Ahead of the 101st anniversary of Vietnam Revolutionary Press Day (June 21, 1925 - June 21, 2026), General Secretary and State President To Lam met with 101 outstanding journalists who have won the National Press Awards over the years on the afternoon of June 16.

On behalf of the Party and State leadership, To Lam congratulated the journalists and expressed appreciation for the enduring and creative contributions of Vietnam's revolutionary press, which has accompanied the Party, the nation and the people throughout more than a century of revolutionary development.

The General Secretary and State President said the country is entering a new stage of development, bringing immense opportunities but also placing higher demands on every sector of society.

Journalism must stay close to reality and serve the people

In this context, the role of revolutionary journalism has become even more important. The press must maintain political steadfastness, improve the quality of information, stay connected to people's lives, tell the truth, address the right issues and act with responsibility toward the Party, the State and the public.

Looking ahead, To Lam stressed that journalism must help strengthen social trust and safeguard the Party's ideological foundation. The media should continue to communicate Party guidelines and State policies and laws effectively. Combating false and hostile information remains a permanent task.

However, journalism should not engage in this struggle through slogans or declarations alone. It must rely on evidence, sound reasoning, professional language, composure and credibility. Official media products should help readers and audiences better understand what is right and what serves the common good, thereby strengthening trust and encouraging collective action.

The Party chief emphasized that journalism must remain grounded in reality, respect the truth and place the interests of the people at its core.

He called on media organizations and journalists to spend more time in local communities and focus on issues affecting citizens, businesses and local authorities. They should promptly identify obstacles in policy implementation, highlight effective models and good practices, and speak up to protect honest individuals and those willing to take initiative for the common good.

He said said that a good journalistic work does not necessarily need grandiose language. What matters is that it reflects the truth, serves the public interest, demonstrates responsibility and addresses issues society needs resolved.

Journalism must accompany the country's priority tasks in the new era. The media should contribute with a constructive spirit by identifying the right problems, accurately reflecting reality, correctly analyzing causes and proposing appropriate solutions.

Criticism must be fair. Support must be grounded. Struggle must be cautious and objective, avoiding assumptions and discouraging those who are making efforts to innovate, To Lam said.

A vital watchdog against corruption and waste

In the fight against corruption, wastefulness and misconduct, journalism continues to serve as an important social oversight channel. Journalists, he said, must be courageous but also prudent; firm yet humane; sharp but always compliant with the law and professional ethics.

The press should expose wrongdoing while also protecting what is right, creating an environment that encourages officials to act boldly and responsibly for the common interest.

To Lam also stressed that journalism must contribute to strengthening culture, social ethics and the nation's development aspirations. The media is an essential part of cultural life. Every news organization and journalist not only conveys information but also helps shape social norms, aesthetic values, compassion and civic responsibility.

As digital media increasingly blurs the boundaries between information, entertainment and commerce, journalism must adhere even more firmly to professional standards. The press should not pursue sensationalism, exploit personal suffering for clicks or turn private stories into commodities for consumption.

Instead, journalism should help society become calmer, kinder and more confident in positive values.

Technology cannot replace journalistic responsibility

The General Secretary and State President also called for bold innovation in journalistic practice during the digital era.

Digital transformation in journalism is not merely about adopting new tools, he said. Artificial intelligence, big data and digital platforms can provide significant support, but they cannot replace political judgment, fact-checking ability, professional sensitivity or social responsibility.

Media organizations should build modern, multimedia newsrooms equipped with data analysis capabilities and the capacity to produce content across multiple platforms while reaching younger audiences. At the same time, they must preserve the depth, credibility and identity of Vietnam's revolutionary press.

He also urged greater attention to training and professional development, the creation of suitable financial mechanisms, the protection of journalists' legitimate professional rights and conditions that allow mainstream media to remain competitive in the evolving communications environment.

Reporting at the event, Le Quoc Minh, Editor-in-Chief of Nhan Dan newspaper, Deputy Head of the Party Central Committee's Commission for Information, Education and Mass Mobilization, and Chairman of the Vietnam Journalists Association, said Vietnam's revolutionary press has undergone strong and decisive changes through restructuring, mergers and organizational streamlining in line with major Party and State policies.

These reforms have enabled media organizations to better follow strategic direction, modernize their operations and become more professional, efficient and resilient.

Over the past year, the press has accompanied major national transformations and played an effective role in communicating Party and State policies to citizens at home and audiences abroad.

Media organizations have also served as a strong voice of social scrutiny, helping promote transparency and strengthen public confidence in the leadership of the Party and the State.

Tran Thuong