Hanoi merges six city press outlets into new Media Group

THE HANOI TIMES — The Hanoi Party Committee on February 5 announced the establishment of the Hanoi Media Group, formed through the merger of six city-level media organizations, in a major restructuring of the capital’s press system.

The six merged outlets include Hanoimoi (New Hanoi) Newspaper, Kinh te & Do thi (Economic & Urban) Newspaper, Phu Nu Thu Do (Capital Women) Newspaper, Lao Dong Thu Do (Capital Labor) Newspaper, Tuoi Tre Thu Do (Capital Youth) Newspaper and the Hanoi Radio and Television.

Vu Minh Tuan (born 1975), Deputy Head of the Hanoi Party Committee’s Commission for Publicity, Education and Mass Mobilization, was appointed Director of the Hanoi Media Group.

The group has three Deputy Directors: Nguyen Minh Duc (born 1970), Editor-in-Chief of Hanoimoi Newspaper, Nguyen Thanh Loi (born 1974), Editor-in-Chief of Kinh te & Do thi Newspaper and Nguyen Kim Khiem (born 1975), General Director of Hanoi Radio and Television.

Its Editorial Council comprises seven members drawn from Hanoimoi Newspaper, Kinh te & Do thi Newspaper and Hanoi Radio and Television.

Speaking at the ceremony, Nguyen Duy Ngoc said the Hanoi Media Group would carry forward the city’s revolutionary journalism tradition and serve as a bridge between the Party, government and people as Hanoi enters a new development phase.

Hanoi Party Secretary Nguyen Duy Ngoc said the establishment of the Hanoi Media Group is a key moment in reorganizing the city’s administrative and political system in line with central and municipal directives.

He said Hanoi is building a modern governance model described as “Digital Party organization - Enabling government - Pioneering enterprises - Social consensus”, while completing three strategic pillars of planning, institutions and development models with a 100-year vision.

"The city media must innovate, take the lead and work alongside authorities and citizens in implementing resolutions of the 18th Hanoi Party Congress, the 14th National Party Congress and key strategic directives for the capital," said Ngoc.

Ngoc praised Hanoi’s media organizations for their effective communication work, especially in covering Party congresses and major policy priorities, which build public consensus, strengthen trust in the Party and political system, counter misinformation and false news and protect the Party’s ideological foundation.

"Journalism remains a forum for people to express legitimate aspirations and its role in shaping public opinion has become more important as social media accelerates information flows," the Hanoi Party Chief said.

He said Hanoi’s media must guide public discourse, anticipate trends, support governance, identify effective models and address real-world challenges.

The media, he added, must also conduct social oversight, promote Vietnam and Hanoi internationally and contribute to a professional, humane and modern journalism system.

Ngoc also called on the Hanoi Media Group to shift from reporting events to helping shape solutions.

“Each article should move one step ahead, anticipate issues, suggest policy options, build consensus and encourage public participation,” the city Party chief said.

He also urged comprehensive digital transformation toward a converged media ecosystem in the era of artificial intelligence, while preserving the core values of revolutionary journalism.

Digital transformation should serve as the foundation, with integrated platforms and effective use of new media formats, he said.

"Journalists in the digital age must show strong political integrity, professional ethics, analytical thinking and multidisciplinary knowledge, combining journalism, economics, technology and communication skills," said Ngoc

Reporters must master foreign languages, digital tools, AI, video production, image editing and data analysis to remain competitive, he said.

Ngoc assigned the agency to develop a unified media brand identity across all platforms and build a professional, modern and humane press system for the capital.

He also directed the agency to streamline its structure, adopt performance-based evaluation instead of article counts and foster teamwork across departments.

Ngoc urged journalists to pursue bold thinking, produce weekly spotlight themes and monthly in-depth series on Hanoi’s heritage, identity and innovation, as well as political and social developments from the city to the grassroots levels.

He said journalism must originate from and serve the people, reflect reality objectively and responsibly and listen closely to public concerns.

He called for a community journalism model, with at least one reporter assigned to each ward and commune to capture grassroots issues.

Ngoc said the journalists should embody the values of pioneering spirit, partnership, modernity, convergence, integrity and professionalism. "The city must create the best possible conditions for the agency and its journalists to grow and fulfill their mission."

Speaking at the ceremony, Director of the Hanoi Media Group Vu Minh Tuan said the appointment was both an honor and a major responsibility.

He thanked city leaders and paid tribute to generations of Hanoi journalists whose dedication built a strong and responsible media tradition.

Tuan said the new agency will focus on three core questions, including whether journalism reflects real life and proposes solutions, whether it fully uses digital and multi-platform strengths and whether journalists demonstrate professionalism and responsibility.

"The agency will promote modern storytelling about a rapidly changing Hanoi, combining multimedia tools, experience, innovation and teamwork," said Tuan.

Tuan expressed confidence that with clear leadership direction and strong internal unity, the Hanoi Media Group will meet expectations and earn public trust.