The Faculty of Journalism and Communication held the graduation thesis defense for the QH-2009X course on June 5. This year, the Faculty had 30 students participating in their graduation thesis, of which 6 students chose to make television products.
Diverse topics with many new research directions
According to Dr. Nguyen Thi Thanh Huyen (Deputy Head of the Faculty of Journalism and Communication), there has been a clear shift in the choice of graduation thesis topics for students of the Faculty of Journalism and Communication this year. In addition to topics in traditional journalism fields such as print newspapers, electronic newspapers, radio, television, etc., students tend to pay more and more attention to new fields such as public relations and advertising. The topics are also highly practical and topical, such as: "Explore nonprofit advertising in environmental communication campaigns”, “Using Facebook in internal communication activities of Hoa Sao Group”, “Activities of media companies in the face of the trend of television socialization”, “Building a business brand through a website”, “Building a QHCC strategy for the Vietnam VOVINAM Federation until 2020” …
Many thesis topics are highly interdisciplinary when studying issues from many perspectives: journalism, law, media, public relations... Difficult topics, focusing on issues of practical skills and professional operations of journalists are also a new feature, of great interest to students such as: contacting and protecting witnesses in investigative reports, handling information sources in journalistic works...
Besides, many current issues of the press and of the country in recent times have become the objects of research and comparison of the field theory such as: "The issue of protecting sea and island sovereignty on VN Plus and Dan Tri electronic newspapers”, “Sovereignty over Truong Sa and Hoang Sa on VnExpress electronic newspaper in 2012”, “Information about islands in print media",“The press with access to information sources through the case of Mr. Doan Van Vuong in Tien Lang - HP”, “Electronic newspaper with reflection on land case in Tien Lang district - HP (applying "framing" theory to analyze the content of articles); “Information about climate change in the press”…
Dr. Nguyen Thi Thanh Huyen shared: “The most striking impression of this year’s thesis defense season of the Faculty of Journalism and Communication students is that they are very confident and clearly understand the purpose and work they do. Research topics are often highly applicable and are chosen to be closely related to each individual’s career development orientation.”. Students who intend to continue their studies after graduation often focus on theoretical issues of the industry, while those who are interested in professional practice do practical topics. Some students research and build communication models for the agency or company where they are working part-time. Some students who have been working as reporters at editorial offices research issues about practical skills of the profession, propose solutions to develop content for the newspaper they are collaborating with... That has created a diverse picture of topics, reflecting the increasing interest of students in practical issues and professional skills.
Besides the advantages, Dr. Huyen said that students of the Faculty of Journalism and Communication still have limitations when presenting research results such as: many presentation slides do not make an impression, weak interaction skills with listeners...
Television products: increasingly high quality
As part of the strategy to innovate training activities towards improving professional practice, for many years the Faculty of Journalism and Communication has allowed students to defend their graduation thesis with television products. This regulation, when applied, has received attention and created excitement for many students - especially those who are inclined to work at radio and television stations after graduation. This trend has grown stronger in recent years among the Faculty's students, especially with the increasingly effective support of the Center for Journalism and Communication (CMP) with a system of specialized technical equipment for radio and television that is as modern as that of today's television stations.
Students must submit a completed television production along with a report on the production process, explaining the application of specialized theory to the content of the work. Members of the Defense Council are experienced journalists working in the field of television.
This year, there are 6 works presented for defense before the Council, including: "Ups and downs of Hanoi rock" (Nguyen Thuy Quynh, Vu Viet Nga), "The nursery rhyme echoes forever" (Duong Thi Kieu Oanh), "Doi Tam drum village" (Tran Bao Lam), "Melody of the Night" (Thieu Thu Quynh), "People living in memories" (Chu My Lan), TVC advertising for Ocean Bank services (To Hai Phuong).
If "Ups and downs of Hanoi rock"Highly appreciated for its use of music, engaging storytelling and the way it creates a passionate atmosphere in the film; then "The nursery rhyme echoes forever"It also promotes the humanistic value of preserving and conserving nursery rhymes as a valuable spiritual food for children. The TVC advertisement demonstrates the author's professionalism in organizing, producing and implementing. "Melody of the Night" is a new exploration and experiment in storytelling methods. "Doi Tam drum village" is a simple, rustic but still attractive look at the beauty of a craft village's heritage.
In particular, deep and emotional is "People living in memories” – a documentary about the portrait of the late Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Hai Ke, former Head of the History Department, University of Social Sciences and Humanities – by author Chu My Lan. The film impressively portrayed the image of a teacher - scientist who was erudite, simple in everyday life but had a special scientific personality, with a sincere heart, and enthusiasm for the generation of students and for life. The author effectively connected documentary images of the character with interview scenes in the film to create the clearest portrait. The work achieved the highest score of the Council: 9.8 points.
According to MSc. Nguyen Cao Cuong - Deputy Director of CMP, the above products of students are all good quality journalistic works, meeting the broadcasting requirements of television stations. Students are proactive in searching and discovering social topics for their works, thereby demonstrating their ability to think sharply and independently. The method of making television works is built on a set of elaborate and scientific theoretical documents. Through the production of the products, students have shown that they have a good understanding of the process and methods of organizing a film crew, fully utilizing the skills and specialized knowledge learned at school. "With the results seen, students are completely capable of working in the television field right after graduation." – Master Nguyen Cao Cuong affirmed.
In fact, student Ha Thai (QH-2008X course) with her graduation work “Debt” – Silver Kite Award for short film category 2012 – is a clear demonstration of the professional capacity and creativity of students majoring in Journalism and Communication, and at the same time affirms the correctness of a direction that the Faculty of Journalism and Communication has implemented in recent times.