Vietnam: TV training for business journalists

Professionally producing complex and controversial business issues in a way that sparks viewers’ interest was the focus of a three-week DW-AKADEMIE workshop for twelve VTV journalists, editors and camera operators. “The country’s economy is booming and so is business and economic journalism,” says DW-AKADEMIE project manager and trainer, Patrick Benning. “Still, certain skills are lacking and at times so is the courage to find and tell the stories ‘behind’ official statements.”

That’s why Benning and his team encouraged participants to see things more from a viewer’s perspective and to take their interests into account when selecting topics. The trainers and participants are counting on this approach to create a wider interest in business reporting. “Our Vietnamese colleagues are already very professional,” says Patrick Benning, “but they still need to trust the power of images and personal stories.”

The participants enthusiastically overcame a tendency to focus primarily on facts and figures. At the workshop closing, Cuong Ngyuen Chi, the workshop’s most senior cameraman in terms of age and experience, summed up his impressions: “I like the idea that TV pictures and images can tell stories. After more than twenty years in the field I now look at my work very differently.”

Patrick Benning agrees that the workshop was a success. “The participants were extremely motivated and immediately incorporated suggestions.” VTV’s training center has already expressed interest in expanding long-term cooperation with DW-AKADEMIE.