Author name:Dang Thi Huyen
Thesis title: “Crime journalism and the issue of journalism's humanity”
Dissertation field: Social sciences and humanities
Specialized:JournalismCode:62320101
Name of training unit AfterDuniversity:University of Social Sciences and Humanities - Vietnam National University, Hanoi.
1. Purpose and research objects of the thesis:
- On the basis of summarizing and systematizing theoretical issues related to the topic,research thesis, assessment of current situationJournalism on crime in relation to the humanism of journalism, thereby pointing out the successes and limitations of journalism, and proposing solutions to improve the quality of journalism on crime, ensuring humanistic principles, in order to achieve the goal of journalism for sustainable human development.
- The research object of the thesis is the issue of journalism writing about crime and the humanity of journalism.
2. Research methods used
Methodology:
The thesis is based on the theoretical epistemology of Marxism - Leninism; Dialectical materialism and Historical materialism; Ho Chi Minh's thought and the viewpoints of the Party and State of Vietnam on the role and function of the press, especially in the field of communication on crime prevention, security, order and social safety.
- The thesis applies a number of communication theories, specifically the "Agenda Setting" theory of Maxwell McCombs and D.Shaw; the "Framing" theory of Robert Entman, the "Uses and Gratifications" theory and the "Dependency on the mass media system" theory to clarify the issue of press writing about crime and the effectiveness of information about crime in the press on the public.
Specific research methods:
- Research methods, document analysis.This method is used to survey and analyze documents, directives, resolutions and scientific works, books, articles... to systematize some general theoretical issues of journalism related to the principle of humanity in press information and in information about crime. From there, build a theoretical framework for the topic as well as inherit previous research results, serving the purpose of comparing, contrasting and clarifying the research problem.
-Content analysis method.This method is used to analyze the content and form of messages about crime in selected newspapers. From there, it clarifies the successes and limitations; the reasons for the successes and limitations of the press writing about crime from the perspective of humanistic principles.
- Case study method:NCS selected a series of articles on some serious cases. to analyze the guarantee of the principle of humanity, thereby clarifying its effective impact on the public.
- Questionnaire investigation method:NCS distributed 400 questionnaires to several localities in the North, Central and South to survey public opinion on crime information in the press in general. This is a necessary channel to measure the effectiveness of the press's impact on the public.
- Group interview method:The NCS selected 6 articles about 4 serious cases in 2 newspapers (among the 4 newspapers selected for survey) and conducted interviews with 2 groups, each group of 5 people, about ensuring the principle of humanity in the above articles and the needs and level of public vulnerability (if any) when accessing information about crimes in the press.
- In-depth interview method:This method was used through the form of questioning with 13 respondents who were leaders of the Vietnam Journalists Association, lawyers, leaders of press agencies, content organization teams of editorial offices and journalists who directly produced news about crime, thereby clarifying necessary issues that were not resolved in the questionnaire.
-Methods of analysis, comparison and synthesisis used to analyze, evaluate and synthesize research results to point out successes, limitations, causes and challenges for journalists and press agencies in ensuring humanistic principles in crime reporting.
3. Main results and conclusions
3.1. Main results
The first,The thesis is a systematic and in-depth research work on crime journalism and the humanism in crime journalism in Vietnam. Approaching the study of crime journalism in the relationship of ensuring humanism is a new direction with meaningful contributions of the thesis.
MondayThe thesis clarifies the theory of journalism about crime and the humanity of journalism, thereby establishing a theoretical framework as a basis for journalism to ensure the principle of humanity when writing about crime, and providing a set of criteria to evaluate the quality and humanity of journalism about crime.
Tuesday,Based on theory and specific survey results, the thesis has evaluated the successes and limitations of journalism about crime in relation to the humanity of journalism.
Wednesday,The thesis has proposed solutions to help the press convey to the public objective and truthful information about issues related to crime while ensuring the principle of humanism of the press.
Thursday,The thesis proposed a set of 8 humane principles for journalism about crime that must be followed.
3.2. Conclusion
The research results show the main contents about crime reflected in print and online newspapers; the successes and limitations of the press writing about this topic; the difficulties and challenges when the press has to balance between attractiveness and humanity; methods to implement humanity in journalistic creativity. On that basis, the thesis has proposed a number of solutions and recommendations to ensure that the press writes about crime attractively but still ensures humanity.
Thesis research resultscan help leaders and managers of press and media have more basis to build policies on press management and training suitable for the development of modern media and press.
The thesis can be a reference material as a set of criteria for Editors-in-Chief, news production teams and journalists in the process of directing, editing and implementing journalistic works to ensure objectivity, truthfulness, attractiveness and humanity, strengthening public trust in today's increasingly changing media environment.
Hopefully, from specific studies on humanity in crime journalism, the thesis will contribute to helping journalists in the process of creative work, leadership work, and editing work to have more theoretical and practical basis to improve the quality of information content, increase the cultural content and humanity in the work, strengthen public trust and contribute to realizing and maintaining the noble goals of Vietnam's 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:
-Archival 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.
-Answer: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.
Third,on 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.
