Creating a source of works for the National Press Awards with a new structure

At this conference, delegates shared experiences in digital transformation of journalism, applying achievements of digital technology in creating high-quality journalism works; giving suggestions to remove obstacles and shortcomings in the process of implementing the High-Quality Journalism Support Program in the coming time; exchanging and discussing the content of the Program to support creative activities of literary, artistic and journalistic works at the Central level and local literary and artistic associations...

In particular, when the National Press Awards Charter added two new types of awards, namely multimedia journalism and creative journalism, the high-quality journalism support program became more meaningful in guiding and improving the capacity of the team of reporters, encouraging reporters to experience a variety of journalism products with modern and creative technology in the digital environment...

The question is, what are the criteria for high-quality press works that meet the requirements of the Charter of the 19th National Press Awards in 2024? Regarding this issue, Ms. Do Thi Thu Hang - Head of the Professional Department of the Vietnam Journalists Association said: Works of multimedia journalism and creative journalism must demonstrate creativity in the production and distribution of digital content associated with solutions, applications, and interactive programs.

Accordingly, for Multimedia Press products, they must be works and press products that use multimedia data and apply production processes, techniques, and digital communication technology in the process of content creation and production organization, with independent formats such as: Infographics, Video clips, Podcasts, Multimedia news packages, data press products, interactive press... Good digital content, attractive presentation, high technical and aesthetic value, with solutions, applications (apps), interactive programs... to increase the quality, spread and impact of the work/product on the public.

As for creative journalism products, they must be creative and innovative, thereby clearly demonstrating that the author or group of authors have effective solutions to improve journalistic productivity, save production costs, impact the target audience, effectively impact the public's awareness, attitudes and behaviors, and increase public participation and interaction towards national, regional and local sustainable development goals.

Creative journalism works, products and programs have creative content, production methods, and forms of expression, with innovative and breakthrough initiatives with outstanding content, specific applications in policy communication programs and campaigns, historical, cultural, artistic, and performance communications, etc., with distinctive, unique, and attractive forms, and have a profound impact on the public. Journalism products use effective technological solutions, new technologies such as Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR), etc. to create unique interactive experiences with the public.

Regarding this issue, Vice President of the Vietnam Journalists Association Tran Trong Dung said: In order to meet the requirements of creating a source of works for the National Press Awards with the new structure, press agencies can effectively coordinate with local Journalists Associations in supplementing and developing programs, from the stage of selecting topics, evaluating outlines, supporting implementation and evaluating the quality of works. From there, orient, lead and create press works with modern journalism methods such as Infographic, Long-form, E-magazine, Podcast...; apply the latest achievements of digital technology such as cloud computing, big data, artificial intelligence to create data journalism products, news packages, multi-platform press - media projects.

Not every topic can be done in multimedia form.

Based on these criteria and new points, the implementation of press products is certainly not easy, although in reality, many large press agencies such as Nhan Dan Newspaper, VNA, Vietnam Television, Voice of Vietnam... have made worthy investments and produced many high-quality works, not only winning domestic press awards but also affirming their reputation in the international arena. Nhan Dan Newspaper even had a Creative Innovation Day, partly promoting the spirit of innovation and creativity in all units, departments, collectives, groups, and individuals working at the newspaper; thereby, contributing to improving the method of organizing and implementing all aspects of work; improving the quality of press products; encouraging the spirit of overcoming difficulties to complete tasks; enhancing the exchange of experiences and skills between collectives and individuals in the newspaper...

Regarding this issue, according to journalist Dinh Nhu Hoan - former Deputy Editor-in-Chief, Chairman of the Association of Journalists of Nhan Dan Newspaper, the implementation of the Innovation Day takes the branches as the core to review, evaluate, and build reports on innovative products and ideas. The association also always encourages the implementation of initiatives and ideas of each unit, department, and individual in the newspaper; establishes a Council to evaluate and select innovative products.

As for multimedia journalism works that meet the criteria of “high quality” and create a source for products to participate in the National Press Awards with the new award structure, according to journalist Le Xuan Trung - Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Tuoi Tre Newspaper, not all topics can be made into multimedia forms, journalists and press agencies should consider and select carefully. Because if they do not meet the requirements, there is a risk of counterproductive effects, wasting investment efforts. Readers will be distracted if the content and form are not attractive, not coherent...

He emphasized: Multimedia journalism is a type of journalism that opens up unlimited creative space for journalists. The press agency presents a journalistic topic with many different languages ​​and types such as combining text, graphics, images, sounds, videos, etc., easily conveying diverse and vivid information that impresses readers when reading newspapers like watching movies. Multimedia journalism has the advantage of being easily accessible from stories or everyday characters that will attract viewers more than raising dry, macro issues or data. In addition, the content and presentation must be compatible, mutually supportive, have highlights, and lead in a logical flow, avoiding mechanical assembly. The use of images and graphics instead of listing and illustrating content contributes to making the content lively and concise.

According to journalist Le Xuan Trung, the ultimate goal of multimedia journalism is efficiency. The public is interested in the press finding solutions and ways out, not falling into the status quo because this is just repetitive journalism that does not solve the problem, it must be open to the public. With increasingly high demands from the public, journalists are forced to always look for new ideas, approaches to topics, and new forms of presentation in the digital age when they have seen too many things on the internet. Mr. Le Xuan Trung cited multimedia works that won high prizes in recent National Press Awards so that authors can learn from their experiences, such as: A series of 5 articles: The fierce disaster from natural disasters, landslides: The more destruction, the more pain! by VietnamPlus; The name on the mountain rock has become the name of the street by a group of authors from Tuoi Tre Newspaper...

Sharing the same view, journalist Ngo Viet Anh - Deputy Head of the People's Electronic Department, Nhan Dan Newspaper, said that to implement creative journalism, data journalism, and multimedia, there are basic steps needed, which are: Building creative ideas; Planning and assigning project teams; Implementing component projects; Combining categories and especially organizing multi-platform communication. In particular, according to journalist Viet Anh, to organize a creative journalism product, first of all, the human resources department must organize a project team combining many units, dividing the component projects, and at the same time prioritizing personnel with multimedia and multi-platform thinking, encouraging innovation. Prioritizing the application of new technologies, including cooperation with technology companies, as well as applying artificial intelligence to products...

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