Media and the influence of technology

The observational skills of professional communicators and the influence of technology on professional communicators were the topics shared by Professor Claire Woods and Professor Collete Snoden with journalism and communication students at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities this morning, April 15th.The presentation was given as part of a working visit by the two professors to establish a collaborative educational relationship for the subject of Communication and Public Relations at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities. The course is taught entirely in English, and students can receive a Master's or Bachelor's degree from the University of South Australia.

Think differently

Beginning her presentation with the question, "What would you do first when you first arrive at a new street, a new coffee shop, or, more broadly, a completely unfamiliar country?", Professor Claire Woods emphasized the importance of observation and communication. This is especially significant for professionals in the field of communications. For every company and organization, economic benefit is the primary concern. They implement cost-cutting measures: restructuring work, specialization, or marketing to maximize sales. Achieving these goals requires establishing strong relationships, making communication skills essential. To become a professional communicator and communicator, students must constantly update their knowledge, continuously learn, and apply it to their lives. The skill the professor was referring to was the ability to generalize and reassess situations. “Sometimes, that generalization isn’t entirely accurate as expected, but don’t forget to do it as a professional communicator,” Professor Claire Woods asserted. When working in an organization, always remember: You are the one researching and evaluating your own organization; as a professional communicator, you must always seek new perspectives and assessments; you are in a leadership and management position, always looking for ways to change your organization; and don’t forget to research previous studies to understand what others have provided you with. These things are extremely important because they help you solve problems such as: understanding important but unusual situations and events to assess the situation; discovering and understanding recurring behavioral patterns; discovering and observing all the behaviors happening around it, thereby establishing strategies and plans to change the situation. Professor Claire Woods suggests that professional communicators should be curious and innovative about all situations and events, observing them from a different, fresh perspective. For example, when looking at an organization, observe things like branding, imagery, and symbols, and ask yourself why they use those symbols and logos? What does that say about the company? And what do the people within that company say about the company where you work? "Think creatively, go beyond the box, and make a difference" was the professor's final message to the students. To do this, "you must observe carefully, become a researcher yourself, and use all your senses to observe, think, and analyze. You will always be excellent researchers in your own situations."

Self-reliance in technology

Professor Collete Snoden skillfully began her presentation by highlighting the beauty of her homeland: Adelaide, Australia, a city much smaller than Hanoi, with a population of just over one million. Professor Snoden has a particular interest in new technologies. For her, science and technology have brought about revolutionary changes. Evidence of this is the invention of the printing press, which dramatically altered communication technology and transformed the world. People no longer receive information solely through word of mouth; information is now disseminated globally thanks to technology. More and more new software and technological applications are emerging, and employers and bosses are increasingly seeking employees who are up-to-date with these new technologies. But we must also ask ourselves: are we being dominated by technology in our communication careers, or are we simply using technology as a tool in our profession? Of course, the answer would be to use the advantages of technology as a tool to effectively achieve communication goals. Therefore, the question arises: how to use technology rationally in communication? A new technology brings many benefits but also many drawbacks, as one economist stated: "On the one hand, technology expands the limits of your understanding, but on the other hand, it creates limitations in terms of culture." For journalists and communicators, the crucial question is how technology affects their work? Specifically, these issues: Do the people you want to communicate with have the same communication tools and technologies as you? Are there areas in a vast country where communication is impossible? Are great ideas expensive to implement? Or do the people you want to communicate with understand your message in the way you are conveying it? These are crucial issues for media professionals in modern society – a society of globalization.