This is one of 9 in-depth discussion sessions of the 3rd National Press Forum in 2026, attracting the participation of leaders of press agencies, media experts, managers and a large number of journalists across the country.
Speaking at the discussion session, Mr. Le Quoc Minh - Member of the Party Central Committee, Editor-in-Chief of Nhan Dan Newspaper, Deputy Head of the Central Propaganda and Mass Mobilization Committee, Chairman of the Vietnam Journalists Association - emphasized that the issue of press copyright is becoming more complicated than ever in the context of strong development of digital technology and AI.
According to Mr. Le Quoc Minh, if copyright is not protected, press agencies will certainly face many difficulties when content is continuously copied and used by platforms and social networking sites without citing sources or without a suitable benefit sharing mechanism. He said that according to current statistics, only about 5% of press agencies in the world can generate revenue from content and image copyright. This is a very modest number compared to the value that the press creates for society. The fact that organizations, businesses, platforms or individuals use images and content of press agencies and have to pay fees is completely reasonable. This is not only a legal story but also respect for the creative labor of journalists.
Chairman of the Vietnam Journalists Association said that although AI is increasingly developing, the core values of journalism still lie in creativity, emotion, critical thinking and the ability to verify information of humans. These are the factors that create the difference and value of professional journalistic products. "Valuable journalistic products are created from human creativity and emotion. That is also a superior point compared to products created entirely by AI" - Mr. Le Quoc Minh emphasized.
At the discussion session, Mr. Nguyen Quang Dong - Director of the Institute for Policy Research and Media Development - also raised many issues related to the press business model in the AI era, the ability to protect intellectual property and build new revenue sources for press agencies. Each press agency currently owns three important assets including data warehouse accumulated over many years, brand reputation built in history and existing readership and customer base. These are strategic resources that need to be protected in the context of increasingly fierce competition in the digital environment.
Mr. Nguyen Quang Dong said that intellectual property protection needs to be implemented throughout the value chain, from content production to storage, distribution and commercial exploitation. At the same time, press agencies need to invest more in the team of reporters, from operating equipment to creative incentive mechanisms to create high-quality and valuable products.
In the open exchange session, many delegates focused on discussing issues such as: what is the press losing when content is widely exploited in the digital environment; the need to prioritize the protection of journalistic works, journalistic data or the capacity to produce original information; AI is a partner, customer or competitor of the press.
Chairman of the Vietnam Journalists Association Le Quoc Minh emphasized that the immediate task is to raise awareness of press agencies about the importance of copyright protection in the digital environment; and at the same time continue to improve mechanisms, policies and technological solutions to more effectively protect the intellectual property of the press. At the same time, he expects that the solutions discussed at the forum will soon be concretized into feasible mechanisms, contributing to building a healthy and sustainable press environment in the AI era.
Also on the morning of June 20, the National Press Forum 2026 took place with 4 other discussion sessions: Promoting the role of the press in protecting the ideological foundation of the Party; Press - Business accompanies and creates the future; Innovation to reach new readers, develop the press economy and the discussion session "Promoting the image of Vietnam in the digital press ecosystem".
In the afternoon of the same day, the Forum will continue with discussion sessions: Arranging the operation of press agencies - Insider perspective; AI - How to apply, what to apply and how to control it in Vietnamese press agencies; What direction for policy communication to support local development?; Strategic autonomy of press agencies in the digital age and closing session.
