Launch of the handbook "Guide to reporting skills in the digital age"

With the aim of helping journalists keep up with the rapid changes in today's media, the Internet and Society Research Program, Reuters News Agency and the Center for Journalism Training (Vietnam Journalists Association) have jointly produced the handbook "Guide to reporting skills in the digital age". aims to provide important and practical principles for journalists working in the digital environment and social networks. In particular, the handbook delves into data journalism, a prominent trend in the media industry today, helping journalists take advantage of digital technology to collect data and convey them into valuable, objective and attractive news. In addition, the handbook also mentions the basic principles that reporters need to know about the Law on Access to Information passed by the Vietnamese National Assembly on April 6, 2016, and effective from July 1, 2018 to support journalists in the process of working quickly and legally.

Prof. Dr. Pham Quang Minh (Chairman of the Scientific Council of the Program for Internet and Society Studies (VPIS), Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities)

Analyzing the current media environment, Prof. Dr. Pham Quang Minh (Chairman of the Scientific Council of the Internet and Society Research Program (VPIS), Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities) affirmed: "With more than 4 billion users today, according to We Are Social, the Internet and the development of digital media have rapidly changed the press environment in Vietnam and the world. Based on new technology platforms, journalists can not only monitor and exploit information more easily but also reach readers more closely through vivid and direct ways of transmission. However, the digital media environment also puts considerable pressure on the balance between the speed and accuracy of information, between the requirements related to commercial aspects and the impartiality and integrity of journalists. In particular, among the diversity of information sources and fake news traps, the role of journalists is emphasized in filtering and verifying the most meaningful information to fulfill the mission of helping readers reach the most authentic and important aspects of life.”.

Mr. Cao Hoang Nam (Chief Coordinator of the Internet and Society Research Program) introduces the handbook "Guide to reporting skills in the digital age"

Mr. Giles Lever (UK Ambassador to Vietnam) affirmed that he always believes that a free and vibrant press environment with dedicated and responsible journalists plays a key role in the development of society, helping to promote transparency and accountability of the state. Mr. Giles Lever shared:“I am very pleased that we have supported VPIS in compiling and publishing the handbook “Guide to reporting skills in the digital age”. I am personally impressed with the contents of the handbook and hope that the handbook will reach many journalists. I really hope that journalists can use the handbook as a useful reference when working to take advantage of the advantages of the digital age”.

Mr. Giles Lever (British Ambassador to Vietnam)

Mr. Cao Hoang Nam (Chief Coordinator of the Internet and Society Research Program) said“The handbook will be one of the useful tools for reporters to increase the credibility of their articles in the context of increasingly popular fake news through the application of transparent and highly critical processes of data journalism into news. I believe that data journalism will be a new trend in reporters' work in the digital news era.”

Assessing the significance of the handbook, Associate Professor, Dr. Dinh Thi Thuy Hang (Director of the Center for Journalism Training) shared: “The handbook “Guide to reporting skills in the digital age” is a useful document for journalists and media workers with very specific content of high practical application presented in an easy-to-understand and easy-to-remember way. Hopefully, the handbook will help media workers easily look up and immediately apply those skills in their daily work to improve the quality of information serving the public.”.

At the launch ceremony, industry experts and journalists in attendance also discussed how to apply the handbook to training and practice in the most effective way. In addition, with the desire to continue the initial values ​​shared in this handbook, attendees also proposed directions for developing the content of the next handbooks with more in-depth updates and instructions on how to apply the latest world journalism trends based on the Vietnamese media context. In order to share and spread the content of the handbook to a large number of journalists, lecturers and journalism students, the Internet and Society Research Program donated 700 handbooks and delivered them free of charge to editorial offices, universities and journalism training facilities.