SUMMARY OF THE DOCTORAL THESIS IN JOURNALISM
INTRODUCTION
1. The urgency of the topic
In recent years, the development of science and technology and the global information explosion in the context of the Fourth Industrial Revolution have posed enormous challenges to information professionals in general and journalists and media in particular.
The emergence, spread, and dissemination of information on social media is a difficult challenge for regulators and global media organizations. Social media platforms are frequently negatively impacted by rumors and fake news. Furthermore, many individuals exploit the rapid spread and lack of control of social media to intentionally spread false information in order to manipulate public opinion in a predetermined direction.
In this context, the role of mainstream journalism becomes even more important in supplementing, correcting, and critically analyzing social issues, as well as guiding public opinion in the face of the onslaught of fake news from social media. Consequently, the role of social criticism and public opinion guidance has become more clearly recognized in recent years.
Social critique is a phenomenon that emerged and developed very early in Western societies and has become an important criterion in the democratization process of political and social life. The study of social critique in journalism has only begun to focus on Vietnam in the last ten years or so.
One aspect that has not received much research attention is the assessment of the social critique role of online newspapers in relation to guiding public opinion in the online journalistic space.
A more multifaceted approach to the effectiveness of social critique and public opinion guidance by the press in general, and online newspapers in particular, is also an issue that requires new research.
Based on the above analysis of the urgency, we have chosen this topic."The role of online newspapers in social critique and guiding public opinion"I am writing my doctoral dissertation in journalism and communication.
2. Research Objectives
Based on the systematization of the theory of social critique and public opinion guidance by online newspapers, this thesis surveys and evaluates the role of social critique and public opinion guidance by Vietnamese online newspapers, and then proposes solutions to improve the effectiveness of social critique and public opinion guidance by Vietnamese online newspapers today.
3. Research objectives
To achieve the research objectives, this thesis will undertake the following research tasks:
The first,Systematizing and clarifying theoretical issues related to the research content in the dissertation, such as social critique, social critique in online newspapers, public opinion, guiding public opinion in online newspapers, the relationship between social critique and guiding public opinion in online newspapers, etc.
MondayThis dissertation examines and clarifies the role of online newspapers in social critique and guiding public opinion.
Tuesday, clarifying the criteria and evaluating the effectiveness of social critique and public opinion guidance by online newspapers according to defined criteria.
Fourth, the thesis analyzes and evaluates the relationship between social criticism and public opinion guidance in the two surveyed online newspapers.
ThursdayBased on observations and assessments, the thesis proposes solutions to enhance the role of online newspapers in social critique and guiding public opinion.
4.Research subjects and scope
The subject of this thesis is the role of Vietnamese online newspapers in social critique and shaping public opinion.
The research area consists of two online newspapers, Tuoi Tre and Vnexpress. The research period is from 2010 to 2016.
5. Gresearch hypothesis
Hypothesis 1:The press influences real-life situations by guiding public opinion. Through this influence, public opinion directly impacts social life, contributing to changes in reality.
Hypothesis 2:Online newspapers, with their strengths as a digital medium, play a distinct role compared to other forms of media in fulfilling the function of social critique. This includes creating a forum for public discussion and feedback; generating multimedia messages during the social critique process; and creating "multi-step flows" in public discussion.
Hypothesis 3:Newsrooms and journalists play a role in setting the agenda in the process of organizing messages to influence and guide public opinion.
Hypothesis 4:Public opinion on Vietnam's online news platform exhibits distinct characteristics in the process of social critique. These characteristics are influenced by the virtual nature of the internet and the unique cultural and social features of the Vietnamese context.
Hypothesis 5:The quality of social critique in the press in general, and online newspapers in particular, is not yet comprehensive, as evidenced by the uneven effectiveness in addressing practical issues.
6..Research methods
6.1. Methodology
This dissertation applies the methodology of Marxism-Leninism, Ho Chi Minh Thought, and the viewpoints of the Communist Party of Vietnam and the laws of the Vietnamese State on building a state of the people, by the people, and for the people; and on the role of social critique and public opinion guidance of the press in general and online newspapers in particular in the cause of national development.
The thesis also utilizes thetheories of journalism and media, sociology, political science.
6.2. Specific methods
6.2.1. Content Analysis Method
The content analysis method used in this thesis analyzes the content of the surveyed journalistic works with the aim of understanding the content and methods of social critique and public opinion guidance in the two online newspapers, Vnexpress and Tuổi Trẻ.
This method is also used in analyzing the content of public responses after receiving the message from the work, in order to discuss and supplement the quantitative results that have been statistically analyzed.
6.2.2. Statistical methods
This is the primary method used in the thesis. The thesis author performed the following statistical analysis:
6.2.3. In-depth interview method
The thesis author conducted in-depth interviews, both recorded and via questionnaires, with 17 individuals including editorial board members, section leaders, reporters, and contributors who directly manage sections or are authors of articles published on the two online newspapers Tuoi Tre and Vnexpress.
6.2.4. Comparative Method
The comparative method is used to compare the characteristics of several objects after analysis.
7.Novel contributions of the thesis
Firstly, the thesis examines the role of online newspapers in social critique in relation to guiding public opinion in a specific, surveyed, and evaluated manner.
Secondly, the thesis points out the “secondary” space in public discussion of survey items.
Thirdly, the thesis evaluates the effectiveness of online newspapers in social critique and guiding public opinion based on a combined vertical (timeline by category) and horizontal (specific events on the two newspapers) survey.
Fourth, the thesis evaluates the effectiveness of multimedia integration in online newspapers in the process of social critique and guiding public opinion.
8.Significance of the thesis
8.1. Theoretical Significance
This dissertation adds a new perspective to the approach to the role of social critique and public opinion guidance in journalism in general and online journalism in particular. The dissertation clarifies the relationship between social critique and public opinion guidance in the role of online journalism in general.
The thesis also specifically examined, from theory to practice, the characteristics of public space in the role of social critique and public opinion guidance by Vietnamese online newspapers.
The theoretical issues and conclusions presented in this thesis may open up many avenues for further in-depth research on this topic.
8.2. Practical Significance
This dissertation serves as a basis for the two online newspapers, Vnexpress and Tuoi Tre Online, to make appropriate changes to develop a public space on their respective interfaces. The dissertation is also a valuable document for managers and policymakers in the field of journalism and media to refer to when establishing and making management decisions. Furthermore, the dissertation is a useful reference for students, trainees, and researchers studying the role of journalism in general and the role of online newspapers in social critique and guiding public opinion in particular.
9.The structure of the thesis
Besides the introduction, conclusion, references, appendices, etc., the main body of the thesis is divided into four chapters:
Chapter 1. Overview of the study
Chapter 2. Theoretical and practical foundations of social critique and guiding public opinion in online newspapers.
Chapter 3. The role of online newspapers Tuoi Tre and Vnexpress in social critique and guiding public opinion.
Chapter 4. Some issues raised and some solutions to enhance the role and effectiveness of online newspapers in social criticism and guiding public opinion.
Chapter 1
RESEARCH OVERVIEW
The thesis examines the literature from two perspectives: studies conducted abroad and studies conducted in Vietnam. Studies conducted abroad are approached from three aspects:
1/ Studies on the role of online newspapers;
2. Studies on the social critique role of journalism;
3. Studies on the role of the press in guiding public opinion.
Studies in Vietnam are approached from two perspectives:
1/ Studies on the social critique role of journalism. This aspect is divided into: Fundamental theoretical studies on social critique and studies on the social critique role of journalism.
2. Studies on the role of the press in guiding public opinion.
Based on the literature review, the thesis offers the following observations and assessments:
1.1. Research on social critique is currently attracting participation from many fields: philosophy, political science, sociology, journalism, media, etc. In Vietnam, social critique, in essence, addresses the urgent needs of the country's development. That is, the urgency of social critique lies in its application to specific fields, not in general theoretical research. However, social critique is a broad issue requiring multidisciplinary research. This dual nature of social critique has led researchers to face two difficulties: The first difficulty is that if approached from separate perspectives, it will seem that every field can address social critique as a role within its own field, but ultimately, any individual approach will lack comprehensiveness and be unconvincing. The second difficulty is that an interdisciplinary approach requires both a broad and specific perspective on each research field in order to solve the problem. From a journalistic and media perspective, previous studies have often approached the issue from a holistic viewpoint rather than a specific one. Some specific approaches have typically been based on research from another field, rather than direct studies of journalism and media.
1.2. Theoretically, social critique emerged very early in the world and was a subject of philosophy, political science, and sociology before becoming a concept in the role of modern journalism and media. Studies worldwide on social critique in the modern and contemporary periods have focused on the theoretical aspects of social criticism, as dictated by the characteristics of socio-historical contexts (pre-Enlightenment researchers, Enlightenment critics, authors of the Frankish school, etc.).
1.3. Studies on the role of journalism in social life in general, both globally and in Vietnam, still mainly focus on "traditional" aspects as known until now, such as its ideological role and its role in fields like economics, culture, and education. The most recent published materials we have, when discussing the role of social critique, often refer to it through the function of shaping public opinion or the social oversight function of journalism (Duong Xuan Son, Dinh Van Huong, Tran Quang, Nguyen Van Dung, etc.).
1.4. When discussing the role of the media in social critique, studies worldwide and in Vietnam still mainly focus on the relationship between the role of the media in shaping and guiding public opinion, rather than directly addressing the role of social critique. This means that these studies have touched upon the essence of social critique by the media but have not yet defined it as a concept (as seen in the studies by Tran Huu Quang, Nguyen Quy Thanh, Mai Quynh Nam, etc.).
1.5. Several doctoral dissertations have conducted in-depth research on social critique in journalism, but fall into two categories: The first case involves studying social critique in journalism through an approach from a field outside of journalism (such as Do Van Quan's approach from a sociological perspective, Nguyen Van Minh's approach from a political science perspective...). The second case involves studying social critique in journalism through a journalistic perspective, but this research falls into the category of general rather than specific studies. Furthermore, this general research examines a cross-sectional view of the issue or event, leading to subjective and unsystematic conclusions (as in the case of Tran Xuan Than).
In summary: Research on social criticism, particularly in journalism, is not a new area of study. However, no studies have directly addressed the approach to social criticism as a role of the media, considering it in relation to its inherent role in guiding public opinion.
Chapter 2
THEORETICAL AND PRACTICAL FOUNDATIONS OF SOCIAL CRITICISM AND GUIDANCE ON PUBLIC OPINION FROM ONLINE NEWSPAPERS
2.1 Basic Concepts of the Research Problem
2.1.1. Critique
Through analyzing various definitions of critical thinking by different authors, this thesis tentatively understands critical thinking from the following aspects:
- Critical thinking is the expression of the inner meaning of the act of criticism, appearing in all areas of life.
- Criticism is not necessarily refutation. Criticism is an objective, reasoned, and scientifically evidenced evaluation and commentary on a problem or phenomenon in life. Therefore, criticism encompasses both praise and criticism.
- Critical analysis emerges after thorough, in-depth, and serious investigation and research into the subject being analyzed. Therefore, when we speak of critical analysis, we are referring to objective and scientific observations and evaluations. Critical analysis based on the subjective motives of the critic is no longer consistent with the spirit of the term.
- Genuine criticism, regardless of its form, should aim to be constructive, not to criticize or reject.
2.1.2. Social Criticism
Social criticism is approached by the thesis from the following aspects:
- Social critique involves using arguments, assessments, and opinions with a critical spirit to address major issues that directly affect a large segment of the population.
- Social critique, in its formal sense, is a large-scale dialogue between social groups (which could include the government and the people...) to reconcile interests and conflicts in practice.
- Social critique is formed and developed on the basis of pluralistic opinions on an issue or phenomenon in society that is closely related to human life. Therefore, even if the result of social critique is consensus, many different, even contradictory, opinions always emerge during the discussion process.
- Social critique is used to address pressing issues arising in society. Therefore, the ultimate goal of social critique is to critique public policy.
2.1.3. Public opinion
The concept of public opinion in English is "Public Opinion," first used by J. Solsbery in the 12th century. However, the first person to use this concept in its modern sense was Jean-Jacques Rousseau. In Vietnamese, the term "public opinion" is referred to by various names such as public opinion, public discourse, public opinion, mass opinion, public opinion, etc.
Based on the analysis and citations of the views of many researchers, we agree with the views of Mai Quynh Nam and Pham Chien Khu that public opinion is an expression of social consciousness, the essence of which is manifested in the practical activities of human beings. Public opinion is formed after a process of exchange and discussion within society.
In this thesis, the concept of public opinion is also viewed as the result of social discussion within a specific spatial context – the space of online newspapers. Because it takes place within a specific space (detailed in section 2.4 of this chapter), public opinion resulting from social discussion on online newspapers also possesses certain distinctive characteristics.
2.1.4. Guiding public opinion
Many of the documents we consulted mention the role of the press in shaping public opinion. Some documents even consider shaping public opinion as a function of the press itself.
The term "orientation" is both more rigid and imposing than the term "guidance." Furthermore, the term "guidance" is used in state-mandated legal documents. Therefore, in this thesis, we agree to use the term "guidance of public opinion."
2.1.5. Online newspapers
There are many different concepts of "electronic journalism." In English, this type of journalism is called "electronic media/journalism" or "e-journalism." To emphasize the online nature of this type of journalism, the terms "online journalism" or "online newspaper" are also used.
Online journalism is the term used for a type of journalism that utilizes the internet to disseminate information through a website.
The characteristics of online newspapers are discussed by many authors from four main perspectives: 1/ Multimedia capabilities; 2/ Immediateness and non-periodicity; 3/ Interactivity; and 4/ Ability to store and search information. [Nguyen Thi Truong Giang, 2011, pp. 103-146]
Within the framework of this thesis, we are interested in the third characteristic of this type of journalism, which is online interactivity. This can be considered a strength of online journalism in creating an environment for shaping public opinion through journalism.
2.2. The relationship between social critique and public opinion guidance by online newspapers
The inseparable, dialectical relationship between the role of social critique and the guidance of public opinion by the press can be examined more deeply from several aspects: the sustainability of social norms; social critique as a rational basis for public opinion; public opinion gathers and disseminates social norms to create new influencing trends; and public opinion directly reflects the effectiveness of social critique.
2.3. Content and methods of social critique and public opinion guidance by online newspapers.
2.3.1. Content of social criticism and guidance of public opinion
Our thesis approaches the social critique and public opinion shaping content of online newspapers from the following perspectives:
The firstOnline newspapers critique drafts, policies, guidelines, and laws of state agencies and organizations within the political system.
Monday,Online newspapers, in the process of disseminating information, also provide a scientific and practical basis for public projects, decisions, and policies.
Tuesday,Online newspapers participate in combating negativity, bureaucracy, and corruption…
2.3.2.Methods of social critique and guiding public opinion.
From the perspective of this thesis, online newspapers utilize the following specific methods of social critique and public opinion guidance:
Firstly, online newspapers provide timely and multifaceted information and data based on social norms, fulfilling their role in social critique and guiding public opinion.
Secondly, online newspapers provide multimedia information and data in the process of fulfilling their role of social critique and guiding public opinion.
Thirdly, online newspapers organize live discussions on issues raised during social critique and guide public opinion.
2.4. Criteria for evaluating the effectiveness of social critique and public opinion guidance by online newspapers.
Based on the arguments and analyses of criteria for evaluating the effectiveness of information and social commentary by various authors, we propose the following set of criteria for evaluating the effectiveness of social commentary and public opinion guidance in online newspapers:
Level 1: Acceptance Levelof the public.
Level 2: Level of public discussion and feedback
Level 3: Actual Effectivenessthe extent of impact on policy and actual changes to the issue)
2.5. The Vietnamese Party and State's perspective on the role of the press in social critique and guiding public opinion.
Through the analysis of numerous ideological documents and directives of the Communist Party of Vietnam and legal documents of the Vietnamese State, this thesis summarizes three basic viewpoints of the Party and State of Vietnam on the role of the press in social critique and guiding public opinion: 1/ The press must contribute to strengthening criticism and self-criticism throughout society; 2/ The press must create a broad forum for people to discuss and contribute opinions; 3/ The press must actively critique society and guide public opinion.
2.6. Social critique and public opinion guidance from the perspective of Public Space theory, Agenda setting, and Two-Step flow.
This thesis introduces the content of three commonly used communication theories, and analyzes the approach and process of applying the content of these theories to the thesis.
Chapter 3
THE ROLE OF TUOI TRE AND VNEXPRESS ONLINE NEWSPAPERS IN SOCIAL CRITICISM AND GUIDING PUBLIC OPINION
3.1. Content of social criticism and guidance of public opinion
This thesis surveys 1,745 news articles on Vnexpress and 1,268 articles on Tuoi Tre related to 92 events and incidents that received social commentary in the two newspapers from 2010 to 2016. The author classifies the content of social commentary and guides public opinion according to the three criteria mentioned in Chapter 2 of the thesis. The criteria are coded as follows:
ND1: Content 1, critically reviewing drafts, policies, guidelines, and laws of state agencies.
ND2: Content 2, Providing a scientific and practical basis for public projects, decisions, and policies.
ND3: Content 3, Participating in combating negativity, bureaucracy, corruption…
The results are as follows:
|
Content |
Vnexpress |
Youth |
||||||
|
Event |
Article |
Event |
Article |
|||||
|
Quantity |
Percentage (%) |
Quantity |
Percentage (%) |
Quantity |
Percentage (%) |
Quantity |
Percentage (%) |
|
|
ND1 |
39 |
42.4 |
528 |
30.2 |
31 |
33.6 |
420 |
33.1 |
|
ND2 |
31 |
33.3 |
1,025 |
58.7 |
33 |
35.9 |
535 |
42.2 |
|
ND3 |
22 |
24.2 |
192 |
11 |
28 |
30.5 |
313 |
24.7 |
Board3.1: Results of a survey on social commentary and public opinion guidance on the online newspapers Vnexpress and Tuoi Tre from 2010 to 2016.
Based on the survey results, several issues can be identified as follows:
The first,The general trend of the two newspapers is to focus on critiquing drafts, policies, guidelines, and laws of state agencies and providing a scientific and practical basis for projects, decisions, and public policies (contents 1 and 2). Content 3 (participating in combating negativity, bureaucracy, and corruption) has a lower number of articles and a lower proportion.
Monday,In the section "providing a scientific and practical basis for public projects, decisions, and policies," both newspapers have fewer events but a higher number of articles compared to the first section (critiques of drafts, guidelines, policies, and laws of state agencies).
Tuesday,Tuoi Tre newspaper has both a higher number and proportion of articles combating negativity, bureaucracy, and corruption compared to Vnexpress, even though Vnexpress has a higher total number of articles on this topic. This reflects the characteristics of the two newspapers surveyed in this thesis.
3.1.1.PTo critically examine drafts, policies, guidelines, and laws of state agencies and organizations within the political system..
Social critique on these issues typically focuses on the policy-making stage. The press participates in social critique so that policies are considered and examined from various perspectives, helping government agencies make sound decisions that align with the practical interests of society.
However, there are also cases where the press participates in social critique and guides public opinion during each stage of policy implementation because of discrepancies between the initial policy and the actual situation. In these situations, the press simultaneously performs both the function of monitoring and social critique to promptly adjust policy decisions, while also guiding public opinion to ensure the public has a clear and comprehensive understanding of the policies and guidelines.
The series of articles on "vehicle ownership registration" and "urban traffic flow management" published on Vnexpress and many other Vietnamese online newspapers has generated significant social critique and directly contributed to the adjustment of policies by the Ministry of Transport and the Ministry of Public Security.
First,Both series of articles generated a lively discussion forum, attracting participation from many different segments of society.
Monday,Both series demonstrate professionalism in the process of informing about the issue under discussion. They combine genres that leverage the strengths of information and critical analysis, such as news, reports, and interviews.
TuesdayBoth series create a broad forum for discussion, but there are fundamental differences between them.
WednesdayFrom the methods of social critique and public opinion guidance described above, the emphasis on elements within the critique process in the two series of articles also reveals significant differences.
3.1.2.DProviding a scientific and practical basis for public projects, decisions, and policies.
The best scientific basis is to seek the opinions of highly qualified professionals. The best practical basis is to listen to the opinions of those directly involved, most importantly those who are directly affected by those projects, decisions, and policies. Therefore, a public project, decision, or policy, when subjected to social critique on online news sites, is usually a collection of three basic lines of information: information from the editorial office, information from experts, and information from public opinion.
Within the framework of this thesis, we conduct an in-depth analysis of two events reported in Tuoi Tre and Vnexpress newspapers. These are the Hanoi-Ho Chi Minh City high-speed railway project in 2010 and the tree replacement project in Hanoi in 2015.
3.1.3.TParticipating in the fight against negativity, bureaucracy, and corruption…
This is a form of social critique and public opinion guidance in which the two online newspapers, Tuoi Tre and Vnexpress, have clearly demonstrated their role through the events and issues they have addressed, critiqued, and followed up on. Tuoi Tre is highly regarded as a reputable newspaper in combating negativity and corruption. Vnexpress is also a quick-witted and multi-faceted publication in this area.
It can be asserted that the process of social critique and public opinion guidance regarding the tree replacement event in Hanoi has been greatly (if not primarily) contributed to by the press and social media.
The characteristics of social critique and public opinion guidance in journalism, as exemplified by the tree replacement case, are manifested in two main aspects. Firstly, the series of articles across two newspapers demonstrated the professional argumentation and persuasion skills of journalism by closely combining logical and emotional information to carry out social critique and guide public opinion. This process created a synergistic strength of social critique and public opinion guidance in the way the issue was presented.
Secondly, by creating a broad, multifaceted forum among various segments of the public, the two newspapers have generated synergy in addressing the issue in the process of social critique.
3.2. Methods of social critique and guiding public opinion
The study surveyed 1,745 news articles on Vnexpress and 1,268 articles on Tuoi Tre related to 92 events and incidents reported in the two newspapers from 2010 to 2016. The author of the thesis classified methods of social critique and public opinion guidance according to the three criteria mentioned in Chapter 2 of the thesis. The criteria are coded as follows:
PT1: Providing timely and multi-faceted information and data.
PT2: Providing multimedia information and data
PT3: Organize direct discussions on the issues raised.
The results are shown in the following table:
|
Method |
Vnexpress |
Youth |
||
|
|
Quantity |
Percentage (%) |
Quantity |
Percentage (%) |
|
PT1 |
1745 |
100 |
1268 |
100 |
|
PT2 |
529 |
30.3 |
233 |
18.4 |
|
PT3 |
1588 |
91 |
519 |
40.9 |
Table 3.4: Results of the survey on methods of social critique and public opinion guidance on the online newspapers Tuoi Tre and Vnexpress from 2010 – 2016.
Firstly, the survey results on methods of social critique and public opinion guidance are based on the methods used by the two online newspapers, Tuoi Tre and Vnexpress, in their articles. Each article may incorporate some or all three categorized methods; therefore, the overall result of the table above is usually greater than 100%, unlike the previously compiled survey on social critique and public opinion guidance, even though the number of articles and events surveyed is the same.
Secondly, both newspapers provide well-reasoned, timely, and multifaceted information and data in each published article.
Thirdly, both newspapers attempt to connect and interact with the public through various methods and organize live discussions on the surveyed issues; however, the rate of live discussions organized by Tuoi Tre newspaper is lower than that of Vnexpress.
Fourth, the works in the two newspapers attempted to utilize multimedia elements in information transmission; however, this application was not diverse or thorough, failing to maximize the power of multimedia elements in conveying information, engaging in social commentary, and guiding public opinion. Information was primarily conveyed through written text and still images.
3.2.1. Providing timely, multi-faceted information, reasoning, and data based on social norms.
This thesis examines two sections, "Current Affairs - Reflections" of Tuoi Tre newspaper and "Perspectives" of Vnexpress, to demonstrate their role in providing timely, multi-faceted, and reasoned information and data based on social norms. The analysis is approached from the following aspects:
3.2.2.1. From a personal perspective to social norms
3.2.2.2. From one event to another.
3.2.2.3. Clear critical thinking
3.2.2. Providing multimedia information and data
In newspapers like Vnexpress and Tuoi Tre, the use of multimedia elements in conveying information is also employed in many articles.
The author of this thesis conducted a survey on the integration of multimedia elements into works published in two online newspapers, Tuoi Tre and Vnexpress, through a series of articles about the 2016 marine environmental incident in Central Vietnam. The integration was carried out using the criteria presented in the theoretical framework, with nine application types. The specific results are shown in the following table:
|
Content |
Youth |
|
|
Document |
|
|
|
Text + Image |
|
|
|
Text + Video |
|
|
|
Text + Audio |
|
|
|
Text + Infographic |
|
|
|
Text + Photos + Videos |
|
|
|
Text + Images + Infographics |
|
|
|
Text + Photos + Videos + Infographics |
|
|
|
Other interactions |
|
|
Table 3.5: Survey of the integration of multimedia elements in artworks during marine environmental incident events.
Firstly, on both online newspapers Vnexpress and Tuoi Tre, the use of channels beyond written text has been emphasized. However, the richness in the use of multimedia elements is still not high.
Secondly, the use of audio elements is more common on Tuoi Tre online than on Vnexpress.
Thirdly, Vnexpress utilizes multimedia elements better and at a higher rate than Tuoi Tre. This can be understood from Tuoi Tre's limitation as an online version of a print newspaper, as analyzed in other sections of this thesis. Vnexpress, on the other hand, is purely an online newspaper.
In particular, on Vnexpress, the proportion of video works produced by reporters accounts for a significant percentage (45 videos compared to 4 on Tuoi Tre online).
Thus, it can be seen that the use of multimedia elements on the two online newspapers, Vnexpress and Tuoi Tre online, has been initially integrated. However, the use of multimedia elements is still quite limited, especially on Tuoi Tre. Vnexpress has shown the strength of online journalism in conducting social critique and guiding public opinion by conveying information in a visually multimedia way. Although, the strength of multimedia has not been fully exploited to its fullest potential on this online newspaper.
3.2.3. Organizing live discussions on the newspaper interface.
Based on a survey of the "Current Affairs - Thoughts" section of Tuoi Tre online newspaper and the "Perspectives" section of Vnexpress, the author of this thesis found that these two online newspapers have created a rich discussion space with participation from many different social groups.
In particular, during discussions about the editorial content initially set by the editorial board, participants created second public spaces. These were discussions that went deeper, even further, than the original content set by the editorial board. These discussions were highly significant, affirming that the ideals set forth by Habermas in his theory still resonate in the era of internet development. Furthermore, this second public space enhanced the value of democratic participation in discussions among the internet public in general and online newspapers in particular.
For ease of analysis and comparison of the level of discussion based on the dominant article content, we divided the articles into four groups for the survey: Politics – Society, Culture – Sports, Economics, and Science – Education.
The survey results are as follows:
|
TT |
Topic |
Total number of responses |
Level 1 Feedback |
Level 2 Feedback |
|||
|
GN |
PhDSN |
GN |
TSSN |
GN |
TSSN |
||
|
1 |
Politics and society |
4121 |
1381 |
3045 |
1038 |
1076 |
343 |
|
2 |
Culture - Sports |
8775 |
1693 |
6666 |
1270 |
2109 |
423 |
|
3 |
Economy |
1984 |
279 |
1537 |
175 |
447 |
104 |
|
4 |
Science and Education |
7668 |
1967 |
5227 |
1295 |
2441 |
672 |
|
Total |
22,548 |
5,320 |
16,475 |
3,778 |
6,073 |
1,542 |
|
Based on the survey data above, the following general observations can be made:
Firstly, the public is less interested in economic issues than in other issues.
Secondly, primary space remains dominant.
Thirdly, the discussion rate on the secondary space of Perspectives is consistent and higher than that of Current Affairs - Thoughts.
Fourth, the distribution of discussion in the Current Affairs - Thoughts section is broader than in the Perspectives section.
3.3. The effectiveness of social criticism and guiding public opinion.
Following the framework for evaluating the effectiveness of social critique and public opinion guidance proposed in Chapter 2 of this thesis, the author conducted a survey and evaluation based on the established framework. The results are as follows:
3.3.1. Level of Acceptance
To achieve a level 1 rating for critical effectiveness, we used Google Trends to collect quantitative data on global search volume from 2010 to 2016 for the newspapers Tuoi Tre and Vnexpress.
From the results of comparing Google Trends search trends of the two surveyed newspapers, three characteristics can be seen:
Firstly, the two newspapers surveyed in the period 2010 – 2016 did not have any points with a rate of zero (0), thus proving that the two newspapers were searched on a certain amount, enough for Google Trends to be able to statistically analyze globally. This quantitative information can qualify to conclude on the level of public reception of the critical message in the two survey items.
Secondly, looking at the fluctuations from 2010 to 2016, it can be seen that from 2010 to August 2012, the volume of news searches on the Tuoi Tre website significantly surpassed that of Vnexpress. However, from August 2012 onwards, Vnexpress overtook Tuoi Tre and consistently exceeded its search volume until the end of 2016. This could be an important indicator illustrating the development of online newspapers and the decline of print newspapers globally.
3.3.2. Level of public discussion and feedback
This thesis surveys public feedback on two sections: "Current Affairs - Thoughts" in Tuoi Tre newspaper and "Perspectives" in Vnexpress. Based on these survey results, we further divide the survey into two time periods: 2013-2014 and 2015-2016, to observe changes in public discussion patterns across these sections. This change is partly influenced by the editorial direction of the newsrooms. These results further confirm the role of Vnexpress and Tuoi Tre online in encouraging public participation in public discussions.
Ksurvey resultsfeedbackbetween the two stages2013 - 2014and 2015 - 2016 in the Current Affairs - Reflections section
|
Comment type |
Quantity |
2013 - 2014 |
2015 - 2016 |
||
|
Percentage (%) |
Quantity |
Percentage (%) |
|
||
|
1 |
Live discussion |
53 |
11.04 |
1000 |
12.67 |
|
1.1 |
Expressing a contrasting opinion to the article. |
33 |
6.88 |
46 |
0.58 |
|
1.2 |
Offer a different perspective on the issue. |
20 |
4.17 |
954
|
12.08 |
|
2 |
Add a point of view |
111 |
23.13 |
2381 |
30,16 |
|
2.1 |
Recount your personal experience. |
45 |
9.38 |
1257 |
15.92 |
|
2.2 |
Expanding to another issue |
66 |
13.75 |
1124 |
14.24 |
|
3 |
Providing data and predictions. |
18 |
3.75 |
121 |
1.53 |
|
3.1 |
Presenting data based on personal experience. |
13 |
2.71 |
97 |
1.23 |
|
3.2 |
Provide figures based on calculations. |
5 |
1.04 |
24 |
0.3 |
|
4 |
Appeals and petitions |
167 |
34.79 |
2671 |
33.83 |
|
4.1 |
Calls for boycott or support |
30 |
6.25 |
427 |
5.41 |
|
4.2 |
The petition calls for the involvement of relevant authorities. |
55 |
11.46 |
718 |
9.09 |
|
4.3 |
Expressing strong, assertive, or conciliatory attitudes to show agreement or disagreement with the event being discussed. |
82 |
17.08 |
1526 |
19.33 |
|
5 |
Other |
131 |
27,29 |
1722 |
21.81 |
|
5.1 |
The response was too short, simply expressing emotion. |
76 |
15.83 |
725 |
9.18 |
|
5.2 |
Responding to foul language and profanity. |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
5.3 |
The response was vague and irrelevant to the article's content. |
55 |
11.46 |
997 |
12.63 |
Ksurvey resultsfeedbackbetween the two stages2013 - 2014and 2015 - 2016 on the sectionPerspective
|
Symbol |
Comment type |
2013 - 2014 |
2015 - 2016 |
||||
|
Quantity |
Percentage (%) |
Quantity |
Percentage (%) |
|
|||
|
1 |
Live discussion |
1169 |
14.32 |
5180 |
13.50 |
|
|
|
1.1 |
Expressing a contrasting opinion to the article. |
647 |
7.93 |
1887 |
4.92 |
|
|
|
1.2 |
Offer a different perspective on the issue. |
522 |
6.39 |
3290 |
8.58 |
|
|
|
2 |
Add a point of view |
3962 |
48.56 |
18285 |
47.68 |
|
|
|
2.1 |
Recount your personal experience. |
1325 |
16.24 |
5963 |
15.55 |
|
|
|
2.2 |
Expanding to another issue |
2637 |
32.32 |
12322 |
32.13 |
|
|
|
3 |
Providing data and predictions. |
420 |
5.14 |
1502 |
3.91 |
|
|
|
3.1 |
Presenting data based on personal experience. |
222 |
2.72 |
1236 |
3.22 |
|
|
|
3.2 |
Provide figures based on calculations. |
198 |
2.42 |
266 |
0.69 |
|
|
|
4 |
Appeals and petitions |
1016 |
12.45 |
5323 |
13.88 |
|
|
|
4.1 |
Calling for a boycott or support for a business/product |
235 |
2.88 |
1407 |
3.67 |
|
|
|
4.2 |
The petition calls for the involvement of relevant authorities. |
355 |
4.35 |
1653 |
4.31 |
|
|
|
4.3 |
Expressing strong, assertive, or conciliatory attitudes to show agreement or disagreement with the event being discussed. |
426 |
5.22 |
2263 |
5.9 |
|
|
|
5 |
Other |
1591 |
19.50 |
8055 |
21.00 |
|
|
|
5.1 |
The response was too short, simply expressing emotion. |
1207 |
14.8 |
5679 |
14.81 |
|
|
|
5.2 |
Responding to foul language and profanity. |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
|
5.3 |
The response was vague and irrelevant to the article's content. |
384 |
4.70 |
2376 |
6.19 |
|
|
Based on the survey results in the table above, several observations can be made regarding the dynamics of discussion in the "Current Affairs - Thoughts" section of Tuoi Tre online newspaper:
Firstly, the number of comments on the Current Affairs - Thoughts section increased significantly in two periods. From only 480 comments in 2013-2014, it increased to 7,895 comments in 2015-2016. Thus, between the two periods, the number of comments increased 16.5 times. This result reflects two issues:
Firstly, there is an increased demand for discussion on the Tuoi Tre newspaper's platform, specifically in the "Current Affairs - Public Opinion" section.
Secondly, improvements and investments in infrastructure and human resources for the Tuoi Tre online newspaper are increasing, following the general trend of the rest of the world today.
Secondly, the trend of readers discussing and presenting their opinions and viewpoints increased significantly between the two periods.
Third, the public tends to respond more positively and is more conscious in expressing their opinions.
The survey results in the "Perspectives" section, covering the periods 2013-2014 and 2015-2016, reveal the following characteristics:
Firstly, similar to the News - Thoughts section, the number of comments on the Perspectives section has also increased significantly. Specifically, if there were 8,158 comments in the 2013-2014 period, this increased to 38,345 comments in the 2015-2016 period (4.7 times more). This reflects a significant increase in public interest in the Perspectives section – a new section created at the end of 2013. It also shows that Vnexpress's audience remains a worthy number, befitting its position as Vietnam's leading online newspaper for many years.
Secondly, overall, the public tends to reduce discussion by offering opinions directly and adding their own perspectives.
Third, the public tends to favor more practical recommendations and predictive data.
Fourth, the number of short, purely emotional comments unrelated to the post continues to increase.
The survey results across the two sections show a significant difference in response rates for content within the same section, as well as between the two sections of the two newspapers. These figures highlight several key characteristics:
Firstly, in terms of the number of comments, the "Perspectives" section of Vnexpress receives significantly more comments than the "Current Affairs - Thoughts" section on Tuoi Tre online (almost 8 times more).
Thirdly, the type of feedback with the lowest percentage in both categories is type 3 (providing data, predictions), with 3.75% in Current Affairs - Reflections and 5.06% in Perspectives, respectively. Within this type, in Current Affairs - Reflections, group 1 (providing data based on personal experience) accounts for an overwhelming proportion (2.71%), while in Perspectives, the two feedback groups have relatively equal percentages (2.63% and 2.43%).
Fourth, the response rates between the groups in the two categories differed quite significantly.
3.3.3. Practical effectiveness
The author of this thesis conducted a survey of issues raised for social critique in Vnexpress and Tuoi Tre online newspapers from 2013 to 2016 and divided these events into three categories to assess the practical effectiveness of social critique: 1/ Issues that were only debated and discussed in mass media but not resolved in practice. 2/ Issues that were debated were only partially resolved in practice and not thoroughly. 3/ Issues that were debated were completely resolved in practice (for example, the National Assembly completely rejecting the North-South high-speed railway project, canceling the Long Bien bridge renovation project, and individuals involved in the tree felling incident in Hanoi being disciplined...).
The results are as follows:
From 2013 to 2016, a survey of 1,095 articles in Tuoi Tre newspaper and 745 articles in Vnexpress newspaper revealed the following percentages of events mentioned and the actual results after peer review:
|
Content |
Quantity |
Percentage (%) |
||
|
Youth |
Vnexpress |
Youth |
Vnexpress |
|
|
Discussion only. |
722 |
528 |
66 |
71 |
|
Discussed and partially resolved in practice. |
284 |
179 |
26 |
24 |
|
Completely resolved in practice. |
89 |
38 |
8 |
5 |
Board3.7: Statistics on the actual effectiveness of issues debated in Tuoi Tre and Vnexpress newspapers from 2013 to 2016.
Looking at the survey results, we can see the following characteristics:
Firstly, the rate of issues being completely resolved after the review process is still low in practice.
Secondly, most of the issues that were debated in the press from 2013 to 2016 were primarily discussed in newspapers and through social media.
Thirdly, many problems, even when addressed in practice, are only partially solved.
Chapter 4
SOME ISSUES RAISED AND SOLUTIONS TO ENHANCE THE ROLE OF SOCIAL CRITICISM AND GUIDING PUBLIC OPINION BY ONLINE NEWSPAPERS
4.1 Assessing the role of social critique and public opinion guidance on the two online newspapers Tuoi Tre and Vnexpress
4.1.1. Advantages
Based on research findings regarding the content, form, and effectiveness of social critique and public opinion guidance by the online newspapers Tuoi Tre and Vnexpress, it can be seen that both newspapers exhibit several advantages as follows:
The firstThese works have successfully conveyed messages with high social critique value. This value is demonstrated primarily in the informational value that these works provide to the public.
Monday,The most outstanding advantage of the online newspapers Tuoi Tre and Vnexpress in this thesis research is that they have created a vibrant, rich, and multi-faceted discussion forum and have initially demonstrated some aspects of the "Public Space" theory and the "Two-Step Flow" theory.
Tuesday,The two online newspapers have initially utilized the advantages of online journalism in the process of social critique and guiding public opinion. These advantages are demonstrated in two aspects:
Firstly, leveraging the advantage of direct interaction through the newspaper interface, online newspapers in general, and the two survey websites in particular, have created vibrant and diverse discussion forums, contributing to expanding the scope and amount of information in the process of social critique and guiding public opinion.
Secondly, leveraging their multimedia advantages, the two newspapers have initially integrated visual elements such as video, graphics, and photojournalism, as well as audio elements, into their information presentation alongside traditional written text.
Wednesday,The two newspapers have established a mutually reinforcing relationship between the value of social critique and the value of guiding public opinion. Social critique creates a rational and scientific foundation for the formation and guidance of public opinion. Conversely, public opinion formed from the value of social critique has a direct impact on the process of changing public perception as well as changing public policies. In this aspect, social critique and guiding public opinion are two sides of the role of online newspapers.
4.1.2. Disadvantages
Besides their advantages, the two online newspapers Vnexpress and Tuoi Tre also reveal some limitations as follows:
The first,Although initial results have been achieved in creating social critique and guiding public opinion at all three levels—message reception, public feedback and discussion, and practical effectiveness—the effectiveness at all three levels is not yet comprehensive.
Monday,The limitations of the agenda-setting process in certain genres of works also need to be considered.
Tuesday,The multimedia potential has not been fully utilized.
Wednesday,The public discussion space remains subject to many influencing factors. The two most prominent issues we have noted are:
Firstly, due to being controlled by the editorial team's discussion filtering, public comments cannot appear immediately on the forum. Secondly, all public comments on the electronic gazette space are not published, even if they do not violate the editorial requirements.
Rankyear,The influence of opinion leaders in online discussions is not as pronounced as on social media.
4.2. Issues arising from the research results
4.2.1. Issues Arising from the Social Criticism Content of Journalism
We believe that sections like "Perspectives" or "Current Events - Reflections" should focus more on policy issues and social oversight, rather than engaging in social critique on every major and minor issue in life. Obviously, reporting and commenting on all issues is the job of journalism. But social critique, as a contribution to policy change and as a result of social oversight, requires a broader, more comprehensive perspective and a more critical, socially engaged approach.
4.2.2. Issues arising from the discussion environment on online newspapers
For effective public discussion, one crucial element is the creation of a conducive public environment. The online discussion environment, as previously analyzed, offers many advantages but also reveals numerous disadvantages. Online newspapers, as a unique public space, also present many issues that affect the discussion process. The three most important issues are: 1/ The interference of the editorial board in public discussion, 2/ The legitimacy of the discussion content, and 3/ The drawbacks stemming from the unique nature of the online public space.
4.2.3. Issues arising from public opinion
Through the analysis of public opinion regarding the two online newspapers in this thesis, several issues can be identified as follows:
The firstPublic opinion on online newspapers is currently at the third stage (the stage of collective debate on issues) in the stages of public opinion analyzed in the theoretical section. The fourth stage of public opinion has not yet been clearly demonstrated (the stage of forming opinions, attitudes, and judgments that can lead to collective behavior; in other words, the stage of transitioning from public opinion to practical action).
MondayThe influence of the feedback "filtering" process, especially the filtering of duplicate content, has greatly affected the intensity attribute of public opinion.
4.3 Solutions to promote social critique and guide public opinion on online newspapers
4.3.1. General Solutions
43.1.1. Solutions concerning the awareness of social groups regarding social criticism and public opinion.
43.1.2. Group of solutions regarding policy and legal mechanisms for social criticism and public opinion.
4.31.3. Group of solutions regarding the content of social criticism and public opinion.
4.31.4. Solutions involving relevant agenciespress and journalist training institutions
Firstly, regarding the editorial board's principles, objectives, and information direction..
Monday, Regarding the editorial team's social commentary content..
Thirdly, regarding the critical thinking skills of the staff in the online newspaper editorial office.
Fourth, regarding the perspective on public opinion expressed in online newspapers..
4.3.2. Specific solutions for the two survey newspaper pages
43.2.1. Enhancing different approaches to the same problem
4.32.2. Strengthening the linkages between the sections
4.32.3. A more accurate assessment of the role of feedback.
4.32.4. Diversifying feedback channels
CONCLUDE
1. From the research results, it can be seen that the role of online newspapers in social critique and guiding public opinion possesses both the general characteristics of journalism and unique features specific to this type of media. With the advantages of the online format, the role of creating and monitoring public discussion, according to the thesis author, is the most important and crucial role of online newspapers in social critique and guiding public opinion. In this role, creating "two-step flows" or "multi-step flows" in the communication process is characteristic of online newspapers in the developing internet environment. In addition, the editorial role of "setting the agenda" is also clearly demonstrated in the process of establishing the message, selecting information, and structuring the message of the work. Leveraging the advantages of this format, online newspapers also need to strengthen the integration of multimedia in message design and information delivery.
2. The thesis results also fundamentally verify the hypotheses presented in the introduction. Specifically, as follows:
Through monitoring public discussion and setting the agenda of social critique messages, online newspapers have contributed to guiding public opinion in the process of social critique on issues in life. Thus, the social critique role of online newspapers in particular and journalism in general is to influence public opinion so that public opinion creates pressure and impacts practical processes. It can be said that hypothesis 1 of the thesis:"The press influences real-life situations by shaping public opinion. These impacts contribute to public opinion directly influencing social life.contributechanging practices”It has been confirmed.
The thesis also analyzed and evaluated the roles of journalism as a "professional voice" in the process of social critique through characteristics such as "from personal perspective to social norms," "from events to events," and "clear critical nature." The thesis also analyzed and evaluated the characteristics and features of online news messages in articles, such as "leading message," "highly rational message," etc. Thus, hypothesis 3 of the thesis is supported."Newspapers and journalists play a role in setting the agenda in the process of organizing messages to influence and guide public opinion."This has also been confirmed.
The thesis also identified, analyzed, and evaluated the characteristics of the public space in online newspapers. In particular, the thesis emphasized the unique characteristics of the public space in Vietnamese online newspapers, which are governed by the virtual nature of the internet and the cultural and social characteristics of Vietnam. The five characteristics of the public space in Vietnamese online newspapers, identified and analyzed in Chapter 3 of the thesis, also confirm Hypothesis 4 of the thesis:"Public opinion on Vietnam's electronic news platform has distinct characteristics in the process of participating in social critique.These characteristics are governed by the virtual nature of the internet space and the unique cultural and social features of the Vietnamese context.”.
3. Unresolved issues in the thesis:
Rankbest,The dissertation has not quantified the specific impacts of the editorial office through its works on public opinion, nor has it quantified the process of the editorial office setting the agenda within those works. This is a complex requirement and difficult to address using the dissertation's approach. The author hopes to present these results in another research paper.
Secondly, the research subjects of this thesis are two major online newspapers, conducted continuously over a period of 7 years. Despite attempts to select one purely online newspaper and another with a print version, and to choose numerous case studies and two very specific sections of the two newspapers for analysis, the scope remains limited, as both surveyed newspapers are powerful publications with large audiences. In reality, smaller online newspapers with smaller audiences, such as Vnexpress or Tuổi Trẻ, may not accurately reflect the frequency and extent of discussions surveyed in this thesis. Furthermore, some online newspapers currently have no discussions or their editorial offices do not publicly display public feedback. Therefore, to obtain more comprehensive results that better reflect the state of public discussion on Vietnamese online newspapers, a broader study with a larger sample size than this one is needed.
Thirdly, the thesis has not yet surveyed the process of social discussion on social media and other platforms of/along the internet, a step forward originating from the sharing of works on online newspapers. Analyzing this second discussion process, in many cases, more accurately and clearly reflects the content of public discussion on social issues. However, the scope of research, as well as the length and approach of the thesis, do not allow for this, so this direction will be reserved for a subsequent research project by the thesis author comparing the public spaces of online newspapers and social media in Vietnam.
LIST OF SCIENTIFIC WORKS BY THE AUTHOR
RELATED TO THE THESIS
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