Beijing (VNA) – General Directorof the Vietnam News Agency (VNA) Vu Viet Trang attended and delivered a speechat the 4th World Media Summit (WMS) which was held via videoconference onNovember 22.

In the speech with the topic of "In theSpirit of Science and Cooperation: Media Response in Public HealthEmergencies”, Trang extended her sincere gratitude to China’s Xinhua NewsAgency for hosting this important event amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The summitenabled representatives from the world's major press agencies to discuss acurrent issue of mutual concern: “Media Response in Public Health Emergencies,”she said.

According to the VNA General Director, printmedia has suffered themost as numerous newsrooms had to shut down ortemporarily halted publication due to declining consumptionand increasing production costs. Revenue has plummeted as major events have been either postponed or cancelled. Commercial revenue has declined while press production/organisingexpenses have increased dueto additional preventive measures installed, and reporters have been required to limit their travel. A considerablenumber of reporters and their loved ones were seriously infected or passedaway, which caused an unwanted psychological impact onothers.

However, she stressed that since the pandemic first emerged, VNA has beenconsistently conveying the Government’s message, which puts people’s health andlives as top priority, stimulating the whole country’s resolve to fight thepandemic, as well as the faith in the country’s recovery.

In this process, VNA reporters have been present at epicentres of the outbreak tocapture stories of efforts and sacrifices of the frontline forces, who havesaved lives and raced with time to develop vaccines and medicines against thevirus. Their stories are about the support from the people and businesses inthe fight against COVID-19, as well as the endeavours by the Party and Stateleaders so as to soon bring the country to the new normal situation.

Trang briefed participants about VNA’s solutions to fight the pandemic,including the launch of special sections and columns on COVID-19 on all VNAmedia channels, with information presented in diverse formats, offering timelyand comprehensive updates on the pandemic prevention and control, with specialattention to official sources, science-based information, experiences fromother countries, so that the public could accurately understand the nature ofthe pandemic without fear or anxiety.

VNA has produced instructive information on pandemic prevention and control inthe form of infographics. These graphics are offered free of charge to medicalfacilities across the country for their communication activities, thus raisingpublic awareness of the pandemic.

It also deployed the project “Say No to Fake News” for young people, helpingthem identify and avoid becoming “agents” of fake news, and joining VNA in thefight against inaccurate information. VNA inspected, verified and determined“fake news” that present false information that aim to exploit and cause unrestamong the public.

VNA issued guidelines for safe operation, used backup resources to ensureincomes for employees and enhanced international cooperation ingenerating positive energy for journalists amid the pandemic, she said.

The VNA General Director added that several vaccines and medicines againstCOVID-19 are now available, an indication that the pandemic will be undercontrol in the future, although the specific time remains unknown. However, thepandemic’s impact on all aspects of life, including the media, will be severeand will continue.

“At this event, I look forward to hearing valuable experiences from ourcolleagues and heads of media outlets, so that together, we can overcome thesechallenges and continue carrying out our missions as professional informationproviders in the digital age”, she said.

Trang’s speech was highly welcomed by the participants at the 4th WMS.

At the event, delegates shared difficulties and challenges to the development ofthe press and media amid COVID-19 as well as experiences in coping with thepandemic, saying that using modern technologies in operations is needed toadapt to the new situation.

Initiated in 2009 by the Xinhua News Agency, AP, Reuters, TASS, Kyodo and othernews agencies, the WMS has served as a forum to enhance exchange and cooperationamong press agencies in the world. It was held for the first time in Beijing,China, from October 8-10, 2009. The second summit was organised from July 5-7,2012 in Moscow, Russia, and the third from March 20-21, 2016 in Doha,Qatar./.