A scientific conference on the theme "Media Culture in the Era of Integration," organized by the University of Social Sciences and Humanities in collaboration with the Vietnam Journalists Association, took place on February 22, 2012.The workshop was attended by journalists from media agencies nationwide, media managers, researchers and lecturers in journalism, and students and trainees from the Faculty of Journalism and Communication. The workshop focused on discussing key topics: theoretical issues concerning journalistic culture and media culture, the reciprocal relationship between culture and journalism/media; practical challenges regarding journalistic culture and media in the professional activities of Vietnamese journalists today; and proposed solutions to enhance the cultural value of Vietnamese journalists in the context of the globalization of mass media. With a multi-faceted approach and from various professional perspectives, the discussions at the workshop analyzed and assessed the current state of culture and journalism/media in Vietnam. Journalist Ha Minh Hue (Permanent Vice President of the Vietnam Journalists Association) stated in her introductory report: Culture and journalism/media have a close, dialectical relationship. Journalism is a part of culture, but it also creates, disseminates, and preserves culture… Therefore, journalists must understand and possess culture, considering journalistic activity not only as a socio-political activity but also as an activity deeply rooted in culture.
Speaking at the opening session, Professor Ha Minh Duc addressed issues such as the individual and the collective, the good and the bad in contemporary journalism, pragmatic culture, and journalism criticizing negativity and wrongdoing in the cultural field. He emphasized the changing tastes of the public today and stressed that media in the era of integration must give the nation's cultural values a new vitality and breath. Veteran journalist Phan Quang argued that journalism should both fulfill its own role as a constituent part of culture according to its assigned mission, and cooperate with other forms of culture to fulfill their mission, contributing to promoting and spreading them to the general public. Therefore, media should not simply passively transmit culture but must actively filter when promoting mass culture and carefully consider when creating its own cultural products to serve the community. Discussing the role and responsibilities of Vietnamese mass media in preserving and promoting Vietnamese cultural identity in the era of international integration and digital globalization, Dr. Dang Thi Thu Huong (Head of the Faculty of Journalism and Communication) emphasized: the world is currently entering a new era of communication, and modern online mass media are continuing to attract more and more users with features that provide information quickly, comprehensively, directly, and interactively… Therefore, media culture needs to be built on a foundation of historical values and continuity, stimulating the creative abilities of the public and serving the public.
Other opinions at the conference focused on discussing issues such as: the necessary standards of knowledge, skills, professional ethics, the responsibilities of those working in the field of journalism and media, the role of press management agencies, and training institutions for human resources in the journalism and media industry. This scientific conference was both theoretically specialized and deeply practical, with significant implications for journalistic activities in operation, press management, training, professional development, and scientific research.
