Khanh Hoa Online: 15-year progress

15 years ago on April 2, 2003, Khanh Hoa online news portal officially made debut thanks to the concern and approval of Khanh Hoa Provincial Standing Party Committee. Khanh Hoa online news portal covered a wide variety of socio-economic sectors about Nha Trang, Khanh Hoa, reaching local and international readers.

 

Remarkable milestones

 

Initially, the online news portal had more than 20 columns with some 5,000 visits/ day. In spite of limited staff and infrastructures, Khanh Hoa newspaper Editorial Board tried its best to successfully fulfill the propaganda task. Since then, Khanh Hoa Online has had remarkable growth milestones, catching up with the IT development. The English version of Khanh Hoa Online made debut in December 2005 on the occasion of 15th Khanh Hoa Party Committee Congress. This was the first Party newspaper’s portals in English in the Central region and the highlands at that time.

 

The English version has contributed to promoting the destination of Nha Trang -Khanh Hoa to foreign readers, investors, tourists, etc. In November 2012, a new version of Khanh Hoa online news portal made debut with the application of multimedia technology and other conveniences. At that time, Khanh Hoa Portal contained 39 columns in Vietnamese and 16 others in English with 35-50 articles published, receiving 25.000-35.000 visits a day or 1 million visits a month. 2 years later in April 2014, Khanh Hoa Newspaper presented a new mobile version to facilitate access to the portal on such mobile devices as smart phones, tablets, etc.

 

 

 

The innovation and improvement in the content and form of Khanh Hoa Portal is thanks to Khanh Hoa Newspaper Editorial Board’s effort in catching up with the development of technology. The latest breakthrough in Khanh Hoa Newspaper comprehensive development is the presentation of Khanh Hoa online upgraded from Khanh Hoa online news portal on the occasion of 70th anniversary of its traditional day on April 26, 2017. Khanh Hoa online has had more than 1.2 million visits a month so far.

 

Khanh Hoa Online boasts a modern interface with abundant content and multi-media conveniences. Khanh Hoa Newspaper has attempted to integrate the internet into every aspect of their operations, e.g., shooting videos and writing stories for both print and online.

 

 

Reaching new heights

 

Khanh Hoa Online has experienced considerable development for 15 years. In spite of staffing and funding shortage, Khanh Hoa online together with the print newspaper has gradually developed, adapting to the general growth trend, playing an important role in delivering news and propagandizing guidelines of the Party, the policies and laws of the State, especially Central Resolution 4 on building the Party and the Directive 05 by the Politburo on acceleration of studying and following Ho Chi Minh’s thought, morality and lifestyle, reflecting good examples in political ideology.

 

In addition, Khanh Hoa Online is also a reputable information channel for investors because they can find essential investment polices related to construction and planning administrative procedure reform. The tourism column helps readers at home and abroad to discover local tourism specialties and destinations in Nha Trang, Khanh Hoa, contributing greatly to promoting the economic mainstay in Khanh Hoa.

 

Khanh Hoa Newspaper Editorial Board has focused on innovating and improving Khanh Hoa newspaper in terms of content and layout. Its staff have made great effort to catch up with contemporary journalism. Khanh Hoa Editorial Board has set out the principles and practices that cover the commitment to due speed, accuracy and truthfulness. Khanh Hoa Newspaper has publicized many important events, including Sea festival, APEC conference and several cultural, sporting and tourism activities. 

 

Particularly, in spite of difficulties in staffing and equipment, Khanh Hoa Newspaper was among online newspapers that delivered the newest information and images about the devastating typhoon Damrey in 2017 in Khanh Hoa, its occurrence and destruction as well as the relief efforts of local departments, domestic and international organizations and individuals.

 

Khanh Hoa Online has also created strong bonds and interaction with readers through readers’ columns where they can share their viewpoints or problems that are then reported and solved by local authorities, helping to minimize shortcomings during the socio-economic management and administration. Moreover, through touching stories, the newspaper has provided a link for benefactors to help many unlucky people. In the current times, it’s important to take advantage of social networks to bring news to readers faster and more efficiently. Many topical issues have been sent by readers to Khanh Hoa Newspaper through this channel.

 

However, in the trend of a new digital industrial technology known as Industry 4.0, how to further develop the online newspaper is the concern of Khanh Hoa Newspaper Editorial. “Taking full advantage of the potentials of the online newspaper has raised some concerns. The online newspaper development must go hand in hand with good management, while asuureing due speed and public opinion manipulation. Therefore, in the time to come, we will focus on developing the online newspaper following the general trend, but with but its own identity to make it more compelling to readers. Khanh Hoa Newspaper strives to remain a reliable official source,” says Tran Duy Hung, Khanh Hoa Newspaper Editor-in-Chief. 

 

15 years is not long but enough to evaluate the development of an online newspaper. On the long path ahead in a flat world with many changes and challenges, but with the concern and support of the provincial Party Committee, with the determination of Khanh Hoa Newspaper staff, Khanh Hoa Online promises to further develop to serve as a reliable official source, making a good impression on readers.

 

 

Le Hang

Translated by N.T