As information technology and communication thrive globally, studying online journalism has become a significant attraction not just for journalism students in Vietnam. To find a university class that offers 100% online learning, one only needs to browse electronic newspapers and information online daily, and that class is for students majoring in electronic journalism.
To date, there has yet to be a graduating class of specialized electronic journalism students because the Academy of Journalism and Communication is the only institution offering this specialization, and it is currently welcoming its third cohort of students.
Offline Learning Online Journalism with Journalism Students
The Writing Class 23A is divided into several groups, each consisting of six members assigned to “approach” various electronic newspaper offices. I joined a group of students to gather information and learn at Vietnam Pictorial Online (of the Vietnam News Agency).
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Students from the Academy of Journalism and Communication explore the workflow of electronic newspapers |
The Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Vietnam Pictorial, Pham Tien Dung, welcomed six students, making me the seventh. The meeting began with an interview where students could ask both easy and challenging questions: How does Vietnam Pictorial operate? What is the workload and the number of personnel involved? What distinguishes the Vietnam Pictorial Online from other electronic newspapers? How frequently is news updated? Vietnam Pictorial Online is not well-known and has low news relevance; does it qualify as an electronic newspaper or is it merely a website?
The most significant difference between Vietnam Pictorial Online (VNP Online) and other electronic newspapers in Vietnam at the moment (http://vietnampictorial.vnanet.vn) is that it is available in six languages: Vietnamese, Russian, Chinese, English, French, and Spanish. VNP Online archives hundreds of thousands of images across various themes, which are sold directly online. Pricing is about 50,000 VND per image for print newspapers and can reach hundreds of USD per image when sold internationally (via file transfer).
| Dr. Nguyen Thi Thoa (Deputy Head of the Department of Journalism and Communication, responsible for the Electronic Journalism program, Academy of Journalism and Communication): “In 1992, the world saw its first electronic newspaper, the Chicago Tribune, which led to a rapid development of electronic journalism. In 1997, when Vietnam gained internet access, the Academy started to establish the Electronic Journalism program, and by 2003, the first enrollment was initiated. The curriculum is based on electronic journalism training programs from abroad. Throughout their studies, students are not only trained in journalistic skills but also gain knowledge in technical fields such as web design, image processing, and audio for web applications. Students in electronic journalism are often described by their teachers as dynamic, quick, and creative. In the future, the electronic journalism program (currently under the Department of Journalism and Communication) will become a full-fledged department once the project is approved.” |
Approximately 70% of the articles and photos in VNP’s print editions are uploaded to the online version one month after the print release, with an equivalent amount of content available exclusively in the electronic format. Each foreign language has two responsible staff members. VNP Online attracts around 150,000 visitors a month, which is relatively low compared to many other electronic newspapers that offer more timely and diverse content. This was the fundamental information about VNP Online that the Deputy Editor shared with the journalism students.
Many other questions arose as students actively engaged in the friendly and dynamic atmosphere of the electronic journalism environment. In one morning, students quickly grasped the processes of news production and image processing for online platforms, including information on recruitment, salary policies, and incentives within the media agency.
At the end of the session, Nguyen Thanh Hung (Class 23A) remarked, “I realize that knowledge of IT is essential for online journalism…”. Student Nguyen Thi Lien mentioned the importance of “foreign language proficiency when working in online journalism“. Student Nguyen Quynh Chau stated: “Understanding the organizational structure of a newsroom and how an online newspaper operates is crucial for us to grasp…”. Student Duong Thanh Ha concluded, “Online journalism truly offers an exciting environment for students!”.
After such visits and learning experiences, students must write reflection papers. Regardless of whether they are specializing in electronic journalism, print journalism, or broadcasting, all students take courses in electronic journalism, often selecting top electronic newspapers in Vietnam like VietNamNet, VnExpress, Tuoi Tre, Thanh Nien Online, etc.
Online Journalism Students – “A Breath of Fresh Air”
Nguyen Nhung (Class 23 Electronic Journalism) confidently stated: “The electronic journalism class is well-known within the academy, and students frequently participate, asserting themselves and truly injecting a new vitality into any activity within the school and department. Our class has the fewest students, but our dynamism is comparable to that of the print journalism, broadcasting, and television classes. For instance, in my class, with 22 students – an ideal number for a class – many are already regular contributors to various newspapers. The foreign language proficiency of my classmates is quite uniform, as we all entered with a D group score of 20.5…”
Nhung has also had articles published in several newspapers, including electronic ones. She has been a campaign reporter for the Hanoi Youth Union since her first year. In the summer of 2005, leveraging the online space, Nhung took the opportunity to gather Vietnamese students studying abroad who returned home for summer vacations to form a volunteer group. The volunteer group established by Nhung conducted activities at the Ha Cau Orphanage Center (Ha Tay). For Nhung and her fellow online journalism students, the Internet is always a crucial tool they need to master.
| In journalism programs across Vietnam today, most students take courses in electronic journalism (also referred to as online journalism, though there is no unified terminology). Only the Academy of Journalism and Communication offers a specialized program in electronic journalism. Due to enrollment quotas, each class typically consists of over 20 students, all from D group. However, the number of courses and textbooks for this specialization is still limited, and students mostly acquire basic knowledge. At the Department of Journalism, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, the online journalism course (worth 2-3 credit units) has been taught since 2002 in all classes. |
Choosing electronic journalism, Nhung views this form of journalism, though still relatively new in Vietnam, as rapidly developing globally. Nhung asserts: “Once I chose electronic journalism, I am not afraid of putting in the effort to study and strive. Only then can I ensure that what I learn aligns with what I do and become a skilled journalist at an electronic newspaper“.
At the Academy of Journalism and Communication, students feel that the courses focused on electronic journalism are still not diverse enough to meet their educational needs – this is a common sentiment among the students I have asked. Courses such as Introduction to Electronic Journalism, Web Design, Video, and Sound for Websites, and Online News Reporting are among the few specialized courses that third-year electronic journalism students have taken. Therefore, dynamic students have no choice but to self-study and dive into practical experiences.
Similar to Nhung’s case, Nguyen Diep Chi remarked, “As a girl studying online journalism, this field demands quick thinking and the ability to adapt at any time, which is undoubtedly challenging“. However, “I’m not afraid of difficulties, nor am I afraid of hardships; I only fear not doing my best“, Diep Chi expressed, affirming: “I will pursue online journalism to the end“.
Diep Chi is also the class representative of the second-year online journalism class and was previously the top student in the Broadcasting Department. She had already been writing articles before enrolling at the academy. She stated: “The school has a website, but it lacks a dedicated page for online journalism students to practice and update their knowledge – this has been a promise from the teachers. Therefore, students must create their own practical environment“. Currently, Diep Chi is working on a website focused on Journalism and Children (set to launch soon), overseeing two sections: Read – Listen – Watch and Reports. This is her way of engaging with the practical aspects of online journalism.
Online journalism students are also “true netizens” as using the Internet is both a duty and a need, as well as a passion for them. Their online activities are distinct; they browse the Internet to gather information, compare online newspapers in Vietnam with those globally, and identify the unique characteristics and differences of online journalism compared to other media forms – aspects that the school does not fully teach. Each student selects a few high-quality online newspapers to “study and enjoy as their daily intellectual nourishment” among the “myriad of electronic news sites emerging“.
When asked how online journalism students choose to adapt alongside the rapid development of online news, Diep Chi said: “Establishing and continuously improving skills in information extraction, presentation, and selection, along with good computer skills and high foreign language proficiency, are necessary to develop throughout the four years of studying journalism“. Nguyen Nhung stated: “I appreciate the collaborative spirit of electronic journalism. You see, in an online newspaper, if all media forms are integrated with sufficient images, sounds, and videos – what we call multimedia – then teamwork and collective development are essential…”.
Bui Dung
