The press and young people

(Baonghean) - In the essay section of the recent high school graduation exam in Literature, an article about the exemplary student Nguyen Van Nam was included in the exam, asking candidates to express their thoughts on the phenomenon. Many candidates expressed that this year's essay question was good, clear, and easy to understand, but not simple or superficial, creating conditions for them to have deep feelings and thoughts. Thus, it can be seen that the opinion that today's youth live superficially and are indifferent to society is not entirely justified. Of course, it cannot be denied that the attention of young people is largely focused on entertainment-related topics rather than serious issues such as culture and society... If the above phenomenon is not solely the responsibility of the students themselves, then where does the root of the problem lie?

The question needs to be asked: how do young people today access information? The majority access it through the internet (online news sites, social media) and television, while the primary readership of print newspapers remains among older generations (except for some entertainment-oriented publications). We live in the digital age, so this situation is inevitable, as high-tech media outlets are gradually taking over the market share of traditional information forms due to their convenience. However, it is easy to see that the legitimacy and seriousness of most online news sites and "high-tech" information sources are still relatively low, or even if online versions of mainstream newspapers are established, their popularity among young people is still not high. Why does this happen? There are two reasons:

Firstly, quality hasn't kept pace with quantity. New newspapers (online or print) are being created in ever-increasing numbers, but with this proliferation, their purpose isn't necessarily to provide information to readers, but rather to serve advertising and profit-making. Investment in these information sources is often short-sighted and opportunistic. This leads to a situation where numerous tabloid newspapers republish the same news or article without verifying its source or authenticity, using sensationalism to attract readers. Or they use shocking headlines, but the content and accompanying images are completely unrelated. Even more ridiculous are newspapers lacking a clear stance or principles; one day they publish a critical article, the next day they immediately defend it. This situation is ultimately due to the fact that in Vietnam, issues related to the Press Law and Copyright Law are still new, not yet properly regulated or structured, and are even lax and lacking control from relevant authorities.

Secondly, it's undeniable that everyone's information needs vary depending on age, gender, occupation, and living/working environment. The information needs of teenagers are certainly different from those of the bank manager, the department head of that company, and so on. A simple and common example is that while parents are intently watching the news, children are likely itching to switch channels and watch some entertainment program they find more appealing.

Recognizing the entertainment needs of teenagers, many news sources focus on sensational stories about celebrities, fashion trends, idols, and popular youth trends. There's nothing inherently wrong with this, as each newspaper has the right to operate according to its own principles. However, it would be irresponsible to publish unverified information that could negatively impact young people (imagine if a newspaper constantly reported on the negative behaviors and lifestyles of a popular figure; eventually, wouldn't young people become saturated and consider such negative behaviors normal, even a standard to emulate?). Furthermore, much of this type of news may not be verified, affecting the personal freedom and even the dignity of the individuals featured in the articles.

In the novel "Without a Family," the character Remy describes his younger brother Arthur as follows: "It's not that he's lazy. When someone gives him a book, he doesn't shake his head; on the contrary, he happily accepts it. But the problem is that within ten minutes, he's distracted by his surroundings." Our youth are similar; they are curious and eager to learn because they want to access information, but the problem is that official sources of information, like books, and superficial, tabloid-like news are the external distractions that cause them to lose focus. How can we help them concentrate on the books they need to read? Should we reconsider whether a book is too academic and doesn't meet their needs, or should we filter and adjust the external distractions to make them more appropriate and wholesome?

Hai Trieu (Email from Paris)