Meeting 101 outstanding journalists who won national press awards on the afternoon of 16/6, General Secretary and President To Lam expressed profound gratitude to generations of journalists. He particularly honored over 500 fallen journalists and thousands of injured journalists who dedicated and sacrificed for the nation's independence, freedom, the people's happiness, and the cause of Vietnamese revolutionary journalism.

The General Secretary and President shared that Vietnam is entering a new development phase, presenting significant opportunities alongside high demands. In this context, the role of revolutionary journalism is increasingly vital. He stated that the press must uphold political steadfastness, enhance information quality, listen to the pulse of life, speak the truth, address issues precisely, and speak with responsibility to the Party, the State, and the people.

General Secretary and President To Lam met 101 outstanding journalists on the afternoon of 16/6. *Photo: Hoang Phong*

Moving forward, the General Secretary and President emphasized that the press must contribute to strengthening social trust and protecting the Party's ideological foundation. Journalism should combat false information not merely with slogans and stances, but with reasoned arguments, standard language, a calm demeanor, and professional credibility. Journalistic products need to help readers and viewers clearly see what is right and the common good, thereby building greater trust and encouraging collective action.

The General Secretary and President underscored that journalism must adhere to reality, respect the truth, and prioritize the interests of the people as its starting point. Media organizations and journalists should continue to dedicate more time to local communities and the practical concerns of citizens, businesses, and localities. He noted that a good journalistic piece does not necessarily require grand rhetoric; what is important is that it reflects the truth, is useful, responsible, and addresses social issues that need resolution.

The Party and State leader advised that journalism must align with the nation's priority tasks in the new era, adopting a constructive spirit. This involves correctly identifying issues, accurately reflecting reality, analyzing causes precisely, and proposing appropriate solutions. "Criticism must be impartial; encouragement must be well-founded; and advocacy must be careful, objective, avoid generalizations, and not discourage those striving for innovation," he stated. He emphasized that journalists need courage but also prudence, decisiveness but humanity, and sharpness while adhering to the law and professional ethics.

Each media organization and journalist not only transmits information but also contributes to shaping behavioral standards, aesthetic tastes, a humanitarian spirit, and civic consciousness.

General Secretary and President To Lam, along with 101 outstanding journalists, signed a commemorative plaque symbolizing the 101st anniversary of Vietnamese Revolutionary Journalism Day. *Photo: Nguyen Phong*

The General Secretary and President clarified that in the digital media environment, the boundaries between information, entertainment, and commerce are increasingly blurred. Therefore, journalism must uphold its standards. "Do not chase triviality, do not exploit pain for sensationalism, and do not turn private stories into consumer goods. Journalism must make society calmer, kinder, and have more faith in positive values," he emphasized.

Concurrently, journalism needs to innovate its professional methods in the digital age. Digital transformation in journalism is not merely about adopting new tools but involves renovating the journalistic mindset, content production processes, data management, distribution methods, public interaction, and the capacity for copyright protection and information security.

According to the General Secretary and President, artificial intelligence, big data, and digital platforms can offer substantial support, but they cannot replace a journalist's political steadfastness, verification capabilities, professional sensitivity, and social responsibility.

Media organizations need to build modern, multimedia newsrooms capable of data analysis, producing content for multiple platforms, and reaching young audiences, while simultaneously preserving the depth, reliability, and identity of Vietnamese revolutionary journalism. The journalistic workforce requires training and development, alongside the protection of journalists' legal rights to practice.

General Secretary and President To Lam and 101 outstanding journalists. *Photo: Hoang Phong*

Emphasizing that the 101 outstanding journalists present today represent the intellect, dedication, and professional responsibility of Vietnamese journalism, the General Secretary and President expressed his hope that these journalists will continue to inspire their colleagues, especially young journalists, serving as exemplary figures of dedicated, courageous, and self-respecting media professionals.

On this occasion, General Secretary and President To Lam, along with 101 outstanding journalists, performed a commemorative signing ceremony on a plaque symbolizing the 101st anniversary of Vietnamese Revolutionary Journalism Day.

Nguyen Phong