First national press festival underway

They are showcasing 700 New Year's special editions and nearly 100 radio and television programmes on the Party's 12th congress and 30-year national reform process.Documents and objects collected for the future national press museum are also on display.The exhibited items are classified in two categories - "overview of Vietnamese press" and "specific subjects".The festival entails photo exhibitions and a range of workshops and seminars concerning the improvement of media clubs and the press's contributions to Party construction.The organising board will give awards to participating agencies based on their exhibition space, covers of New Year's special editions, articles and TV/radio programmes.According to Vo Van Thuong, Politburo member and head of the Party Central Committee's Information and Education Commission, the event helps journalists from across the country meet up and exchange experience.Vietnam's Government and Party highly value the community for their work in journalism, he noted.The journalists will also get on stage for musical performances during the festival. It runs through March 15 and is expected to become an annual event.

(Source: VNA)