Voice of Vietnam General Director Comments on Changes at Radio Station

Text of report in English by Vietnamese radio text website on 8 September

[Commentary by Prof. Dr Vu Van Hien, Voice of Vietnam general director "New requirements for the radio broadcasting sector"]

The radio broadcasting sector is employing more modern technologies and broadcasting forms to make its communications more effective.

Vietnam is in the process of international integration. Competition in the field of information and communications among countries has become ever fiercer, particularly with online newspapers which can update information every minute. Any means of communications must develop to meet the needs of the new era. New technologies allow the radio to broadcast live every event. The radio broadcasting sector in general and the Voice of Vietnam Radio in particular have taken effective steps towards meeting new requirements in the process of international integration.

This development can be seen in various aspects:

Firstly, radio programmes have been improved with in-depth reports and commentaries covering different social issues. They make clear the Government’s policies and solutions aimed at overcoming obstacles, practising thrift and controlling inflation.

The Voice of Vietnam (VOV) has broadcasted a series of programmes to provide useful information for business people who are involved in production, circulation and import-export of goods. VOV has joined efforts with the Government to remove difficulties by disseminating accurate and up-to-date information to build up people’s confidence.

Secondly, live broadcasts have made the radio ever closer to listeners living in remote areas and even overseas who like to phone in and talk directly to the host and studio guests. This is one of the radio’s advantages.

All radio presenters and reporters have known how to use the digital technology skilfully to cover every event on the spot with good quality. Most recently, VOV has built a number of FM transmitting stations on mountain tops to improve its broadcasting quality and coverage, particularly in remote, inaccessible and mountainous and island areas such as Quan Ba in Ha Giang province, Sin Ho in Lai Chau province, Pha Din in Son La province, Ba Thuoc in Thanh Hoa province and Ba Na in Da Nang city. Currently, VOV covers 98.5 per cent of the country’s populated areas. It also has a project to cover the East Sea. Any ships passing through the East Sea, even in international waters will soon be able to pick up VOV signals.

Thirdly, VOV has strengthened the role of its correspondents in foreign countries. This will make it more competitive to meet the needs for international integration.

Currently, VOV has 6 foreign-based bureaux in Bangkok, Paris, Moscow, Beijing, Cairo and Tokyo. In the near future, more such bureaux will be established in other important regions of the world. The close coordination between these bureaux and the radio head office and information centre has make VOV programmes more diverse and interesting. It can be said that VOV is a mass media agency which has closely followed domestic and international events.

Fourthly, these achievements can be attributed to the tireless efforts of all radio workers. VOV reporters and editors have tried to focus on domestic and international political, economic, cultural and social issues of common concern. They have also tried their best to successfully apply new technologies.

Upholding the radio’s 63-year-old tradition, VOV reporters, editors, technicians and other staff members, particularly the young ones have learned new experiences and skills to cover events, even in remote and inaccessible areas, with the aim of providing up-to- date and reliable information to listeners.

Radio workers are all aware of their responsibility to disseminate information in the fastest way possible to people of 54 ethnic groups in all parts of the country and overseas.

To meet the new requirements for international integration, media workers in general and radio workers in particular have tried their best to reach different target groups with short, in-depth reports and commentaries. Speed and accuracy are the slogan of radio workers in Vietnam in general and VOV in particular.

Originally published by Voice of Vietnam text website, Hanoi, in English 0000 8 Sep 08.

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