Moscow (VNA) - Verifiability is a “gold standard” of mainstream journalism, according to Elena Nikulina, an expert in Vietnam studies from the Centre for Vietnam and ASEAN Studies (CVAS) under the Russian Academy of Sciences.

Talking to the Vietnam News Agency on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the Vietnam’s Revolutionary Press Day (June 21, 1925–2025), Nikulina, who is also a veteran journalist of Russia’s Sputnik News, emphasised the vital role of mainstream journalism in defending the truth and maintaining public trust.

Sharing about her more than 30-year journey covering Vietnam, Nikulina said in the 1990s, Russian media mainly focused on the peak of Vietnam–Russia bilateral relations. In recent years, however, coverage has significantly broadened to Vietnam’s political, socio-economic, and cultural developments.

According to her, Vietnam is currently one of the most dynamic regions, with notable developments ranging from reciprocal tax negotiations with the US and tariff reduction policies, to its balanced foreign relations and deepening Vietnam–Russia cooperation in economic, humanitarian, and social fields.

Sputnik pays special attention to Vietnam’s sweeping reforms, particularly national administrative reform and the fight against corruption, she said, adding that the decisive and proactive efforts led by Party General Secretary To Lam to propel Vietnam forward in the new era are closely followed by the Russian press.

Sputnik regularly conducts interviews with Russian experts on Vietnam and features insights from Vietnamese scholars about Russia, Nikulina said. She noted that this reflects the core mission of modern journalism, not only to report news but also to provide well-argued and multi-dimensional perspectives that help readers form their own understanding.

Under any circumstances, mainstream journalism must never lose its fundamental values of truthfulness, objectivity, and integrity, she said.

For Sputnik, the Vietnam News Agency (VNA) is one of its official and trusted providers of information, Nikulina said, noting that readers trust the 80-year-old news agency because its information is always thoroughly verified.

Regarding the impact of technology, Nikulina said that digital technology, especially artificial intelligence (AI), is a powerful tool that supports the analysis of big data and the identification of content trends.

However, technology is merely a technical tool, she stressed, noting that journalists are the ones responsible for the information. She said the application of modern technology is essential, but journalists must always maintain control and uphold professional ethics.

Nikulina mentioned challenges facing the mainstream journalism at present, including competing with social media and unregulated information platforms, which spread rapidly and often feature eye-catching formats but lack reliability.

Mainst𓆉ream media cannot stay out of this trend, by innovating in form, diversifying content, and leveraging digital platforms but never at the expense of verified quality, she stressed./.