100 years ago, on June 21, 1925, in Guangzhou (China), leader Nguyen Ai Quoc founded Thanh Nien newspaper - the first revolutionary newspaper of our country, the mouthpiece of the Vietnam Youth Revolutionary Association. Through Thanh Nien newspaper, leader Nguyen Ai Quoc has smoothly combined the propaganda of Marxism - Lenineism with the path of saving the country and the people according to the new requirements of the Vietnamese revolution at that time, gradually escaping the position of being blurred, along with the path of the patroneous and patriotic generation of artists and writers at the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century. Through revolutionary journalism, communist organizations were formed and developed, contributing to the birth of the Communist Party of Vietnam on February 3, 1930. Over the past century, our country's revolutionary press has matured rapidly, strongly, and steadily to become an important and pivotal part in the revolutionary cause of our Party and people. ranging from secret to public struggle, from national liberation struggle to resistance and patriotism, from being at the forefront of innovation to extensive international integration, revolutionary journalism is always a pioneering and sharp force on the ideological and cultural front of the Party, a trusting voice of the Party, State and People, a lasting bridge between Vietnam and international friends.
During his lifetime, President Ho Chi Minh always advised journalists:"... There must be a solid political stance, politics must be the master. Only when the political line is correct can other things be correct. Therefore, our press must have the right political direction"(1). In a speech at the 3rd Congress of the Vietnam Journalists Association, he emphasized: Jury officers are also revolutionary soldiers. Pencils and paper are their sharp weapons"(2). In the telegram sent to the Asian Journalists Association, he affirmed: "For our journalists, pens are a sharp weapon, articles are a revolutionary newspaper"(3. People encourage and remind journalists: "Your pens are also sharp weapons in the career of exorcism and exorcism"(4.
Outstanding contributions of our press in the cause of innovation, promoting the country's socialist and free trade union, building and defending the Fatherland and integrating internationally are always at the forefront of propaganda work on the Party's guidelines and policies, the State's policies and laws; encouraging and affirming the achievements and lessons of the cause of innovation; participating in the fight to protect the sovereignty of the sea, islands and borders of the Fatherland; fighting to push back, eliminate the bad, evil, and backwardness; taking the lead in the fight against corruption, waste, and negativity; protecting the Party's ideological foundation, contributing to the failure of the "Peaceful Development" strategy of hostile forces...
Most journalists always practice and strive to have "bright eyes, inner hearts, beautiful writing", wholeheartedly and wholeheartedly serving the Fatherland and the people. In addition, there are still some limitations and weaknesses in press activities that are not small, and there are long-term problems: some press agencies are far from the principles, purposes, and subjects they serve; do not take the role of setting an example, promoting, and replicating new, advanced models, "good people, good deeds", the negative information momentum of society, the way of information is still lacking in humanity and education; a part of journalists take advantage of the title of press for profit, profiteering, violating the law, violating professional ethics; participating in social networks is lacking in standards and responsibility; some representative offices and permanent reporters operate not in accordance with their functions, tasks, and powers, leading to many errors and negativity; the situation of " periodicals and electronic information pages" has not been remedied.
The political and ideological struggle expressed in the press and media, whether in wartime or peacetime, whether in the subsidy period or in the market period, is always fierce and complicated; at the current stage, that nature and that challenge are even higher and more fierce than before. The scientific and technological revolution, especially information technology and globalization trends, is taking place strongly and profoundly, creating many opportunities and even great challenges. The way of collecting and exchanging information ( networks, websites, personal blonds; artificial intelligence (AI); multi-dimensional interaction in information); trends and tendencies of ideas that invade and impact our country are increasingly strong and multi-dimensional. Opportunity, reactionary and hostile forces will strengthen their resistance against us in many aspects, especially in the fields of politics, ideology, culture, journalism and media.
Proud of the glorious tradition of Vietnamese revolutionary press, more deeply aware of the responsibilities of press in the new revolutionary period, closely following the spirit of the Draft Document of the 14th National Party Congress "building a professional, humane, and modern press, publishing, and communication". The requirement is that the press not only plays a good role in communication but also becomes a force to create a cultural environment, shape social standards, and spread the core value system of the nation. That is the value system of Vietnamese people "patriotic, humane, loyal, honest, united, diligent, creative" built, consolidated, and developed through communication, education and culture.
To do so, the press needs to do a good job of reflecting, orienting and social criticism; at the same time, strengthen the role of education and spread the trust and aspiration for national development. Along with promoting the propaganda of party congresses at all levels towards the 14th National Congress of the Party, the important task at this time is that the press needs to focus on developing a methodical, scientific, in-depth propaganda plan, creating a spread so that all cadres, party members and people have a firm grasp and deep understanding of the implementation of 4 Resolutions of the Politburo: Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW dated December 22, 2024 of the Politburo on breakthroughs in developing science, technology, innovation and national digital transformation; Resolution No. 59-NQ/TW dated January 24, 2025 of the Politburo on "international integration in the new situation"; Resolution No. 66-NQ/TW on innovation in law-making and enforcement to meet the requirements of national development; Resolution No. 68-NQ/TW dated May 4, 2025 of the Politburo on socio-economic development. This is a very important requirement for the press because the four Resolutions above will be "The four pillars" to help us take off" "as the foundational institutional pillars, creating a strong driving force to move our country forward in the new era, realizing the vision of Vietnam's development and high-income development by 2045" as directed by General Secretary To Lam at the National Conference to thoroughly grasp and implement Resolution No. 66-NQ/TW and Resolution No. 68-NQ/TW of the Politburo. In the context of globalization and technology development, the press needs to constantly innovate methods of operation and apply technology to promptly meet diverse information needs, while protecting the Party's ideological values in modern society. The press must contribute to forming a healthy "digital culture space", promoting a positive lifestyle, a spirit of dedication, social responsibility, a citizen attitude and a smart consumer culture.
One of the urgent tasks is to improve the capacity, qualities, political courage and professional qualifications of the team of journalists. Focus on training a team that is "both rosy and specialized", has a strong political will, professional expertise, and is knowledgeable about modern communication technology. At the same time, promote journalism models linked with education - culture - science to improve content quality, expand social influence. In that context, the core task of the press is not only to reflect information, but also to proactively create a positive ideological space, form a progressive value system, orient public opinion and contribute to building a healthy cultural environment. The press must become an ideological institution with high interaction, attached to reality, leading society with revolutionary ideals, culture and ethics.
It is necessary to continue to improve the organization of the press apparatus in the direction of streamlining, operating effectively, efficiently and efficiently. This process both helps to rectify press activities and creates conditions for the press to increase in-depth investment in technology, human resources and products, promoting the strengths of each press agency and type of press. However, it is necessary to unify the awareness that streamlining does not mean reducing roles, streamlining is for press agencies to better and more accurately carry out their information and propaganda missions; serving more substantially and effectively the interests of the Party, State and People. The Party and State will pay attention to investing in resources, finance, facilities, ensuring conditions for press agencies to best fulfill their roles and missions.
The global media environment has changed dramatically with the rise of social networks, artificial intelligence, big data and cross-border platforms, creating unprecedented challenges and opportunities in the history of journalism. The rapid development of science and technology, especially artificial intelligence, cross-border digital platforms, integrated communication and social networks, has fundamentally changed the way information is produced, distributed and consumed. Traditional concepts of publishing houses, copyrights, identification of journalists, censorship processes, handling of violations, the role of mainstream press in orienting public opinion... are facing great challenges. The national press needs to develop synchronously in terms of organization, governance and technology to meet the development requirements in the digital age. Press agencies need to transform the publishing model towards converging content - technology - personnel, developing multi-platform communication products, innovating information transmission methods to create a deeper impact in social life. Each newsroom must become a digital content production center - a convergence of modern technology and ideological courage. Each journalist needs to train to become a professional master soldier in a modern "combat" environment; have the ability to adapt to new technology, invest in improving content quality and building trust with readers. Because they are not only the force providing information but need to become leaders and raise public awareness in receiving and processing information intelligently and responsibly.
An urgent task of strategic significance is to amend and supplement the Press Law, in order to perfect the legal framework, realize the Party's guidelines and policies in the field of journalism, while handling existing shortcomings, ensuring consistency with the strong changes in modern media practice and the orientation for developing revolutionary journalism in the new era. The Press Law (amended) needs to more clearly demonstrate the revolutionary and socialist nature of our country's press, both contributing to strengthening the monitoring and management mechanism but also ensuring a creative and healthy competitive environment, promoting innovation and diversifying information products. This is not only the job of lawmakers, but also requires proactive participation, intellectual contributions and responsible voices from journalists, press management agencies and the whole society. Each legal regulation needs to accurately reflect the dynamic nature of social life, while creating conditions for press agencies to affirm their role in leading public opinion, mastering information space, not being dissolved into market flow or overwhelmed by distorted and manipulated forces.
Commemorating 100 years of Vietnamese revolutionary journalism is not only an opportunity to look back on a glorious journey, but also an opportunity to reaffirm the political, cultural and social mission of journalism in the new development stage of the country. For the past century, revolutionary press has devoted itself to serving the glorious revolutionary cause of the Party and the nation through all historical changes; in the coming century, the press needs to continue to be the force leading public opinion, creating trust, protecting the ideological foundation and arousing the aspiration to develop a prosperous and happy country.
With the comprehensive leadership of the Party, with the glorious revolutionary tradition and with the team of dedicated - intellectual - and brave journalists, we deeply believe that: the Vietnamese revolutionary press will continue to be the ideological pillar, the driving force for cultural development, the Vietnamese people contribute to building an increasingly strong and prosperous country.
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1. Ho Chi Minh - Complete, volume 9, CTQG Publishing House, H. 2001, p. 414.
2. Sd, episode 10, p. 616.
3. Sd, episode 11, p. 441.
4. Sdd, episode 5, p. 131.
