On December 16, in Can Tho City, the Central Propaganda Department, the Ministry of Information and Communications (MIC), and the Vietnam Journalists Association held a national press conference to review work in 2024 and deploy tasks for 2025.
The conference was chaired by Mr. Nguyen Trong Nghia - Politburo member, Secretary of the Party Central Committee, Head of the Central Propaganda Department; Mr. Nguyen Manh Hung - Party Central Committee member, Deputy Head of the Central Propaganda Department, Minister of Information and Communications; Mr. Le Quoc Minh - Party Central Committee member, Deputy Head of the Central Propaganda Department, Editor-in-Chief of Nhan Dan Newspaper, President of the Vietnam Journalists Association; Mr. Phan Xuan Thuy - Deputy Head of the Central Propaganda Department.
Strong digital transformation in the field of journalism
According to the Center for Supporting Digital Transformation of Press in 2024, 282/873 units conducted assessment and measurement (accounting for 32.3%), but the press accounted for 76.24% and over 90% of the market share in terms of readers, audiences and listeners and over 90% of the advertising market share on newspapers and radio nationwide. The highest proportion was in the Radio Block (92.86%), Local Newspaper Block (84.93%). The least participation was in the Central and Local Magazine Block (20.74%) and the Science Magazine Block (20.74%).
Based on 43 evaluation criteria, the Center for Supporting Digital Transformation of Newspapers synthesized and compiled 59 important indicators to publish the picture of digital transformation of newspapers in 2024. The results of the level of maturity of digital transformation of newspapers in 2024 had 28 units reaching the Excellent level (up 6.27% compared to 2023), 65 units Good (up 14.99%), 55 units Fair (up 6.31%), 25 units Average (down 3.22%) and 109 units Weak (down 24.35%).
In addition, the awareness of the importance of digital transformation of press agencies by leaders has been raised compared to 2023. After the first year of implementing the work of assessing and measuring the maturity level of digital transformation of press, the level of interest of the management has increased, the investment in digital transformation of press reached 50% (an increase of 27.73% compared to 2023). The level of interest and close direction of the management is most clearly demonstrated in the local press sector when the local press evaluation data reached an excellent level of 28.58% and the Good level accounted for the highest percentage (local press sector accounted for 38.46%), the Weak level accounted for the lowest percentage (accounting for 6.42% of local press sector).
Applying AI in the news production process
According to the results announced on the National Press Digital Transformation Picture in 2024, Lao Dong Newspaper has achieved excellence, rising 2 places from No. 3 in 2023 to No. 1 to lead the Central press agencies in terms of press digital transformation maturity.
The top 10 excellent central press agencies include: Lao Dong Newspaper, VnExpress Newspaper, Vietnamplus Electronic Newspaper, Tin Tuc Newspaper, Dai De Nhan Dan Newspaper, Thanh Nien Newspaper, Nhan Dan Newspaper, Vietnamnet Newspaper, Nha Bao Va Cong Luan Newspaper, VTC News Electronic Newspaper.
In 2024, Lao Dong Newspaper has deployed many solutions in the digital transformation process.
The newspaper has applied artificial intelligence to the editorial processes and other departments to optimize operations. For example, it applied AI in the news production process to create news bulletins using virtual editors. Notably, in 2024, Lao Dong Newspaper applied AI to translate all content into English and create English subtitles for videos.
All products of Lao Dong Newspaper are produced and distributed on many platforms and devices. The products serve the diverse needs of readers, audiences, and listeners such as according to the criteria of content personalization/multi-platform/mobile journalism/social journalism/data journalism/creative journalism/visual journalism/journalistic masterpieces... including products: Video news, Podcast, Interactive.
Lao Dong Newspaper also has its own information channels on social networks such as: Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, TikTok...
During their work, the team of reporters applies technology to broadcast live important events, interviews or talk shows to increase interaction with readers/audiences/listeners.
Lao Dong Newspaper has also applied solutions/platforms to support virtual workspaces/deployed online meeting platforms down to all levels (departments, departments, affiliated units, personal devices...).
Mr. Le Quoc Minh - Member of the Party Central Committee, Deputy Head of the Central Propaganda Department, Editor-in-Chief of Nhan Dan Newspaper, Chairman of the Vietnam Journalists Association:
We acknowledge the spirit and efforts of central and local press agencies in the digital transformation process, which is no longer in the planning and orientation but has already begun. As for Lao Dong Newspaper, this is a unit with a long tradition originating from print newspapers but has had a strong digital transformation and achieved excellent results, demonstrated through the leading results of the central press agencies in Digital Transformation in 2024. This is an encouraging achievement.
