REFLECTION ON ASIAN VALUES IN VIETNAMESE JOURNALISM
I recently find an interesting article “Vietnam plans to shorten university curricula”, which shows harmony and supportiveness of Asian values in Journalism. However, I believe that these values challenge the objectiveness of the article, because there is a single perspective from the government’s representative about the plan. Thus, this blog will discuss how Asian values are demonstrated in the article and how they bring drawbacks to the article’s objectiveness.
First, let’s get to know what Asian values are and how they are reflected in Journalism. Asian values – strongly demonstrated in East & Southeast countries – promote collectivism and communitarianism. They also cherish social harmony and collective prosperity of the community. Asian values embrace one-party authoritarian government, thus, fostering respect and loyalty towards authority (Nguyen 2016). Through journalism, Asian values are illustrated by two key characteristics: harmony and supportiveness (Massey & Chang 2002).
Accordingly, the article from Tuoi Tre News about the transformation in the university curricula illustrates the Asian values in Vietnamese Journalism. In terms of harmony, the article is free of provocative words or information. It does not arouse any counter arguments towards government’s plan, but embraces it instead. The author also foresees questions that readers may raise about the policy. Therefore, he shortly induces concerns about workforce, education quality, and legal framework, but then solves them by asserting the policy’s advantages. Regarding supportiveness, the news emphasizes that this change in education system will not disturb but reinforce the social and economic stability. For example, the author addresses the current law obstacle by stating solutions from Bui Van Ga - Vietnam’s Deputy Minister of Education and Training - “Parts of the new framework that do not violate Vietnam’s current laws on education would be effective immediately, while those that do would be implemented later, after the said laws have been revised” (Tuoi Tre News 2016). From those points, I conclude that the author show respects for the authority – the Communist party – through respecting its representative – Mr. Ga by stating his opinion to introduce advantages and address disadvantages of the education reform.
The article mainly inserts statements of Bui Van Ga – Vietnam Deputy Minister of Education and Training – as explanation for the education change
However, the Asian values in Vietnamese Journalism create a bias view on social issues. Illustrated through this article, there is only one perspective from the Policy Implementer – the government representative. Plus, the concerns addressed in the news are not inclusive. There must be more challenges that this plan faces other than those listed by the writer; therefore, the economic stability would be inevitably influenced however well-prepared the government is. What is more, the government recently altered the university entrance assessment and it aroused heated debates over the plan’s efficiency. Definitely, this new change would provoke another wave of public opinions. Hence, I believe if the article inserted a second view, maybe from the students or teachers – who are directly impacted by this change, the article would be considered as provocative, going against the one-party authority’s plan, thus, against Asian values.
In conclusion, the news about government’s change in tertiary education duration demonstrates harmony and supportiveness – key characteristics in Asian values in Journalism. Yet, the objectiveness of the article is challenged since the author is unable to extend the topic to different viewpoints other than the government’s perspective.
Massey, BL & Chang, LjA 2002, 'Locating Asian values in Asian journalism: A content analysis of web newspapers', Journal of Communication, vol. 52, no. 4, pp. 987-1003.
Nguyen, P 2016, ‘week 9_Asian values & Postcononialism’, course slides for COMM2377 Modern Asia, RMIT University, Hanoi, viewed 12 November 2016, Blackboard@RMIT.
Tuoi Tre News 2016,’Vietnam plans to shorten university curricula’, Tuoi Tre News, 11 August, viewed 12 November,<http://tuoitrenews.vn/education/37902/vietnams-plan-to-shorten-university-curricula>.
