Song Be – Binh Duong Newspaper has developed ceaselessly over periods. Each development stage of the newspaper has leave specific impressions on heart of readers.
Song Be Newspaper were everywhere
In the period of 1993-1997, almost readers in southern provinces knew the name of Song Be Newspaper. Any newsstands from big to small, from town to countryside had Song Be Newspaper. The reason was that the newspaper knew how to satisfy the readers’ demand for information. Many other newspapers from neighbouring provinces wanted to learn about this success.
Binh Duong Newspaper has satisfied information needs of readers by renovation in contents and appearance.
It can be said, that was an open stage to journalists, they could write stories about not only their province but also other provinces, and even the general issues of the nation. Song Be newspaper’s leaders took this opportunity to be ahead of this time. Additionally, the newspaper at that time gathered a small – only 20 – but excellent team of journalists and staff that knew how to hit the mark.
At that time, the chief editor Nguyen Xuan Vinh was of a venturesome spirit. He wanted to fulfill his dream that journalists were able to live on their career. Therefore, editorial staff learned about readers’ tastes, associated with other parties to expand distributions, and recruited outstanding journalists and specialists to write for the newspaper.
The first step, increasing one more issue on each Wednesday with different contents from the existing Friday’s issue, was implemented. This was a significant success with rapidly increasing circulation. Taking advantage of the victory, a colour-printed Sunday version was issued with many entertainment and cultural columns catering for the masses. The two Wednesday version and Sunday version dominated the southern market after a short time with great circulation from 80,000 to 120,000. It can be said that Song Be Newspaper was everywhere.
Tossing and turning because of increasing versions
According to the Central Government’s direction, Song Be province was split into Binh Duong province and Binh Phuoc province in 1997. Song Be newspaper was also divided into two new layouts – Binh Duong Newspaper and Binh Phuoc Newspaper. Despite careful preparation for this change, Binh Duong Newspaper encountered difficulties, because its new name.
Editorial staff made every effort to curb the decline in issues, increase the number of versions, recruit excellent journalists. And since 2004, Binh Duong Newspaper has increased from 3 versions/week to 6 versions/week. This was a bold decision of the editorial staff, because increasing version number meant increasing costs. However, after only a short time, Binh Duong Newspaper has stood steady on their legs and developed to fulfill their propaganda mission.
Converging to develop
Converging to develop is the new direction of the current editorial staff of Binh Duong Newspaper. Apart from printed issues, Binh Duong Newspaper’s website with 3 versions in Vietnamese, English, Chinese has been followed and liked by majority readers. In addition, editorial offices of daily printed version and electronic version have been merged to be a convergent editorial office.
Since October 2014, Binh Duong Newspaper has implemented the model of Multimedia editorial office. After a time period, this has proved itself as a good choice, right direction, and is the fastest way to convey information to readers through different means of media.
To obtain these achievements, many journalist generations of Binh Duong Newspaper have preserved in pursuing their cause, devoted themselves to the newspaper. This has been a motivation to all current journalists and editorial staff so that they can overcome difficulties and strive to master information technology to develop Song Be – Binh Duong Newspaper.
Reported by L.Q.S - Translated by Ngoc Huynh
