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Ministry of Education and Training Hochiminh Academy of National Politics
Academy of Journalism and Communication
NGUYỄN THÙY VÂN ANH
PROFESSIONAL VIETNAMESE JOURNALISTS’ CONTEMPORARY
QUALITIES - APPROACHING FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF HO CHI MINH
Professional : Journalism
Major : Journalism
Code : 9 32 01 01
SUMMARY OF DOCTORAL THESIS IN JOURNALISM STUDIES
HÀ NỘI – 2019
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The thesis is completed at
Academy of Journalism and Propaganda
Instructor:
Associate Professor. PhD Nguyễn Văn Dững
Thesis Committee member 1: Associate Professor Ph.D Đinh Văn Hường
Thesis Committee member 2: Associate Professor PhD Đỗ Chí Nghĩa
Thesis Committee member 3: PhD Nguyễn Tuấn Phong
The thesis could be searched at: National Library, Academy of Journalism and
Communication Library - Hochiminh Academy of National Politics
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INTRODUCTION
1. The urgency of the topic
Overall, the world’s press in recent decades has been volatile, reflecting the
global situation in a multi-colored picture. Journalism in developed countries
like the United States, the Federal Republic of Germany, France, and the United
Kingdom, ... are entangled in national and international issues, heading in the
direction of symbiosis, spreading along with social networks (social media),
accelerating the power of community opinion in social monitoring and criticism
against major national policy decisions in international relations.
Recently, it can be seen that the US press in the 2016 presidential election has
appeared with unpredictable metamorphosis, driven by group interests, which
contradicts the traditional journalism practice - professionalism, objectivity and
honesty in information on domestic issues. Unlike some countries, professional
journalists in the United States are not allowed to join the political party, to
show "professionalism" in the information. However, American media,
generally in the campaign, are obviously swept into the group interest of the
candidates, while, in international affairs, the country's press has more diverse
information, in which critical elements for path-finding become clearer.
The European press is significantly different from the American one, for
the diversity in angles when demonstrating the EU, NATO situation as well as
regional and world issues, of which the most obvious is information of the
Ukrainian crisis, Middle East conflict - North Africa. Regarding issues within
internal EU, the continent's press has shown embarrassment in the development
trend, especially Brexit, immigration issues or relations with Russia; including
the Middle East - North Africa
Overall, there is still a flow of information that cannot be overlooked is the flow
of Russian opinion of all over Europe, especially the United States. Thus, even
though we consider ourselves "objective, honest", Western newspapers are
always drawn into political trends and currents of political forces. The
American press is "stuck" between the power crisis of the two parties -
Democrat and Republican, between the Democratic Party and President D.
Trump, since the 2016 election.
Right next to us, the Chinese press has always made itself as political and
pioneer leadership tools of the Party of China in domestic and foreign issues.
However, at the same time, the nationalistic journalism in this press always
shows the "tone" of "contemporary Chinese characteristics", which is
aggressive and supercilious in the style of "highway hero ”.
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Thus, through a general overview of the world’s press and some other countries,
raised questions: Who is a professional journalist and what motivates them to
work? In other words, the model of journalistic career or viewpoints on
contemporary journalist quality both expresses the traditional, regional or
indigenous characteristics in such a clear way, whether in developing or
developed countries, in Europe - America or Asia ....
In Vietnam, during the period of reform, the Vietnamese press has made
considerable accomplishments, contributing significantly to the success of the
national development and international integration. The Vietnamese press has
experienced a rapid growth in terms of quantity, types, publications, staffing,
audience, infrastructure facilities, press technology, financial capacity and
expanding social impact. Topical events and news are up-to-date minute by
minute,... Worrying issues, citizens’ opinion... have been addressed by the
press, attracting the social resources with the participation of institutions and
systems, deservedly representing the voice of the people, a bridge connecting
Vietnam with international friends, becoming the critical tool in national
branding and positive image of Vietnam on the global stage.
Today, thanks to the influence of the scientific and technological revolution in
the world, the communication environment changes rapidly; In particular,
digital technology serves as a cornerstone and increasingly dominate the
characteristics of this environment. Like fish need to adapt to the water
environment, contemporary newspapers in general and Vietnamese newspapers
in particular are changing in accordance with the new media environment. On
the other hand, in this new media environment, their journalists and
practitioners are also posing problems both in terms of advantages and
challenges. In addition, the fast-growing social media are attracting residents
and pulling user community into its forum and influence.
Communication environment is changing. Technology is changing. The public
and press market share are changing. Professional activities of professional
journalists and citizenship journalists are changing. Every human behavior in
the society is changing. In particular, political mindset and activities are
changing, making the social machine no longer the same. A recent issue, in May
2018, the National Assembly session of XIV prepared to pass the Bill on
Special Administrative Region - Economic, as a legal corridor to develop 3 Van
Don special zones (Quang Ninh). , Phu Quoc (Kien Giang) and Van Phong
(Khanh Hoa). The story seemed just to wait for the National Assembly to press
the button, and immediately social media are flared with social criticisms,
mainly opposed to this bill. Meanwhile, our "mainstream press" has hardly any
voices - because as the communication department of the organization, when
the organization has not turned on "green light", the press has to keep silent.
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So, to awaken, convey to the public who counteracts special economic zone
between 2018, on the occasion of the National Assembly session being
conducted, the main and only focus is social media. This is an issue that needs
attention of the communication department of socio-political organizations,
which is the issue that needs to be researched about the role of journalism and
journalists in the current communication environment; including the notion of
professional quality of journalists in Vietnam in particular, in the world in
general.
Therefore, the notion of professional quality of journalists is either changing
according to the spiral of socio-economic issues in the new media and context;
or need studying under the perspective of journalist career qualities, with a new
theory; operating in combination and inheriting tradition - modernity
horizontally and vertically. On the other hand, the reality shows that the press
approach needs to be more diversified - the press is not only a political -
ideological tool, but also a constructive social institution - in accordance with
the Prime Minister's message. Nguyen Xuan Phuc stated whether it was
necessary to build a constructive government.
In this context, the role of the journalist - the topics revolving around
journalistic activities become even more important. Who are they and need to
be? Are they just soldiers on the ideological-cultural front, the impulse to lead
the revolutionary career of the Party? Or are they social mobilizers, connecting
communities in close relationships with newspapers and social media? So, with
journalists in the new media environment, do they need to be campaigners and
communicators to be able to complete social titles and social responsibilities?
It can be said that the press of the contemporary world in general and the
Vietnamese press in particular have been posing both basic and urgent issues
related to journalists and professional quality of journalists needing to study.
Save it seriously. Therefore, studying the professional quality of Vietnamese
journalists in the current context is an urgent task.
On the other hand, because of the nature of the journalistic nature that is closely
related to politics, it is difficult for journalists to have a quality of
professionalism that separates the political and indigenous culture of each
country.
In order to contribute to the understanding of the issue of professional quality
journalists, graduate students choose this research problem, with an approach