TTLV: Limitations in reporting legal information on online newspapers today

INFORMATION ABOUT THE MASTER'S THESIS

1. Student's full name:Ha Tuan Anh

2. Gender: Male

3. Date of birth: May 19, 1979

4. Place of birth: Hanoi

5. Decision on student admission No. 2998/2013/QD-XHNV-SDH. Dated December 30, 2013, by the Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi.

6. Changes in the training process: None

7. Thesis title:Limitations in reporting legal information on online newspapers today

8. Major: Journalism Code: 60.32.01.01

9. Scientific supervisor:Assoc. Prof. Dr. Vu Duy Thong

10. Summary of the thesis results:

This thesis focuses on researching and presenting the following basic results:

Chapter 1 presents the basic concepts of online journalism, law and legal information, as well as the legal regulations governing the information activities of online newspapers. Information related to the three newspapers surveyed is also included here.

This chapter focuses on analyzing the role of the press in reporting on legal matters, as well as the trend of opening this section, while emphasizing the advantages and disadvantages of online newspapers in disseminating legal information. Besides pointing out the shortcomings of online newspapers, the researcher proposes criteria for effectively disseminating legal information through online newspapers.

In Chapter 2, the author addresses four limitations in reporting legal news on online newspapers. These are limitations in content, format, copyright infringement, and errors made by journalists when reporting on legal matters. The limitations in content and format are particularly emphasized.

This chapter raises several shortcomings, such as a lack of constructive criticism, an overemphasis on serious crimes, a lack of verified information, and violations of personal privacy. Additionally, spelling errors, sensationalist language, and the use of violent imagery are pointed out.

In Chapter 3, the author of the thesis identifies the causes of limitations and proposes solutions to improve the effectiveness of legal reporting on online newspapers, such as: enhancing the professional skills and ethical standards of journalists; strengthening penalties and providing appropriate rewards for quality products. An indispensable part is educating the media organizations and their governing bodies on the perspective of legal cases.

11. Practical applications:

The research findings of this thesis are not only useful for novice journalists and provide journalism lecturers with additional materials for their classes, but also offer practical recommendations for newsroom managers and central press management agencies to develop policies to improve the dissemination of legal information on online newspapers to readers.

12. Future research directions:

If circumstances permit, this thesis could also suggest directions for further research to help legal sections on online newspapers attract readers, avoid being accused of clickbait, and still maintain a proper and engaging approach to disseminating legal knowledge to the public.

13. Published works related to the thesis: None

INFORMATION ON MASTER'S THESIS

1. Full name: Ha Tuan Anh2. Sex: Male

3. Date of birth: May 19, 19794. Place of birth: Hanoi

5. Admission decision number: 2998/2013/QD-XHNV-SĐ dated December 30, 2013 by the Rector of University of Social Sciences and Humanities – Vietnam National University

6. Changes in academic process: N/A

7. Official thesis title: Limitations in covering legal news in electronic papers today

8. Major: Newspapers and magazines Code: 60.32.01.01

9. Supervisor: Assoc.Prof.Dsc. Vu Duy Thong

10. Summary of the findings of the thesis:

The thesis focuses on studies and some basic findings are as follows:

In Chapter 1, the author provides the basic concepts of electronic newspaper (e-paper), law and legal information as well as the issues of legal norms that govern information activities of e-papers. Information related to the three papers under survey is also provided here.

In this chapter, the author concentrates on analyzing the role played by newspapers in covering legal news and propensity for opening this special column, at the same time, emphasizes the advantages and disadvantages of e-papers in covering legal news. In addition to pointing out errors in e-papers, the researcher also lay down criteria for propagating well legal news in e-papers.

In Chapter 2, the author touches upon the four existing limitations in covering legal news in e-papers. These are limitations on form and content, on copyright infringement, together with journalists' errors when covering legal news. In these, special emphasis is placed upon the limitations on form and content.

This chapter also deals with a series of problems, such as counter-arguments in positive nature are just a few, serious legal cases are being too highlighted, lack of verification information, and infringement of privacy. In addition to that are spelling mistakes, use of sensational language to attract listeners and pervading violence.

In Chapter 3, the author of the thesis pinpoints the causes of the limitations, from there to propose solutions to enhance the performance of covering legal news in e-papers, for example, by improving specialized and professional competences, corporate ethics of journalists; increasing penal sanctions as well as giving praise commensurate with quality products. One essential content here is the point of view of press agencies, governing bodies on legal affairs.

11. Practical applicability:

The findings of the thesis are not only beneficial to novices as new reporters, helping press trainers to have more materials while training at training classes but also give practical recommendations for etutorial management at different levels andpress management agencies at the central level to make plans to improve activities of bringing legal news on e-papers to readers.

12. Further research directions:

If conditions permit, from this thesis, many ways to study deeper may probably be suggested helping the legal column in e-papers to attract readers, avoiding getting the bad reputation of “snatching customers”, “courting likes and views”, while still keeping moving in the right direction and being attractive in propagating and disseminating legal knowledge to the people.

13. Thesis-related publications: N/A