Building a sustainable journalistic culture environment

The delegates discussed the issue of building a cultural environment for journalism.

Attending the discussion were journalist Le Quoc Minh, Editor-in-Chief of Nhan Dan Newspaper and President of the Vietnam Journalists Association , and other speakers who are reputable journalists.

Building a positive press

Journalist Nguyen Duc Loi argues that the more volatile the journalistic landscape becomes, the more crucial it is to establish a strong foundation for Vietnamese journalism to develop healthily, in the right direction, professionally, and modernly, while remaining truly humane.

"Most concerning is the phenomenon of a segment of the press deviating from its principles and objectives, becoming indifferent to its target audience, catering to vulgar tastes, producing content primarily to increase traffic, and compromising honesty and objectivity to achieve economic goals…," lamented Nguyen Duc Loi, Permanent Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Journalists Association.

Nguyen Duc Loi, Standing Vice President of the Vietnam Journalists Association, delivered a speech at the discussion session.

To improve journalistic ethics and contribute to the realization of the goal of building a professional, humane, and modern press, the preservation and promotion of journalistic culture must continue to be widely disseminated. The Central Propaganda Department, the Ministry of Information and Communications, the Vietnam Journalists Association, and the Nhan Dan Newspaper have jointly launched a campaign to promote "Building a Cultural Environment in Press Agencies." Simultaneously, they announced a set of criteria for implementing "Cultural Press Agencies and the Culture of Vietnamese Journalists," with 6 points for press agencies and 6 points for journalists.

After more than a year since its launch, the movement has truly become an integral part of the lives and work of journalists. The phenomenon of journalists exhibiting uncivilized behavior in their work has been addressed and reduced. In particular, the cultural content of journalistic works has significantly improved.

Journalist Nguyen Duc Loi reported that in 2023, one of the things that weighed most heavily on journalists' minds was the numerous cases of journalists and contributors at newspapers and magazines being prosecuted for "extortion." Furthermore, there are still many journalists who disregard professional ethics and the consequences of reporting on and photographing individuals and events solely for the sake of views; there are still instances of journalists writing inaccurate articles without apologizing or correcting them; and reporting based on hearsay rather than firsthand experience.

According to journalist Nguyen Duc Loi, the root cause of this regrettable situation stems from lax management by media organizations, influenced by the market economy and the low income of journalists, which is insufficient to live on, along with pressure to secure advertising and sponsorships. However, it cannot be denied that it is also due to a lack of political and cultural integrity, and a decline in the ethics and lifestyle of a segment of journalists.

Delegates attending the discussion session "Building a Cultural Environment for Journalism" within the framework of the 2024 National Journalism Forum.

To prevent and address this issue, according to journalist Nguyen Duc Loi, in addition to continuing to strengthen political, ideological, and ethical education for journalists, requiring them to comply with the law, the Press Law, and strictly adhere to the 10 ethical regulations for journalists, another "urgent task" is to further deepen and widely disseminate the emulation movement "Building a cultural environment in press agencies," thereby creating more tangible results and effectiveness.

Journalist Nguyen Duc Loi believes that all media organizations must clearly understand that the emulation movement "Building a cultural environment in media organizations" is a major movement, not a temporary one, but must become a necessary, regular, and long-term practice.

Every journalist is an ambassador of culture.

Chairman of the Khanh Hoa Provincial Journalists Association, Doan Minh Long, shared that inaccurate and false news not only arouses curiosity among readers but also weakens the media. Inaccurate and false news not only misleads readers and viewers but sometimes even deceives some reporters, making the press a victim as well.

According to journalist Doan Minh Long, some journalists and reporters subjectively transform unverified information on Viber, Instagram, Facebook, Zalo, etc., into journalistic products. Therefore, raising awareness of culture, building and creating a cultural space in journalistic activities, building media organizations, and developing the integrity of culturally-minded journalists are practical and urgent requirements.

At the same time, if individuals and groups alike work together to effectively implement workplace culture in media organizations, it will contribute to the sustainable development of the organization, create a healthy working environment, and enhance the efficiency and seriousness of information and media work.

The question arises: why is it necessary to build a culture within the journalistic environment? Nguyen Tien Thanh, Editor-in-Chief of the Life and Law Magazine, argues that there are many reasons, but the root of the problem is that journalism today has changed according to social trends and current events. The journalistic product itself has undergone many changes compared to the past. Therefore, building a journalistic culture needs to correspond to the market and current events to be relevant and meet the information needs of readers.

The delegates discussed the issue of building a cultural environment for journalism.

According to Dao Xuan Hung, Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Resources and Environment, the current situation shows that there is still a tendency among journalists to commercialize journalism and pursue group interests, affecting the reputation of the media organization and the overall development of the newsroom. Therefore, the responsibility and duty of journalists in the movement to build a cultural environment within media organizations is demonstrated through valuable journalistic works. In the flow of information in society, journalists need to affirm their professional self-respect and constantly cultivate their culture, ethics, and expertise to contribute to building a modern and humane press.

Journalist Dao Xuan Hung believes that the primary responsibility of journalists is to prioritize the interests of the nation and its people, examining issues, phenomena, and events honestly and with a humane perspective. Each media organization needs to create conditions for journalists to live and work diligently and responsibly, building credibility and brand recognition through journalistic works that are well-received by the public.

At the forum, managers, leaders of media organizations, and journalists shared their perspectives on the current state of the cultural environment within media organizations and the culture of journalists today. Delegates dissected and analyzed the causes leading to the "fading," or even degradation, of the culture of some media organizations and a segment of journalists today.

The delegates also discussed ways and solutions to enhance culture within media organizations and in the professional work of journalists, increasing the cultural content in journalistic works. They aimed to make the "Building a Cultural Environment in Media Organizations" movement truly in-depth and effective, becoming an important task for media organizations to undertake. All efforts were directed towards building a cultural foundation within media organizations and among journalists, so that each newsroom truly becomes a cultural hub, and each journalist a cultural ambassador.

THAI PHUONG - THU HUONG

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/xay-dung-moi-truong-van-hoa-bao-chi-ben-vung-post730939.html