Author's name:Dang Thi Huyen
Thesis title: "Crime journalism and the humanistic aspects of journalism"
The field of study for this dissertation: Social Sciences and Humanities
Specialized:JournalismCode:62320101
Name of training institution (following)Duniversity:University of Social Sciences and Humanities - Vietnam National University, Hanoi.
1. Purpose and scope of the thesis research:
- Based on summarizing and systematizing the theoretical issues related to the topic,Thesis researching and evaluating the current situationThis study examines crime reporting in relation to journalistic humanism, highlighting its successes and limitations, and proposing solutions to improve the quality of crime reporting, ensuring humanistic principles, in order to achieve the goal of journalism for sustainable human development.
- The subject of this dissertation is the issue of journalism reporting on crime and the humanistic aspect of journalism.
2. Research methods used
Methodology:
This dissertation is based on the epistemological foundations of Marxism-Leninism; dialectical materialism and historical materialism; Ho Chi Minh Thought; and the views of the Vietnamese Party and State on the role and function of journalism, especially in the field of communication regarding crime prevention and the protection of security, order, and social safety.
- This thesis applies several communication theories, specifically Maxwell McCombs and D. Shaw's "Agenda Setting" theory; Robert Entman's "Framing" theory; the "Use and Satisfaction" theory; and the "Mass Media Dependence" theory to clarify the issue of journalism reporting on crime and the impact of crime information in the press on the public.
Specific research methods:
- Methods of research and document analysis.This method is used to survey and analyze texts, directives, resolutions, and scientific works, books, articles, etc., in order to systematize some theoretical issues of journalism in general related to the principle of humanism in journalistic information and in information about crime. From there, a theoretical framework for the topic is built, as well as building upon previous research results, serving to compare, contrast, and clarify the research problem.
ButContent analysis methods.This method is used to analyze the content and form of crime-related messages in selected newspapers. From this, it clarifies the successes and limitations, and the reasons for these successes and limitations, of crime reporting from a humanistic perspective.
- Case study method:NCS selected a series of articles about several serious cases. To analyze the assurance of the principle of human values, and thereby clarify its impact on the public.
- Survey method using questionnaires:NCS distributed 400 questionnaires to several localities in the North, Central, and South regions of Vietnam to survey public opinion on crime reporting in general. This is a necessary channel to measure the effectiveness of crime reporting on the public.
- Focus group interview method:NCS selected six articles about four serious cases from two newspapers (among the four newspapers chosen for the survey) and conducted interviews with two groups of five people each regarding the assurance of humanistic principles in the aforementioned articles and the needs and level of public vulnerability (if any) when accessing information about crime in the press.
- In-depth interview method:This method was employed through a questionnaire administered to 13 respondents, including leaders of the Vietnam Journalists Association, lawyers, leaders of media organizations, content creation teams from newsrooms, and journalists directly involved in producing crime news, thereby clarifying necessary issues that were not addressed in the questionnaire.
ButMethods of analysis, comparison, and synthesisThis is used to analyze, evaluate, and synthesize research findings to identify successes, limitations, causes, and challenges for journalists and media organizations in ensuring the principle of humanistic values in reporting on crime.
3. Main results and conclusions
3.1. Main results
The first,This dissertation is a systematic and in-depth study of crime journalism and the humanistic aspects of crime journalism in Vietnam. Approaching the study of crime journalism in a way that ensures humanistic values is a new and significant contribution of this dissertation.
MondayThe thesis clarifies the theory of crime journalism and the humanistic aspects of journalism, thereby establishing a theoretical framework to serve as a basis for ensuring humanistic principles when writing about crime, and proposing a set of criteria for evaluating the quality and humanistic aspects of crime journalism.
Tuesday,Based on theoretical frameworks and specific survey results, the thesis has assessed the successes and limitations of crime journalism in relation to the humanistic aspects of journalism.
Wednesday,The thesis proposed solutions to help the press convey objective and truthful information to the public about issues related to crime, while ensuring the humanistic principles of journalism.
Thursday,The thesis proposed an eight-point code of conduct for reporting on crime that ensures humaneness and should be followed.
3.2. Conclusion
The research findings reveal the main themes of crime reflected in print and online media; the successes and limitations of journalism covering this topic; the difficulties and challenges faced by journalists in balancing appeal and humanistic values; and methods for implementing humanistic values in journalistic creation. Based on this, the thesis proposes several solutions and recommendations to ensure that journalism covering crime is both engaging and humanistic.
Research results of the thesisThis can provide leaders and managers in the press and media with a stronger basis for developing policies on press management and training that are appropriate for the development of modern media and journalism.
This dissertation can serve as a reference document, providing a set of criteria for editors-in-chief, news production teams, and journalists in directing, editing, and producing journalistic works that are objective, truthful, engaging, and humane, thereby strengthening public trust in today's ever-changing media environment.
Hopefully, through specific studies on humanistic values in crime journalism, this thesis will contribute to helping journalists in their creative work, leadership, and editorial work by providing them with additional theoretical and practical foundations to improve the quality of information content, increase the cultural and humanistic content in their works, strengthen public trust, and contribute to achieving and maintaining the noble goals of Vietnamese revolutionary journalism.
SUMMARY OF DOCTORAL THESIS
The author's name:Dang Thi Huyen
Thesis title:“Crime Journalism And The Humanity Of Press.”
Scientific branch of the thesis:Social Science and Humanities
Major: Journalism
Code:62320101
The name of postgraduate training institution:University of Social Sciences and Humanities - Vietnam National University.
1. Goals and research objects:
-Through categorizing and systemizing theoretical points related to the topic, this thesis researches and evaluates the reality of crime journalism in relation to with the humanity of press and based on that, the thesis points out the success and the limitations of press, and suggests solutions to increase the quality of crime journalism and to ensure the principles of humanity in order to achieve the goal of press which is human sustainable development.
-Research objects: crime journalism and the humanity of the press.
2. Research methods
Methodology:
-This thesis is based on Principles of Marxist and Leninist, Dialectical Materialism, Historical Materialism, Ho Chi Minh Ideology, the standpoint of Vietnam Communist Party and the government of Vietnam, especially in the field of media against crimes and for the protection of security and safety.
-This thesis utilizes a number of media theories, particularly D. Shaw's & Maxwell McCombs's Agenda Setting Theory, Robert Entman's Framing Theory, Bulmer's and Brown's Uses and Gratification Theory and the theory of The Dependence On Mass Media to clarify crime journalism and the effects that information on crimes on newspapers has on the public.
Research methods:
-A triumphal study:this method concentrates on surveying and analyzing documents, directives, resolutions and scientific researches, journals, books…in order to categorize a number of general theoretical issues that are relevant to the rule of humanities in press information and information about crimes. From there, the thesis aims to build a theoretical frame for its topic as well as inheriting results from previous researches and these will serve to compare, collate and clarify the research problem.
-Document analysis/content analysis:this method is used to analyze the content and how messages on crimes are presented on selected newspapers. By doing so, the research clarifies successes and limitations, and reasons for said successes and limitations of crime journalism.
Case study:the author picks out some new articles about serious criminal cases to analyze how the principle of humanities had been followed and its effected the public.
-Anket:the author sent out 400 questionnaires to a number of locations in the northern, southern and the center of Vietnam to survey the public's opinions on information about crimes on newspapers. This is a necessary channel to measure the effects that crime journalism has on the public.
-Group interview:the author chose 6 articles on 4 serious criminal cases published on 2 newspapers belong to 4 newspapers that were picked to conduct survey on, then interviewed 2 groups with 5 members in each on the issue of guaranteeing the principle of humanities in the aforementioned articles, along with the demand as well as the level of trauma of the public (if there was any) when approaching information about crimes on newspapers.
-Depth interview:the author interviewed 13 people who were leaders of Vietnam Journalists Association, lawyers, heads of newspapers, production crews of newspapers, journalists who directly produced news on crimes to answer questions that questionnaires could not solve.
-Analyzing, comparing, compiling:Used to analyze, evaluate and compile research's results to point out limitations, successes and their reasons, the challenges for journalists and journalists when it comes to following the principle of humanities.
3. Major results and conclusion
3.1 Major results:
Firstly,the thesis is a systematic and in-depth study of journalism about crime and the humanity in the journalism writing about crime in Vietnam. The approach to journalistic research and writing about crime in a relationship ensuring humanity is a meaningful new direction to contribute to the thesis.
Second, the thesis clarifies the theory of journalism about crime and the humanity of the press, thereby building a theoretical framework to serve as the basis for the press to ensure the humanity principle when writing about crimes, giving a set of criteria to evaluate the quality and humanity of the journalism written about crime.
Thirdon the basis of the theory and specific survey results, the thesis has evaluated the success and limitations of the journalism writing about crime in relation to the humanity of the press.
Fourthly,the thesis has proposed solutions to help the press convey to the public objective and truthful information on crime-related issues at the same time, ensuring the principle of humanity of newspapers.
Finally,the thesis has proposed the Press Code of Crime with 8 points to comply with.
3.2 Conclusion:
-Results from the thesis points out the main content of crimes that is presented on newspapers (both printed and electronic), successes as well as limitations of this genre, challenges and difficulties for press when it comes to balancing between attracting readers and maintaining humanities. On this foundation, the thesis has suggested some solutions and recommendations for crime journalism to ensure both attractiveness and humanities.
-This thesis's result of research can help leaders, journalism managers, media managers…gain a foundation to build press management policies that are compatible with the development of media and modern journalism.
-The thesis can be used as reference as a set of criteria for editors-in-chief, news production teams, and journalists in the process of commanding, editing and conducting press works that will ensure objectivity, truthfulness, attractiveness, and will strengthen the public's belief in the ever-changing media environment.
-The set of criteria suggested in the thesis can become the foundation for mouthpieces in providing information that can ensure both its content and the protection of human rights.
