In an article congratulating Professor Ha Minh Duc – the first head of the Journalism Department – on his 70th birthday, I recalled a visit by journalist Ho Tien Nghi, Director General of the Vietnam News Agency, who gifted the department an old typewriter. The presence of this old typewriter amidst the rudimentary equipment served as a symbol of the lack of technology in a field that heavily relied on practical skills. This alone illustrates the immense scarcity and difficulty in organizing teaching that was closely linked to real-life situations at that time. Even with minimal and simple facilities for teaching, it was still a significant challenge."Chapi's dream"It was always present, sometimes hidden, in the thinking of the lecturers in the Journalism department at that time.
But then,"chapi dream""It was no longer dormant or inactive. The persistent efforts of the Party Committee and the school's Board of Directors in mobilizing television units, and the necessity of investing in this specialized field of study, led to the allocation of funds for equipment purchases. Ten Zennit cameras were purchased by the school, and three M300 camcorders were donated to the department by the Director General of Vietnam Television after a visit to the television station by the Professor and Head of the Department. With this initial infrastructure, and the purchase of a few televisions, the school provided an additional office to serve as a journalism practice room. This was the first step, clearly paving the way for the later establishment of the Center for Journalism and Communication (CMP). Just a few years later, with the attention of the leaders of Hanoi National University and the Board of Directors of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, and securing investment from the World Bank, the department received 1.7 billion VND in equipment and machinery." However, the demand for training in journalism and media is so great, and the industry is developing so rapidly, that 1.7 billion pieces of equipment are like a drop in the ocean. Students only get a superficial understanding of the subject matter during their practical training, lacking the opportunity to delve deeper and create media products. They only see what's on the screen and are only described through images.
A filming session at the CMP studio.
In 2007, Hanoi National University continued to prioritize investment through science and technology projects. During a meeting with the departments and member universities, including representatives from the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, it was agreed to move away from piecemeal investments and focus on project-based funding. The funding was provided by the Ministry of Science and Technology. To prepare for these projects, the university decided to establish the Center for Journalism and Communication, a unit directly under the university, operating under the direction of the Board of Directors, with its own regulations outlining its functions and responsibilities as follows:
- In terms of function:
a) To organize professional training and practical skills development for students of the Faculty of Journalism and Communication, University of Social Sciences and Humanities.
b) To provide communication services to individuals, agencies, and social organizations in accordance with the law and the University's regulations.
c) Introducing and promoting the brand of the school and Hanoi National University.
- Regarding the responsibilities:
This includes undertaking the training of skills, professional expertise, and practical work for students and trainees of all programs according to the curriculum framework; arranging class schedules, locations, and technical equipment for learning and teaching; developing investment plans for equipment and facilities to support the Center's activities; organizing short-term training courses on journalism and media skills and expertise; producing media products as requested by partners in accordance with current regulations, etc.
To concretize the above tasks, the Center proposes to the University the development of human resources in the short and long term. This includes organizing training and practical exercises in producing journalistic and media products; and effectively utilizing the invested equipment. Currently, the Center has 9 people, including 3 members of the Board of Directors; 3 members of the Website Working Group; 3 members of the Broadcasting and Television Group; and 2 members of the Office and Technical Group. In addition, the Center has 10 faculty members who regularly write articles for the website; and dozens of student collaborators from the Faculty of Journalism participating in communication activities for the University and its member units, Vietnam National University, Hanoi.
Phase 1 of the investment project has yielded remarkable results. Technically, a complete and integrated television and radio broadcasting system has been installed, including: a Studio with modern equipment capable of conducting product development, presentations, seminars, and workshops with equipment support; and a radio broadcasting system encompassing recording, pre-production, and post-production directly on the equipment. This integrated system allows for a closed-loop production process from start to finish, including publication on the university's website and to interested media outlets.
- Regarding effectiveness:
Each year, the center participates in training and provides training services to over 200 students and trainees in various journalism programs, with nearly 1000 hours of practical instruction in television, radio, print journalism, and online journalism.
Each year, the Center publishes over 1500 news articles, announcements, and thesis information on the University's website, covering daily activities and professional and academic exchanges related to the humanities.
The Center for Journalism and Communication has become one of the key units in carrying out communication and promoting the image of the University and Vietnam National University, Hanoi. Many key communication programs have been organized, such as media coverage of events welcoming heads of state from both domestic and international backgrounds, and political and social events of the University, including: the welcoming of Chinese Premier Li Keqiang; the welcoming of the Prime Minister of the Republic of East Timor; the welcoming of the Governor-General of Canada; the welcoming of the Chairman of the National Assembly (now the General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam) Nguyen Phu Trong; the welcoming of President Truong Tan Sang; and the welcoming of Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung to visit and attend the opening ceremony of the new academic year at Vietnam National University, Hanoi. It has also welcomed and reported on hundreds of international guests visiting and attending international conferences organized and co-organized by the University.
The center has produced traditional films, a series of portraits of scientists broadcast on the program "Our Hanoi," and documentaries on "Organizing competency-based entrance exams at the National University." It has also developed a system of televised lectures and practical exercises using video clips, provided media support to units within the university, and published a documentary on 10 outstanding annual events.
Notably, the majority of media products were created by CMP student collaborators under the guidance and advice of their teachers. Dozens of video clips were successfully defended and highly evaluated by the graduation thesis committee. In particular, two students, Ha Thai (class of 53) and Ha Le Diem (class of 54), were awarded the Silver Kite Award in a national competition organized by the Film Association – both are CMP collaborators.
The center has compiled nearly 100 portraits of outstanding educators and scientists, which will be published on the website to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the tradition and the 20th anniversary of the founding of the Hanoi University of Social Sciences and Humanities.
We collaborate with partner organizations such as Doji Group and the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry in organizing and providing media consultation for events.
The results achieved demonstrate the effectiveness of the project investment. Based on the completion of Phase 1, Vietnam National University, Hanoi continues to invest in Phase 2, adding equipment to build a virtual studio and a server system to store and distribute data to units in need.
In the coming years, the perspective on the development of the center will focus on the following viewpoints:
- Building a "learning by doing" model for journalism and media training, maximizing human resources, creating mechanisms and promoting pioneering innovation. The CMP Center environment emphasizes equipping students with knowledge, training methods, and developing skills for independent work, research, and creativity. It serves as a bridge for cooperation, connecting businesses with training institutions to develop a business model operating within a research university environment.
- The communication role of the Center is oriented towards combining internal and external communication to ensure that society correctly perceives and understands the brand, position, and contributions of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities. Seven main target groups for communication and public relations are identified: (Government and relevant agencies, students, lecturers, staff, alumni, businesses – community). In addition, the University of Social Sciences and Humanities has the advantage of being one of the largest journalism and communication training institutions in the country, and is currently equipped with a modern system of equipment for producing media products. However, it also needs its own creative communication methods. By effectively utilizing existing facilities and human resources to build its own communication channel to promote its image, the University of Social Sciences and Humanities will achieve higher effectiveness and lower costs compared to relying on mass media.
- Creating a core difference in media products, building upon traditional foundations. Ultimately, the core element that defines the school's brand is the quality of its training, educational products, and research. This is the fundamental premise for creating differentiation, position, and prestige for its media products. The communication strategy, media products, and communication direction must clearly demonstrate the role and objectives of promoting cultural values and national identity, fostering patriotism and national pride, and fostering social development for the long-term, sustainable development goals of the country.
Ahead lie both opportunities and challenges for those involved in journalism and media training in general, and for CMP in particular.
Author:MSc. Pham Dinh Lan
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