NDO/VNA - The National Press Conference opened in Hanoi on December 24, both online and in-person, to review the performance of the press circle this year, and set out tasks for 2022.

According to a report presented by deputy head of the Party Central Committee’s Commission for Information and Education Tran Thanh Lam, as of November 30, Vietnam counted 816 press agencies with 40,000 employees, of whom 17,161 have been granted with press cards.

Press agencies have played a significant role in popularising the country’s major issues, serving as a reliable forum of the people, and covering major events like the 13th National Party Congress and the Resolution adopted at the congress, the elections of deputies to the 15th National Assembly and all-level People’s Councils for 2021-2026, and high-level diplomatic activities, among others.

Notably, with diverse forms and contents, press agencies have contributed to orienting public opinions and building social consensus, while protecting the Party’s ideology and opposing wrong viewpoints, the report said, noting that the information work regarding the COVID-19 pandemic fight and economic recovery has been carried out effectively.

Many agencies have embarked on digital transformation, utilised artificial intelligence (AI), reformed operations and rolled out new press business models to diversify their sources of income.

The report, however, pointed out limitations and shortcomings in the sector, including those regarding coordination between management agencies and information quality, along with law violations by individuals and collectives.

The report said in 2022, more efforts will be made to accelerate the implementation of the national planning scheme on press development and management by 2025.

Press agencies should further propose measures to deal with obstacles to the implementation of relevant laws to improve operational efficiency and complete their assigned tasks.