Vietnam's Media Navigates Data Journalism's Promise and AI's Perils

Data journalism is emerging as an inexorable trend in Vietnam, driven by the rapid advancement of digital technologies that are reshaping how information is produced and consumed. This transformation presents both a significant challenge and a distinct opportunity for the nation's media industry. By enabling journalists to analyze and visualize complex information, data-driven reporting is becoming an essential tool for enhancing the quality and reliability of news coverage.

The practice involves using data to construct narratives, moving beyond traditional text and images to incorporate charts, graphs, maps, and other visual tools. This approach aims to present information in a more engaging and understandable format, helping readers grasp complex issues while strengthening transparency and trust in the media.

Growing Influence

Major news organizations across Vietnam have started to invest more heavily in data journalism. Publications such as VnEconomy, Tuoi Tre, Thanh Nien, and VnExpress are increasingly integrating data-driven reporting into their coverage, particularly in economics, politics, and social affairs. The use of data not only makes stories more compelling but also provides audiences with deeper and more comprehensive insights into current events.

One of its primary advantages is the ability to transform complex datasets into clear visual narratives. Instead of confronting readers with raw figures and statistics, journalists can leverage visualization tools to make information more accessible and easier to digest. This improves the user experience and fosters greater public confidence in the reporting.

However, this shift requires journalists to acquire strong data analysis skills and proficiency with specialized visualization software. This remains a significant hurdle for many traditionally trained journalists who may be unfamiliar with technology-centric reporting methods. In response, many newsrooms have begun implementing training programs focused on data journalism to equip their reporters with the necessary skills to work effectively with data.

Legal and Data Access Challenges

The rise of data journalism also introduces a host of ethical and legal considerations. The use of data compels journalists to adhere strictly to privacy and data protection regulations, while simultaneously ensuring the accuracy and integrity of the information they publish. Consequently, news organizations must establish rigorous processes for data verification and validation to maintain public trust.

One of the most significant obstacles confronting data journalism in Vietnam is access to reliable data sources. The collection and retrieval of information remain difficult due to the limited availability of open and transparent public datasets. This environment demands that journalists develop sophisticated skills in sourcing information from multiple channels and the ability to critically assess the reliability and accuracy of the data they obtain.

Despite these difficulties, data journalism continues to gain momentum. Many Vietnamese news organizations are investing in both technology and human resources to bolster their capabilities, aiming to improve the quality and credibility of their reporting. These investments are intended not only to attract a larger audience but also to enhance the reputation and standing of Vietnamese journalism on the international stage.

Looking ahead, data journalism is expected to expand and become an integral part of the news industry. As technology advances and the volume of available data grows, data-driven reporting will become more widespread and play an increasingly critical role in delivering accurate and reliable information to the public.

According to industry experts, data journalism is not merely a passing trend but a major opportunity for Vietnam’s media sector. By harnessing the power of data and technology, news organizations can elevate the quality of their reporting while reaching a broader audience. To realize this potential, journalists must continuously enhance their skills and remain committed to the highest ethical and legal standards.

Mr. Le Quoc Minh, Member of the Party Central Committee, Editor-in-Chief of Nhan Dan newspaper, and Deputy Head of the Central Commission for Communication and Mass Mobilization

The adoption of AI in Vietnam is accelerating rapidly. AI is now being applied across a wide range of sectors, including education, healthcare, climate change, and journalism, significantly reducing the amount of human labor required. In reality, journalism today is already operating in fundamentally different ways.

However, the rapid adoption of AI and the extensive use of data also bring significant challenges. Around the world, AI-powered websites have emerged that can produce far more content than major news organizations such as the New York Times or the Washington Post. At the same time, AI has heightened the risks of misinformation, propaganda, and information manipulation. As a result, the ability to verify information increasingly depends on the knowledge and critical thinking skills of audiences.

Copyright is another growing concern. In the past, copyright infringement largely involved copying or repurposing journalistic content. Today, AI systems routinely scrape news content to train their models without providing any compensation to the organizations that produce the original material.

Beyond these issues, AI also poses broader social risks. Training data often contains inherent biases and lacks consistent ethical standards. Without proper safeguards, AI systems can reinforce “echo chambers” that amplify existing prejudices, including gender bias, discrimination, and other forms of social bias. If left unchecked, these effects could become increasingly difficult to control.

Mr. Bui Binh Minh, Head of the Multimedia Division, VietNamNet

Data journalism is not a new concept, and many news organizations in Vietnam have already embraced it. However, implementing it effectively remains a challenge.

One of the biggest hurdles facing news organizations today is the initial investment required, along with identifying data-driven content that aligns with audience interests. At its core, data journalism is about transforming data into valuable information. Broadly speaking, there are two approaches: broad scanning, which involves collecting data from a wide range of sources, and deep analysis, which focuses on mining, aggregating, and interpreting data to uncover meaningful insights.

Currently, many Vietnamese news organizations favor the broad-scanning approach, gathering and organizing information around a particular topic before presenting it to readers. While this method is relatively easy to implement, it can also overwhelm audiences with excessive amounts of content. Readers may not have the patience to work through large-scale formats such as mega stories or e-magazines packed with datasets, charts, and visualizations.

News organizations therefore need to place greater emphasis on deep analysis. Interactive maps could, for example, provide concise yet detailed statistics on cities and provinces following the transition to a two-tier local government model. Another practical application would be analyzing high school and university entrance examination score distributions, helping students assess their admission prospects and make better-informed choices about where to apply.

Technology experts often describe data as the world’s new oil. It has indeed become a critical resource, with perhaps the most visible example being its role in training increasingly sophisticated AI models. Journalism is no exception. By analyzing and uncovering insights from data, news organizations can generate information of significant value, helping readers make faster, more informed, and more effective decisions.