Youth join hands in media training

"Thanh Nien Newspaper hopes to work together with partner universities to create a training ecosystem that addresses fundamental challenges."

Journalist Nguyen Ngoc Toan, Editor-in-Chief of Thanh Nien Newspaper, affirmed this determination at the seminar "Media Training from Renovation to the New Era" yesterday morning (December 9). The event, part of a series of activities celebrating the 40th anniversary of the first issue of Thanh Nien Newspaper, attracted the attention of many leaders from government agencies, universities, media experts, businesses, faculty members, and students from many universities in Ho Chi Minh City.

Journalist Nguyen Ngoc Toan, Editor-in-Chief of Thanh Nien Newspaper, speaking at the seminar

PHOTO: INDEPENDENCE

BUSINESSES NEED MULTI-SKILLED COMMUNICATION STAFF

Sharing at the discussion, many opinions highlighted the increasingly high requirements for communications staff in the new era, when artificial intelligence (AI) is exploding.

Dr. Huynh Van Thong, Head of the Communication Department, Faculty of Journalism and Communication, University of Social Sciences and Humanities (Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City), believes that in the current context, businesses no longer need purely PR or marketing specialists, but require interdisciplinary collaboration and multi-skills. Students must know how to create content based on real data, how to tell stories that align with the platform's nature, and how to be creative based on algorithms. "Businesses don't need students who are good at theory to give presentations; they need personnel who can handle real campaigns without making mistakes. They also need personnel who can start working immediately, not only knowing how to operate but also how to handle crises," Dr. Thong emphasized.

From a business perspective, Mr. Nguyen Khoa Hong Thanh, Senior Marketing Director and Director of Communications and External Relations, Phu Nhuan Jewelry Joint Stock Company (PNJ), also pointed out the most important but most lacking competencies in the current labor market. In the 5 important competency groups, Mr. Thanh emphasized the ability to quickly adapt to new technologies such as AI tools, automation... applied to communication activities; grasp emerging platform trends.

University students participate in training programs and practical experiences at Thanh Nien Newspaper

Photo: Ngoc Mai

TRAINING FACILITIES RECOMMEND TO NEWSPAPER EDITORIAL OFFICES

Based on the above reality, Dr. Huynh Van Thong recommends that newspaper offices as well as businesses have a "3 together" with schools. That is, jointly build training programs, jointly evaluate student output, and then jointly share responsibility in creating opportunities for learners to practice and be exposed to real processes.

"Businesses shouldn't just recruit people, but should also work with us to train them through various networking activities, from program design to practical training sessions at businesses, newsrooms, and especially Thanh Nien Newspaper. At the same time, it's necessary to balance building long-term capabilities with practical skills training, because a lack of long-term capabilities will shorten the career lifespan of employees," Dr. Thong stated.

Based on that, according to Mr. Nguyen Khoa Hong Thanh, communication training programs at universities need to change in terms of the ratio of theory to practice and content so that graduates can immediately meet job requirements. "Universities need to supplement the skills set so that students can meet market trends and the demands of businesses. They should strengthen collaborative projects between universities and businesses; students should participate directly in real projects with real budgets, learning practical lessons and skills," Mr. Hong Thanh stated.

The seminar "Media Training from Innovation to the New Era" attracted the attention of many leaders of agencies, universities, media experts, businesses, lecturers and students.

PHOTO: INDEPENDENCE

C. PRACTICAL TRAINING PROGRAM AT THANH NIEN NEWSPAPER

Speaking at the seminar, journalist Nguyen Ngoc Toan stated that the digital age has profoundly changed many fields, including journalism and media. The emergence of AI, big data, social networks, and new digital platforms has not only altered the way information is produced, distributed, and consumed, but also placed entirely new demands on the training of journalism and media professionals in universities and colleges. The scale of media training is expanding in many schools. However, current reality shows that journalism and media training still faces many challenges.

From the perspective of a newsroom always at the forefront of innovation, the head of Thanh Nien Newspaper stated that he sees significant challenges directly impacting the quality of human resources in journalism and media. To address these challenges, journalist Nguyen Ngoc Toan believes that one of the key solutions lies in cooperation between schools and employers – including media organizations. As one of the leading news organizations, Thanh Nien Newspaper not only focuses on news production but also deeply understands its responsibility to develop human resources for the industry.

Therefore, the Editor-in-Chief of Thanh Nien Newspaper said that in recent years, the editorial office has signed cooperation agreements with many universities and colleges, in which the important content is media training activities. Turning the editorial office into a lecture hall, students can participate in practical classes right at Thanh Nien Newspaper, taught by a team of experienced and reputable journalists. " Thanh Nien Newspaper wishes to join hands with partner universities to create a training ecosystem that meets fundamental challenges," affirmed journalist Nguyen Ngoc Toan.

At the seminar, Master-Journalist Ngoc Mai, Deputy Head of the International Department of Thanh Nien Newspaper, shared about the method to help improve the capacity of students majoring in communication that the newspaper is coordinating with universities to implement, which is a practical training model right at the editorial office, lasting a full semester of 2-3 months.

University students participate in training and practical experience programs at Thanh Nien Newspaper.

The unique aspect of this model is that the school collaborates with the newsroom to develop the curriculum, creating opportunities for students to hone specialized skills such as editing, news and reportage production, news evaluation, and photography. To date, it is estimated that hundreds of communication students from various universities have come to study at the newsroom. This method is more effective than the traditional approach of simply accepting students for internships. Students not only learn from real-world market knowledge but also practice in a studio system with professional filming and editing equipment. Simultaneously, students experience all stages of news production, including learning how to properly apply AI. Student-produced products are also reviewed and evaluated according to the newsroom's approval criteria.

"Many students, after being instructed and studying and working at the editorial office, have published many articles and photo collections in Thanh Nien Newspaper. , attracting hundreds of thousands of views. Students are also inspired with passion and responsibility for the profession, some even want to intern and collaborate with the newspaper after the learning process. The practical training model between the editorial office and the school is not a temporary solution but a long-term strategy with the greater expectation of "raising the standard" of output for young personnel in the media and journalism industry," journalist Ngoc Mai shared.

There is a need to strongly innovate thinking about journalism and media training in the digital age.

PHOTO: INDEPENDENCE

Students majoring in communications from universities in Ho Chi Minh City participated in a seminar titled "Communication Training from Innovation to the New Era".

PHOTO: INDEPENDENCE

In addition to providing coursework for students, Thanh Nien Newspaper also organizes short-term training courses and sharing sessions for lecturers, media professionals, and those who want to improve related skills such as interviewing, answering interview questions; dealing with the media, crisis management, media collaboration; producing multimedia products, building communication content suitable for various channels and platforms...

Commenting on the practical training model, Dr. Vo Van Tuan, Permanent Vice Rector and Head of the Public Relations - Communication Department at Van Lang University, said: "In the training cooperation with Thanh Nien Newspaper, students in the multimedia communication and public relations majors at the university have practical training modules guided by journalists and editors from the newspaper. In addition, they gain professional experience through workshops, newsroom simulations, internships, and guest lecturers… from experienced professionals so that they understand the profession, practice it, and love it from an early age," Dr. Tuan said.

Need press agencies to support practical training

To enhance practical training, Cuu Long University implements a three-stage practical training program: on-campus simulation, hands-on experience at businesses and newsrooms, and direct practical training during the business semester. To achieve this, the university greatly needs the support and cooperation of businesses and media organizations.

Dr. Dang Thi Ngoc Lan (Vice Principal of Cuu Long University)

Let's create a creative media workforce together.

Students need to be equipped with communication skills, adaptability, and the ability to handle pressure. Especially to excel in communications, they need to understand people, society, and culture, because communications is a field of deep understanding. Whoever understands their users wins. Only when training institutions, businesses, and technology move together can we create a generation of communications professionals with sufficient competitiveness, adaptability, and creativity to lead the future.

Master Tran Thuy Tram Quyen (Vice Principal of Hong Bang International University)

The purpose of integrating AI into media training.

The school's aspiration is for students to not only use AI as a content creation tool (writing articles, creating images, suggesting ideas) but, at a deeper level, to use AI to solve data-driven communication problems. The ultimate goal of integrating AI into communication training is not to have students "use more tools," but to empower them to design creative processes using technology; to develop critical thinking skills, understand the nature and limitations of AI; and to create original communication products with a personal touch and social responsibility.

Dr. Do Trong Hop (Deputy Head of the Software Engineering Department, University of Information Technology - Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City)

Enhance soft skills in a practical environment.

To meet the demands of the media profession in the AI ​​era, students need to be equipped with deeper strategic thinking, data analysis, in-depth creativity, and soft skills in a practical environment. This is both a challenge and an opportunity for educational institutions in general, and the university in particular, to continue innovating their curricula and teaching methods to prepare students with a more comprehensive and solid foundation for the unprecedented changes of the digital age. Curriculum innovation is not only an inevitable trend but also a responsibility of universities in the face of unprecedented technological changes.

Dr. Bao Trung (Head of Marketing Department, University of Finance and Marketing)

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/thanh-nien-chung-tay-dao-tao-truyen-thong-185251209223242411.htm