To have journalistic works that "touch the hearts" of the public

With the strong development of technology today, journalists are increasingly required to have their own point of view and personality in their works.

In the era of information explosion, the strong development of social networks, the question of whether the role of the press today is increasingly promoted or gradually lost its position? has become hotter than ever. MSc. Dinh Ngoc Son - Deputy Head of the Department of Radio and Television, Academy of Journalism and Propaganda, said that journalists in the present era will have to face countless challenges.

Digital journalism

Investor: Sir, since the emergence of social networks, how has journalism changed? What impact has this had on the training of students studying journalism?

MSc. Dinh Ngoc Son: Since the explosion of social networks, the public has not only received information but also participated in providing information through personal accounts. In the last century, training journalists focused on developing skills in detecting problems and exploiting information. Reporters had to hunt for news from reality, find ways to approach characters... to collect information.

In the current era of internet explosion, journalism training also needs to change to adapt to the new media environment. Reporters must learn how to approach topics, exploit information on the internet platform, use tools to collect, analyze, and verify information. From there, access the data system to exploit and process information in depth.

MSc. Dinh Ngoc Son - Deputy Head of Radio and Television Department, Academy of Journalism and Communication.

Investor: As you said, reporter training has changed, so what are the requirements for learners, sir?

MSc. Dinh Ngoc Son: Currently, the professional requirements for reporters need to be "upgraded". Journalists need a more comprehensive perspective on social issues because the public has access to many sources of information from many different angles.

Along with that, not only thinking but also specific skills such as using smartphones to work, designing graphic information, being flexible in creating works to communicate on many platforms. As information increases, reporters need to have more emotions in their professional activities to have works that "touch the hearts" of the public. If reporters create their own perspectives and values ​​that convince the public, that is the sustainable value of journalism that artificial intelligence cannot replace.

And no matter what job you do, if you don't have love for the job and passion for writing, it will be very difficult to survive.

Changing the way information is delivered to readers

Investor: Many people believe that with the strong development of social networks today, the role of journalists is "fading". To affirm their role and importance, what should journalists do?

MSc. Dinh Ngoc Son: If in the past, providing information was an important activity of the press, now every individual can post information on social networks. In addition, the public's information reception habits are changing, a large number of people, especially young people, are receiving news on social networking platforms.

Today's mass media is based on both traditional press and social media platforms, on the internet. Social media provides diverse and continuous information, but is also revealing weaknesses when information is difficult to verify, and information is distorted for personal purposes.

Therefore, today, press information needs to be more accurate, with a higher content of knowledge, analysis, orientation, and commentary to accompany social networks. The press is a tool for orienting information to ensure reliability. The press system helps the public to find more professional and reliable content. This requires journalists to think and be creative to build trust with the public.

The press needs to take the lead in reaching out to the public.

Journalism itself requires a very deep perspective and experience. Journalists need to have accumulated experience and be solid in their thinking. Depending on the level of the work, reflective articles may not require a high level of education, but analytical articles without perspective and education will be difficult to convince the public.

Journalists are the pioneers in accepting new things, they cannot only rely on the “traditional” values ​​of journalism to position themselves but need to update new means and methods of communication. If the press is slow to change, it will lose its audience to new media trends.

Investor: Looking back at the development of domestic journalism, in the early years of the 21st century, everywhere we could see the image of people holding printed newspapers in their hands. Nowadays, when digital technology is on the rise, "smart phones" have been and are replacing newspapers. As someone with a lot of research experience, where do you think printed newspapers will be in the midst of this vortex of change?

MSc. Dinh Ngoc Son: We have to rely on public surveys and not make subjective assessments. The press is still the same, still very important in society. But if in the past there were 100 readers but now there are only 50, what is the reason? Are journalists “less” or are the articles no longer enthusiastic? I think it is because the public’s approach has changed, before they approached it this way, now it is another way.

Any type of media, if it does not change its approach, will inevitably lose its audience. Currently, there are some students who are worried about studying print journalism. I always tell them: do not worry too much because today the door to media is wide open. If you love your job, practice your craft and update technology to create creative products, the newsrooms will always need you.

Investor: Thank you very much for sharing !