NUJM delegates being shown around the Vietnam Press Museum by the museum curator (in white). — Photos: CHAN TAK KONG/The Star
Regional mainstream media agencies can play a significant role to support each other when dealing with challenges in the digital era.
Vietnam Journalists Association (VJA) chairman Le Quoc Minh said the mainstream media, especially traditional media in the country, were facing challenges in the face of new technologies.
“We also think this is a transformation that we have to go through and it’s an inevitable change in journalism that contributes to the continuous growth of news agencies.
“The media industry in the country has been going through a digital transformation and we have been trying to encourage older media outlets to take part in the process as well,” he said when welcoming a delegation from the National Union of Journalists Malaysia (NUJM).
Le, who is also editor-in-chief of Vietnam’s Nhan Dan newspaper, said VJA believed in the importance of coordination and cooperation with journalist associations around the world.
“This is vital for all parties to learn from each other and overcome challenges together.
“Each country will have its own experience and case studies.
Le (right) and Lydia exchanging souvenirs at the VJA building in Hanoi, Vietnam.
“Through engagements such as this, we can understand the challenges and learn how to respond and tackle them.
“This will also open up opportunities for the Vietnamese press to make adjustments accordingly,” he said during the meeting held at the VJA building in Hanoi.
Le said Malaysia and Vietnam shared many similarities, including challenges posed by social media platforms and big tech like generative artificial intelligence.
VJA had previously welcomed media delegations from Laos, China, South Korea, Thailand and Indonesia to exchange views and experiences, he said.
“VJA is the only political, social and professional organisation of Vietnamese journalists, with more than 25,000 members,” he added.
NUJM delegation head Lydia Sheena Nathan said the five-day visit to Hanoi was fruitful.
“The delegation from Malaysia learnt plenty about how VJA operates.
“We also got to share our digital transformation journeys.
“Other than experiencing the vibrant and warm culture of the Vietnamese people, we also got an insight into how its television and radio operations work for all the different provinces in Vietnam.
“We want to thank VJA and all those involved in hosting us,” she said.
Lydia added that the delegation had the opportunity to visit the Vietnam Press Museum, which opened on June 19, to look at newspapers, documents and artefacts documenting the country’s history.
The delegation also held exchanges with two news agencies – Thanh Tra newspaper in Hanoi and the provincial newspaper Ninh Binh – during the trip.
The visit ended with a visit to the Ninh Binh province, located about 100km from Hanoi, known for its eco-tourism attractions and beautiful natural landscapes.
