Use it, instead of rejecting AI
Press in the new era must be creative and strongly innovative to meet the needs of the public, keep up with the development of the times and the country's digital transformation. In which AI is strongly penetrating the activities of world journalism in general and Vietnamese journalism in particular. The application of AI in journalism has brought many improvements, improved quality, content and better served the needs of the public.
There were opinions that AI will replace humans in most areas of life, including journalism and media. On the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the Vietnam Revolutionary Press (June 21,25 - June 21, 2025), Mr. Nguyen Duc Loi - Permanent Vice President of the Vietnam Journalists Association shared with Lao Dong about comprehensive digital transformation, application of AI and new technology to improve journalism quality, compete and increase interaction with readers.
Digital transformation of journalism has become an inevitable trend in all press agencies. Currently, in Vietnam, pioneering press agencies are making efforts for digital transformation, applying AI in smart newsroom management and content production. In your opinion, how important is the application of AI to enhance the reader experience?
- Journalist Nguyen Duc Loi: The newsroom is no longer a fixed physical space, but has become a flexible digital platform, where every stage in the press making process - from collecting, processing, producing to distributing content - is digitized, automated and optimized thanks to modern technologies such as AI, Big Data, Cloud Computing, Blockchain. AI does not replace humans, but supports journalists to work faster, more accurately, more deeply and closer to readers.
If journalists know how to use AI as a support tool, they will do their work more conveniently, saving resources and time. For press agencies, although it is impossible to predict far, in the short term, AI does not take away work but even helps journalists. Therefore, journalists should find a way to use it instead of rejecting AI technology.
In addition to applying technology, we also need to pay attention to professional ethics in the digital age. Technology is a tool, but it is humans who decide how to operate, control and orient AI to serve the interests of society and the community.
Speaking more about technology, up to this point, I highly appreciate Lao Dong Newspaper as one of the very few newspapers completely independent of technology. In 2023, Lao Dong Newspaper achieved success when it was in the Top 3 press agencies with outstanding achievements in digital transformation announced by the Department of Journalism (Ministry of Information and Communications).
In 2024, Lao Dong Newspaper will continue to implement many solutions in the digital transformation process, achieving an excellent level, increasing by 2 ranks from the number 3 position in 2023 to the number 1 position to lead among central press agencies in terms of maturity in digital transformation of the press. In 2025, the Newspaper also strongly applied AI in all aspects of the news agency's activities, from content creation, marketing, digital offices, digital governance, etc., affirming its position as a leading newspaper.
To apply AI in journalism, journalists must master digital technology. This is an important issue related to the challenges and opportunities of journalism in the digital transformation period. To avoid dependence and lose their "private property", what should editors and journalists do, sir?
- Journalist Nguyen Duc Loi: In fact, some press works are currently created with the partial support of AI or completely AI. The application of AI in journalism requires close supervision from humans. AI cannot replace the role of leading, creating and censoring the expertise of journalists. Digital technology and AI are creating a wave of changes in modern journalism, opening up many opportunities but also posing many new challenges.
In addition to applying technology, we also need to pay attention to professional ethics in the digital age. Journalists in the 4.0 era must master digital technology to effectively use AI tools, decide how to operate, control and orient AI. If we know how to make reasonable use of it, combined with the spirit of innovation, Vietnamese press can completely adapt flexibly and develop more strongly in the 4.0 era.
One thing to note is that many AI content provided are currently inaccurate, users need to re-verify to ensure the accuracy of the information. In addition, AI-generated posts are often not collected by Google, leading to limited product access.
Another point to note is that Vietnam currently does not have specific legal tools for the use of AI. Most of the rules for using AI tools of Vietnamese press agencies are to refer to foreign press. Many press agencies do not even have a detailed rules set for the use of AI. Therefore, when using AI-generated products in press products, the author will be the one who is primarily responsible before the law for the content.
A parallel future
We cannot deny the important role of technology in general and AI in particular in the modern information world. In the era of artificial intelligence, according to the journalist, how should change?
- Journalist Nguyen Duc Loi: Optimizing the work of journalists using technology is a method that is being effectively implemented. Therefore, press agencies also need to build a team of specialized and strong personnel in information technology to best serve the news agency. Learning and gaining experience is important in the process of integration and development.
However, journalists cannot use AI to replace their own pen. Newspaper editors need to recognize this as a strategic solution to help optimize the content production process, helping journalists save time and effort to focus on more important creative tasks. This requires journalists of any generation to have a clear and complete awareness of the urgency of digital transformation.
From there, cultivate and improve yourself with new technology skills; regularly self-study, promote creativity, constantly learn, and be ready to adapt to become a journalist of the 4.0 era. AI and the future of journalism are always in parallel.
Although AI has gradually had outstanding capabilities, humans and especially journalists should not be "afraid" and should not deny or Dieuitize this technology.
From the above, it can be affirmed that AI is a tool to help unleash human labor in the 4.0 era similar to the machines that made it a few hundred years ago in the industrial revolution. Using AI is gradually becoming a trend in many areas of life and journalism and media are no exception. However, like many other tools, AI also requires users to have certain knowledge and skills if they want to maximize their abilities.
Sincerely thank you for sharing!
