Brian Jeffrey
Over the last 20 years, convex-screen desktop computers have been replaced by compact laptops. Similarly, monochrome printed newspapers have gradually been replaced by vibrant streaming news on mobile devices.
This illustrates how swiftly people’s approach to information access has changed.
Nguyen Duc Loi, Permanent Vice Chair of the Vietnam Journalists Association, said that digital technology significantly impacts journalism and media. Using digital technology has become vital for journalism.
Currently, major global social media platforms like Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok, backed by leading tech corporations with millions of users in Vietnam, are overwhelming traditional journalism types. Thus, media agencies must seek new development directions.
Dinh Dac Vinh, Deputy General Director of VTV, said VTV needs to develop a digital platform to develop its audiences. VTVGo will distribute content to audiences to have new experiences, and VTV will collaborate with other units to enrich content on this platform.
VTV will build an ecosystem with VTVGo at its core, allowing integration of digital content from local TV stations and TV channels nationwide, establishing a big database which can be shared and stored to benefit all involved parties.
Pham Anh Chien, Deputy Director of VTV Digital, stated that VTV, a content producer and distributor on traditional TV, now has to shift to distributing content across multiple platforms. VTV introduced the Total VTV model to distribute content on multiple platforms.
Chien believes the ecosystem must be built on a unified, centralized cloud computing infrastructure to be commercially viable. VTV has launched a new business concept – content service for maximum business effects.
Similarly, Nhan Dan (People) newspaper has defined digital transformation as a strategy aiming to become a leading multimedia journalism agency. Nhan Dan has set crucial solutions based on technology.
First, the newspaper will develop in accordance with ‘media tech’ model.
“This is the path which must be followed if we want to develop into a leading multimedia journalism agency, aligning with the global trend where large tech companies become ‘tech-media’, while press corporations become ‘media-tech’ (boosting technological capacity to support journalism)”, according to excerpts from article Digital Transformation Strategy article by Nhan Dan.
Second, it will operate as a multi-platform and multimedia content producer and distributor. That is, to be able to lead in modern times, a news organization must be able to serve its readers wherever and whenever they want. Being an expert in just one channel is no longer enough and a news organization can only be influential by applying multi-platform business model.
Third, it will produce information in an integrated manner, with unified content and flexible presentation.
Fourth, it will invest in modern technology and develop skilled tech personnel.
Fifth, it will apply artificial intelligence (AI) and robotic journalism.
Experts pointed out that Vietnamese media agencies have no other choice than positioning technology at the center of all their strategies – utilizing technology to create interesting content, reach diverse audiences, extend content value, and generate higher revenue.
Can Tho City Party Secretary Nguyen Van Hieu noted that in recent years, the fourth industrial revolution has opened up a new era for industries, including journalism and media.
He affirmed that digital transformation has comprehensively changed the press, from working methods and organizational models to creative activities to generate press work based on the convergence model. It has also changed the mindset of press agencies’ leaders, reporters and editors in implementing political duties and orienting public opinion.
In 2010, TuoiTre (the Youth) newspaper began thinking of pioneering in building a convergence-model editorial board and following SIDA’s model.
At that moment, the ideas of using modern tools and means to serve the production of press works, and the ideas of making many products from one content were formulated.
One event can be used to create many products at the same time to make it more attractive. And the reality has proved that this is a reasonable new approach, which is a part of digital transformation.
In digital transformation, media and journalism play a crucial role. Their mission is to enhance the protection of the Party’s ideological foundation, the nation’s cultural values; actively deal with harmful information, cleanse online spaces; honestly reflect the trends in society; foster social consensus, and spread positive energy.
