Deputy PM calls for press agencies’ solidarity for development

HÀ NỘI — Deputy Prime Minister Trần Lưu Quang called on press agencies to promote solidarity and strong bonds for mutual development. He was speaking during a New Year press conference in Hà Nội on Tuesday, jointly held by the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee’s Commission for Popularisation and Education, the Ministry of Information and Communications and the Vietnam Journalists’ Association. Amid global headwinds that will put pressure on Việt Nam, press agencies will see revenue decline and advertising sales slump this year, he said, adding they must fulfill new requirements while facing fierce competition among themselves and from social platforms. The Deputy PM also stressed the significance of human resources training and experience sharing between central and local press organisations. It is a must to build a professional, humane and modern press sector and exert more efforts to develop “ethical press agencies” and “ethical journalists” who can shape brand values and compete with the existing social platforms, he underlined.