An essential tool for AI journalism

Hemera has developed a new CMS platform tailored specifically for Vietnam Economic Times / VnEconomy. What are the platform’s most outstanding and unique features?

On June 2, Hemera Media marks a significant milestone in its newsroom software development journey with the launch of a completely new content management system (CMS). Purpose-built for newspapers, magazines, news portals, and media websites, this latest version of our CMS reflects our effort to keep pace with the rapid evolution of technology.

The most distinctive feature of the upcoming Hemera AICMS lies in its deep integration of AI throughout the entire content management and distribution process. From editorial boards to specialized departments, editors, and reporters, all will experience an entirely new working system. Intelligent AI features will help users streamline tasks, save time and costs, and achieve unprecedented efficiency.

What motivated Hemera to develop a customized CMS platform for Vietnam Economic Times / VnEconomy instead of using off-the-shelf solutions?

With nearly two decades of experience in digital journalism, Hemera has come to realize one fundamental truth: each organization and newsroom has highly specific needs. They differ in organizational models, staffing structures, development strategies, audience profiles, and even in their approach to media economics.

That’s why we believe a one-size-fits-all CMS cannot effectively serve every newsroom. Instead, we are committed to a “tailor-made” approach, building dedicated systems for each client to ensure the best possible fit.

We understand that developing a custom platform requires greater investment in time and resources. However, we believe this is the only path towards long-term, sustainable growth for our clients. Hemera Media aspires to be a trusted partner in our clients’ development journeys, which is why we always choose to design and build bespoke products, like the solution we created for Vietnam Economic Times / VnEconomy.

How does this CMS platform address the specific needs of a major financial-economic press agency like Vietnam Economic Times / VnEconomy?

Vietnam Economic Times / VnEconomy has long been a prominent name in Vietnam’s media landscape. In recent years, the publication has undergone a bold and transformative restructuring, from organizational changes and operational models to editorial direction, production processes, and content distribution.

One particularly strategic and forward-thinking decision was to invest in the development of its own AI-powered platform: the Askonomy platform. In my view, Vietnam Economic Times / VnEconomy may well be the first media outlet in Vietnam to own such a richly customized AI ecosystem, aimed at delivering optimal value to its readers.

To support Vietnam Economic Times / VnEconomy’s rapid growth, build upon its existing strengths, and create new value, Hemera Media has devoted substantial effort and tackled numerous challenges. Through in-depth research, we have identified the right solutions based on seven core objectives for CMS development: (1) Completely resolve the limitations of the old system; (2) Design a smooth, user-friendly, and intelligent user experience; (3) Maximize the potential of the Askonomy platform and other AI applications in all system operations; (4) Personalize features for each user group; (5) Fully integrate the latest, cutting-edge technologies into the product; (6) Ensure flexibility and scalability of the system; and (7) Place readers and users at the heart of all design and development efforts.

Can you elaborate on how the new CMS system can help press agencies in general, and Vietnam Economic Times / VnEconomy in particular, comprehensively optimize their content production, management, and distribution processes, enhance reader engagement, and lead the trend in digital journalism?

A modern CMS platform, deeply integrated with AI, can revolutionize and optimize newsroom operations across various dimensions. Specifically, AI brings transformative improvements such as streamlining converged newsroom management, optimizing content production workflows, and enhancing publishing efficiency.

AI automates many time-consuming tasks, allowing reporters and editors to focus on their core expertise. For instance, AI can automatically convert written articles into audio versions via Text-to-Speech technology or transcribe speech into text through Voice-to-Text applications. AI also functions as a smart assistant - checking spelling, optimizing SEO, and even suggesting headlines, leads, or article summaries.

Moreover, AI has the capacity to analyze massive datasets, enabling journalists to quickly detect trends, generate interactive charts, and visualize complex information, especially valuable in data journalism. These AI applications are increasingly integrated to fuel creativity in digital storytelling, including multimedia formats like podcasts, videos, and image generation.

Hemera AICMS also strongly supports the converged newsroom model, enabling the production and publishing of content for both print and digital platforms within a single system. It unifies content and personnel management, while empowering leadership through AI-driven tools like virtual assistants. The synergy of AI and digital technology not only streamlines production but also redefines the way news is published, enabling faster, more efficient distribution. Furthermore, new AI-generated content formats, such as voice-based journalism, open up diverse new distribution channels and reader touchpoints.

Overall, the new AI-powered CMS enables newsrooms to achieve end-to-end optimization, from content governance and production workflows to distribution strategies. Naturally, system optimization and data security remain our top priorities, and we are committed to continuously updating our technologies to meet the most demanding requirements.

Do you see potential for applying this CMS to other types of businesses in Vietnam, such as those managing large digital content or operating e-commerce platforms? And how?

As I mentioned earlier, Hemera AICMS is not only well-suited for media organizations but also holds strong potential for use in portals, corporate websites, and news-based platforms. The reason is simple: the complex operational requirements of a digital newsroom already encompass nearly all the essential needs for these types of websites. A platform optimized for digital newspapers and magazines is highly likely to bring significant benefits to corporate websites, from enhancing the customer experience to improving communication and business performance.

In particular, for businesses that need to sell products and services online, Hemera Media offers a specialized solution: Hemera Premium. This system has already been successfully implemented on Vietnam Economic Times / VnEconomy at premium.vneconomy.vn. Hemera Premium is equipped with all necessary e-commerce functionalities, such as sales, payment, order management, and customer management. What’s notable is that the system also integrates AI extensively across all management stages, delivering superior performance for online business operations.

What strategies does Hemera have to bring this product to a wider market, reach diverse customer segments, and continue enhancing the CMS platform?

We have a clear strategy to expand Hemera AICMS to a broader market and continue its development. On June 2, we will launch the Marcom-AI Platform, along with the Marcom AI Platform Consortium and the Data & AI Alliance (D.A Alliance), in partnership with Vietnam Economic Times / VnEconomy, Actable AI Vietnam, and several other collaborators. We are confident that the technological and media expertise of all involved parties will enable us to co-develop products that precisely meet the needs of a wide range of customers.

Motivated by our strong aspiration of “Vietnamese people building Vietnamese technology to serve Vietnamese users”, we remain committed to ceaseless innovation and development. We hope that our dedication and high-quality products will be well received by the market.