers according to the newspaper's principles and purposes in the new era. And not only provide knowledge but we must also sow belief in a civilized, democratic, and strong society, creating excitement for all classes of people as well as our readers to have faith to jointly build a developed country in the new era.

Thank you very much, Madam!