Xu hướng sử dụng gói tin tức đa phương tiện trên báo mạng điện tử (nghiên cứu báo điện tử new york times, the guardian, vnexpress từ 2014 – 2016) tt tiếng anh

MINISTRY OF EDUCATION

HO CHI MINH NATIONAL ACADEMY

AND TRAINING

OF POLITICS

ACADEMY OF JOURNALISM AND COMMUNICATION

NGO BICH NGOC

TRENDS IN USING MULTIMEDIA NEWS PACKAGE
ON ONLINE NEWSPAPER
(Research VnExpress, New York Times, The Guardian
from 2014 to 2016)

Major: Journalism
Major code: 9 32 01 01

SUMMARY OF
THE DOCTORAL DISSERTATION IN JOURNALISM

HANOI - 2020


The dissertation was completed at
Academy of Journalism and Communication, Vietnam

Supervisors:

1. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thi Truong Giang
2. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Dinh Thi Thuy Hang

REVIEWER 1: ASSOC.PROF.DR HA HUY PHUONG

REVIEWER 2: ASSOC.PROF.DR DO CHI NGHIA

REVIEWER 3: ASSOC.PROF.DR DANG THI THU HUONG

The dissertation is defended at the National Council of Doctoral Assessment
Academy of Journalism and Communication


INTRODUCTION
1. Rationale
On December 20, 2012, readers of the online newspaper New York Times
(NYT) first experienced a new type of article called Snow Fall with a completely
new performance. In Snow Fall, NYT used achievements in both technology and
visual design at the same time: loop-based background and auto-run video, fullscreen video and embedded images with curtain effect transitions. The whole
multimedia news package is shown on the consistent background color and this
color will gradually change to match the color of photo/video alongside the story
The colors change when reader scrolls the mouse or uses the scrollbar to flip
through the story. This work alters previous notions of how to present an article on
web in general and an online press work in particular. The striking difference of
Snow Fall is the visualization and the interactive content embedded throughout the
length of the article. Although the multimedia elements such as video, photo,
interactive graphics are no longer new and have been used for many years, very
few articles have a harmonious and seamless combination as Snow Fall. Since
then, multimedia news packages (not sophisticated as Snow Fall) have become
more and more popular in newsrooms all over the world with weekly frequency.

Highlights of this period include "The Short Happy Life of Serengeti Lions” by
David Quammen and Michael Nichols, National Geographic 2013, "The
Confession of Reykjavik” by Simon Cox and team BBC.com 204, “Out in the
Great Alone” by Brian Phillips posted, ESPN.com 2013 ... In the later stages,
many multimedia news packages of the world's leading online newspapers such as
NYT, Washington Post, Chicago Tribune, Le Monde, The Guardian, news
agencies such as AP, Reuters, National Geographic... continue to be produced and
recognized by the prestigious press awards, including Pulitzer Prize and National
Press Photography Association (nppa.org)... It’s said that multimedia news
package is specialty of modern journalism and an emerging style of journalism
product with content and format different from traditional press works. The 2016
annual report of WAN-IFRA affirmed: “Today's readers are no longer impressed
by devices. They expect how the content of the press is "packaged up" and how it
will be released "[70, 18].The production of news package on online newspapers is
a necessary job. That is the trend of the world press, and Vietnam is not out of that
trend. The application of digital technology achievements on the Internet platform
and high-tech equipment to produce journalism is a reality and also a requirement
for the media to practise its political - social duties. In order to convey large-scale
issues or events, a few singular articles will not be powerful enough to properly
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and adequately display content in a sharp and attractive way. It’s only multimedia
news package that has capability to convey stories of sophisticated topic, big
events or complicated processes.
Even so, multimedia news package is still a new term in our country. The
general awareness of journalists, journalism trainers and press practitioners about
news package is limited. This term is used in many researches on online
newspaper by researchers and journalists at international research institutes and
centers. Therefore, although still quite unfamiliar in Vietnam, the author of the

thesis still decides to use the term "multimedia news package" to have scientific
unity with the existing research and journalistic practice in the world. The
challenges for researchers is to clarify: what is the nature of this trend; strengths
and weaknesses as well as the relevance of this trend with each journalism type;
how to use this form of journalism to reflect different topics, should it be identified
that this trend will take place in the short, medium or long term? And how is the
specific response of press organizations with specific human and facilities
resources; If applicable, what conditions are required and which criteria should be
reached; how to combine each multimedia element to create a complete product;
how and what factors would affect production decision; how are the development
trends in the future?
2. Research aims and tasks
Purpose of dissertation is to systematize the theoretical and practical issues
of the issue, and then build the theoretical framework on multimedia news package
on online newspaper; studying the situation of using news package on three
surveyed newspapers, surveying its interaction with management, finance,
technology issues of the editorial offices, understanding the factors affecting the
trend development, from which to discover trends in using news package on online
newspaper.
Research tasks: To achieve this goal, within the thesis, the author identifies
the following research tasks: First, systematizing and initially building the
theoretical basis related to multimedia news package: Clarifying concepts
basically related to research issues; history of multimedia news package
development; analyze the main categories of multimedia news package, clarify the
purpose, object of reflection, structure, and language of this multimedia news
package category; study creative ways and organize some typical cases ...
Secondly, the thesis seeks for the situation of using multimedia news package on
newspaper through three surveyed papers from Jan 1 2014 to December 31 2016;
compare and evaluate multimedia news package in Vietnamese online newspapers
with that on international newspapers. Thirdly, analyze the factors affecting the

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use of multimedia news package on online newspaper, thereby determining the
trends in using multimedia news package on online newspaper.
3. Research object and scope
Research object of the thesis is the trends in using multimedia news package
on online newspapers.
Scope of the dissertation is formation and transformation of the trends in
using multimedia news package to have a comprehensive view of this subject,
thereby studying and surveying multimedia news package on 3 online newspapers
which are NYT, TG and VNE.
4. Research questions
I propose the following research questions while conducting the research:
- Is multimedia news package a new form of journalism product with new
flexible structures and the multimedia elements are at the level of sophistication
and modern, helping to achieve effective storytelling and wide spreading?
- In multimedia news package, what are the new ways to incorporate new
elements? Which elements and interfaces are used in the stories of multimedia
news packages? Are there new ways to incorporate new elements in which new
interfaces were created to produce these multimedia news package? what narrative
structures are these multimedia news packages implemented? Follow the research
frameworks of Landown, Nelson, Manovich or Murray? (These theories are
presented in the Overview section).
- Among important factors affecting the decision of the editorial offices, is it
possible that production costs can be the most important factor?
- News package on online newspaper has developed strongly in international
newspapers, but in Vietnam, there are still few, assuming that domestic
newspapers still have many financial difficulties. Is there any recommendation of
low-cost production?

5. Theoretical and practical background and research methods
5.1 Theoretical background
- The General Methodology: The thesis approaches research objectives and
tasks based on the following main theoretical frameworks: the Communist Party's
and Vietnam State's views, law and policies; modern journalism theories about
concepts, history of development, roles, functions, operational principles of
author-work-audiences, communication and mass media theory
- Specialized methodology: The thesis uses the following theories:
(1) Theories on online newspaper: The concept, history of development,
characteristics for online newspaper, HTML programming language, presentation,
changing role of online newspaper... in the books: The basis of online newspaper
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by author Nguyen Thi Truong Giang (Political Publishing House - Administration,
2011, Hanoi); Journalism Online (Online Press) by Mike Ward (Oxford: Focal
Press. 2002); and Online Journalism - A critical primer of Jim Hall ...- Theory of
multimedia, storytelling in the book Multimedia Storytelling for Digital
Communicators in a Multiplatform World, Gossip story for digital media in the
multi-platform world by Gitner, Seth (New York: Routledge 2015); Journalism
and multimedia media edited by author Nguyen Thi Truong Giang (National
University Publishing House, Hanoi 2017) ...
(2) Theory of Hierarchy of Influences: The theory of "Influence hierarchies"
in the mass media summarized by Pamela Shoemaker and Stephen D. Reese in
1996, and by Reese development and expansion related to global communications
issues in 2001. This framework is introduced in the book Communication
Messages: Theories Affecting Mass Media Content by Shoemaker and Reese. [60]
and scientific journalism Press research and model of influence hierarchies:
Stephen D.Reese's global vision. This is the theory of communication sociology
analyzing the impact of the media ecosystem, analyzing the influence levels on the

media content.
(3) Multimodality theory of digital longform products: In the course of the
study, there is no term corresponding to longform found in Vietnamese, the thesis
allows to use the form from the longform to bring the full meaning of this
journalism. The theory of multimodality of digital longform products is actually
developed from the theory of semantic, semiotics in communication, which is led
by Arthur Saga Berger in Semiotics Analysis in Media Analysis article.
Techniques; 1998 was then inherited and developed perfectly with the work of
Daniel Chandler “Semiotics - the basic” in 2007 and Sigrid Norris and Carmen
Daniela Maier in “Interaction, image and text - a reader in multimodality”. The
thesis writer uses these theories in the study of how multimedia news package are
encoded and formed using semantic and symbolic modes.
(4) Theory of Use and Gratifications: This theory was born in the 40s of the
XX century in the US. This theory studies the behavior of media exposure by the
public. In the 1940s and 1950s, research on the theory of "Use and Satisfaction"
was quite sketchy, studies in the early stages only inducted the types of "use" and
"gratification". There is no breakthrough in theory; the main method is interviews,
not forming a strict survey analysis process. Until the 1960s, the value of these
studies was reaffirmed and research activities were more active, among that the
most typical results were from the surveys of British media expert Denis McQuail,
(University of Amsterdam, Netherlands). The researchers found that the public's
exposure to the media was based on basic needs, such as information,
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entertainment, social relations and mental and psychological needs. The content
and form of the media all meet those basic human needs. The media audiences in
the Internet environment is also characterized by "anonymity" so their needs are
more individualized, their behavior is to some extent affected by this
characteristic. In addition to practical reports on the trend of using and receiving

press information, the thesis author uses this theory to assess the current situation
of audience consuming multimedia news package.
5.2. Research methods
General research methods: Based on the principles of dialectical logic,
research uses some common research methods such as analysis - synthesis, logic history, modeling - generalization, inductive - interpretation.
Specific research methods:
Methods of document analysis: Selecting research studies, works of
relevant domestic and foreign authors, websites of survey subject newspapers,
websites of research organizations... to synthesize and analyze, on that basis, draw
out the arguments and arguments for the research subjects; At the same time,
inheriting available studies, serving as a basis for evaluating survey results, finding
trends of research issues. Media content analysis method: The author uses
Google search engine and search engine on 3 surveyed newspapers with the
keywords "Interactive", "Multimedia, "Megastory", “Longform” in order to find
the right articles according to criteria. Each newspaper also has a summary list of
outstanding articles using the yearly distribution - this is a very well-integrated
synthesizer, a data source that helps to understand research issues from perspective
of each editorial office. The articles that are read and studied in detail are selected
by the systematic random method, with the first selected by the random method
(jump = 3). The author chooses each newspaper 20 articles per year according to
this method for specific research. The total number of papers in each newspaper is
60 articles. The two researchers coded the packages, with 10.43% overlap (n =
16). The average consistency is 93%, with the reliability measured by the
Krippendorf Alpha average of 0.8245. The thesis uses SPSS quantitative
information processing software and Nvivo qualitative information processing
software.
Scope of research: Choose 3 large online newspapers in 3 countries: New
York Times (USA), The Guardian (UK), VnExpress (Vietnam)
Sample: multimedia news packages on 3 surveyed online newspapers, from
January 1, 2014 - December 31, 2016

Research unit: Full-text content, the elements of the components used in
the lesson
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Quantitative analysis:
- Statistics of numbers and comparison of numbers of news package on 3
survey reports in 3 years (2014-2016)
- Statistics on the number, frequency of use and comparison of structures
and elements in the multimedia news package
Case study method: I selected two well-invested and outstanding cases
which are the United States Presidential Election 2016 and Rio Olympic Games
2016 to analyze indepth and to compare content and format of the multimedia
news package among the newspapers. Since then, the development trends in using
multimedia news package have been found. I analyze the multimedia news
package in terms of storytelling, news value, and media formats. The dissertation
lists all the news packages on these two topics in 3 newspapers.
Interview method: The researcher used this method to study the awareness,
situation and trends of using multimedia news package at these editorial offices,
especially the 3 selected newspapers to verify and add the missing theoretical and
practical parts, also explore organizing implementation and producing process of
multimedia news package. Specifically, we conducted in-depth interviews with 17
cases of the following groups:
+ Group 1 (9 cases): those who directly implement and produce the news
package in many different newspapers including 4 editors, 2 reporters, 2 designers.
+ Group 2 (3 cases): online newspaper managers;
+ Group 3 (5 cases): experts in the field of media and journalism;
journalists, researchers, organizational leaders, reporters, editors, technicians.
Interview conducted directly and via phone or email.
Method of using secondary sources: secondary sources from research

institutions such as American Institute of Journalism, Reuter Institution…are used
to measure the relevance, interest in the products.
6. Scientific contribution of thesis
The thesis studies a new form of online journalism product: multimedia
news package, so there will be many scientific discoveries. The thesis clarifies the
concept of multimedia news package, ways of storytelling, purposes,
classification, creative methods, production organization; deeply analyze some of
the multimedia news package cases of leading newspapers in the world to see the
peak development of the current online newspaper; from that, an objective
assessment of Vietnam's multimedia news package products is proposed to
improve the quality, and find trends in using news package in the current online
newspapers. research results of the thesis will be orientation for online newsrooms.
This is a reference for researchers, managers, lecturers and journalists.
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7. Theoretical and practical significance
- Theoretical significance
Newspapers are constantly evolving and in the digital age, newspapers have
changed drastically. The most stable parts of the press like genres are also
changing. Up to now, very few domestic published research papers have a
definition of article genre that has both text, images, sound, graphics, interactive
maps, in the scope of thousands of words, dozens of full screen sized photos,
videos, while intertwined with express spaces and continuous narration...
Communication technologies have changed the public media approach, and turned
back to change content of the press itself. Modern journalism theory precedes the
need for additional research issue. This thesis clarifies the history of formation,
concepts, characteristics, classification and development trends of one of the new
types of press works, a representative of the digital journalism era - that is
multimedia news package on online newspaper.

- Practical significance
This is also a problem that domestic journalism practice has to study and
learn to keep the loyal audiences, as well as to find new because if readers, there
cannot exist and perform the social political tasks of the press.
8. Structure of thesis
In addition to the Introduction, Conclusion, Literature review, List of
Abbreviation, List of Tables, Table of Contents, Appendix, the thesis consists of
four chapters as follows:
Chapter 1: Theoretical and practical basis of using multimedia news
packages on online newspapers
Chapter 2: Current situation of the trend in using multimedia news packages
on online newspapers
Chapter 3: Trends in using multimedia news packages on online newspapers
through case studies of Olympics Rio 2016 and the US Presidential Election 2016
on the New York Times, The Guardian and VnExpress
Chapter 4: Evaluation of successes, limitations, trend prediction and
recommendation to enhance the quality of multimedia news packages on the
online newspapers in Vietnam

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LITERATURE REVIEW
1. The situation of research of multimedia news package on online newspaper
in the world
The thesis presents the results of studies related to the topic at different
approaches in the world. In particular, international researchers expressed their
views in 3 angles of news package, namely 1. approach from the perspective of
performance quality of online journalism, digital journalism, emphasizing the
distinctive nature of the online newspaper and the multimedia news package are at

the level of application of hypertext languages. 2. studies from the technical
perspective,
emphasizing
the
role
of
digital
era
technology
improvement/innovation affect the way of reporting online newspaper, assuming
the internet environment and its attributes including hypertext, interactivity,
multimedia that impacted the quality of multimedia news package; 3. studies of
approaching multimedia news package from the perspective of journalistic
content, considering the type of storytelling press and longform in the digital
environment (narrative journalism, longform journalism) are precursors to
multilateral news convenient now. The researches mentioned directly to this topic
is still thin, mainly analysis conducted by and from the perspective of journalists.
The theoretical perspective on multimedia news package is still a gap and in
need of additional research. Among a few significant researches, there are some
remarkable works such as Dowling and Vogan [28] found that long articles often
try to create a "A cognitive container, an environment that protects readers from
the inconveniences caused by the typical web browsing processes of the previous
day, allows them to become immersed in the story”. This contrasts with the
consumption of rapid information and fragmentation of online news in the theory
of author Barnhurst (2012) [23]. In the study of Jacobson, Marino and Gutsche
[35, 14], "paralax scroll" technique - which means content floating on the page at
different speeds is considered to be the main feature of this genre. The authors
concluded that the combination of technology in storytelling helped the longform
improve recontextualize the traditional techniques of literary journalism. This may
lead to an argument that: longform is not just about displaying technological

power, but (in fact) that multimedia structure is at the core of the narrative
structure. Other features related to longform identification include video looping,
including a single image, and a transition between text content and image content.
The combination of minimal interface with many visual elements creates a
cinematic effect [66].
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Tuomo Hiippala has described the diverse structure of 12 longform-type
articles published in 2012-2013, to characterize the emerging genre of digital
longform [64]. The author explained how the longforms combine language
writing, photo magazines, short videos and other contextual modes, allowing them
to realize a seamless story, and therefore, to provide user experience differs from
other press categories, such as landing pages, photo exhibitions, and story stories.
The author also studies text flow, image flow and page flow to capture how
writing, language, images, videos and other types of content are combined,
analyzes showing that longform categories tend to organize content according to
linear structure. This means that unlike displaying the home page/landing page
that presents different types of content for the reader, the longform spends the
entire screen for a single mode at one time. Longforms combine these contents
together by using some major transformations such as scanning and dissolution
(wipe - dissolve) - the same way as in movies.
R Hernandez, J Rue (2015), The Principles of Multimedia Journalism:
Packaging Digital News, Routledge Publishing House, New York is a study that
summarizes some of the common manifestations of some outstanding news
package [33]. The book contains 10 chapters, in which Chapter 1: Introduction to
multimedia news package. The authors acknowledge that the term "news package"
is still unpopular in the web industry. Chapter 2, the authors examine the evolution
of digital news package, from the advent of personal computers in the 1980s to
today's more modern browsers. Chapter 3, the authors present this development

process of the multimedia news package classification principle. Through research
and recognition of repeating factors, the author has built a model that helps us
better understand the different forms of news. This model can be considered as a
framework for additional research into systematizing news package.
2. Research situation of multimedia news package on online newspaper
in Vietnam
Through researching the documents, the thesis author found that domestic
studies have just conducted basic researches on online newspapers, general
arguments about multimedia journalism. Some studies have mentioned multimedia
news packages on online newspapers but there are very few, and the research
results are small and non-systematic, only at the level of sketching the panorama,
and listed some manifestations of multimedia news package in several local
newspapers. It can be affirmed that this is still a comprehensive and
comprehensive study of both the theory and practice of the first multimedia news
package on the online newspaper.
3. Summary of the Literature review
9


In the Literature Overview section, the dissertation presents the system of
asymptotic researches/projects related to the topic to provide an overview for
research issues, specifically: 1. researches around the world are close to the
multimedia news package on online newspaper issue. 2. indepth and direct
researches about the issue of multimedia news package in the world; 3. research
projects on online newspaper and multimedia news package on online newspaper
in Vietnam.

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CHAPTER 1: THEORETICAL AND PRACTICAL BASIS OF USING
MULTIMEDIA NEWS PACKAGE ON ONLINE NEWSPAPER
1.1. Basic concepts related to the topic,
The thesis clarifies basic concepts: trend, news packages, multimedia,
electronic newspapers, multimedia news packages on oline newspapers.
Multimedia news package is understood as: an emerging form journalism
product published on online newspaper, or a collection of news and articles
reporting multiple aspects a complex, multi-dimensional and/or data-driven topic;
with linear or non-linear structure, vivid and realistic storytelling by many highquality multimedia elements including text, photos, audio, video, graphics, data
visualization, interactive elements, communication participation and social media,
... which are creatively assembled as unified whole, closely linked with each other
with smooth transitions.
1.2. Composition of multimedia news package on online newspaper
The thesis clarifies the constituent elements of a multimedia news package
on the online newspaper and their characteristics, evidenced by specific examples
of multimedia news package that stand out in many newspapers around the world.
The elements are: text, images, audio, video, graphics, interactive programs
1.3. Characteristics of multimedia news package on online newspaper
1.3.1. Characteristics of content in multimedia news package on online
newspaper
The thesis points out that the news package usually includes the following
characteristics: 1. news package often draws on big, unique topics with high social
value; 2. Storytelling in multimedia news package using both linear and non-linear
methods; Using many literary methods.
1.3.2. Characteristics of format of multimedia news package on online
newspaper.
Format characteristics include 1. Large and unlimited work capacity; 2.
Diversified and very creative multimedia elements; 3. Interactive elements are
seamlessly integrated; news package can be in closed or opened format with
custom design.

1.4. Multimedia news package classification on online newspaper.
Before presenting their views on the news package classification, the thesis
presents a classification perspective of international authors.
1.4.1. Classification of Paul Grabowicz (2014) Grabowicz classifies according to
two principles: 1. the classification depends on the narrative characteristics of
story in the article (including the narrative structure and the narrative means). 2.
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categorizing based on the distribution of the media elements: how to put the
elements in a very different story. Sometimes the text will drive the whole story,
and the multimedia elements such as videos, graphics or image slideshows are set
aside. In other cases, the multimedia elements are embedded in the text (or even
embedded in video as interactive elements in the video) or become part of the
Immersiveexperience.
1.4.2. Classification of R Hernandez and Rue (2015) Inherited by author Paul
Grabowicz and developed based on the biological classification tower of scientist
Carolus Linnaean, who is considered the father of today's classification system,
researchers R Hernandez and Rue (2015) [33] classified multimedia news package
in to biological classes (the Left), and on the Right is
Life
Domain

Kể chuyện
Non fiction storytelling

Kingdom Online Non fiction storytelling
Phylum
Class
Order

Family

Multimedia newspackge
Base on structure: continuous,
comprehensive, immersive
Base on multimedia elements:
text, images, audio, video,
game, data…
Christmas
tree
format,
embedded multimedia…

1.4.3. Classification of thesis writer
Inheriting all classification points of Paul Grabowicz and two authors R
Hernandez and Rue, thesis writer suppose that multimedia news package can be
divided into 3 main groups including Continuous, Comprehensive, Immersive and
the fourth group is the Mixed which has intersection characteristics of at least two
out of the three main groups. The classification opinion is shown as the chart
below:

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 Continuous category has the following characteristics: - Often reported
linearly, the topic is a reportage of an event or a narrative stories about a person; The multimedia elements often locate in the narrative process, or if it is too
scattering that affects the content flow, it will be arranged next to it (text); Having a main media element that plays narrative role throughout entire story, This news package group is more suitable for passive news consumption, readers
need less interaction than when viewing news package in the other two groups.
Readers only receive mainly by reading and viewing, not much clicking, making

decisions. - In many circumstances, it is possible to use the built-in template to
make this Continuous news package style, without the need for software or
graphics experts to participate. The design is not too sophisticated
 Comprehensive category have the following characteristics: - Topical stories
or article forms that need to convey a lot of information or when it comes to
solving major topics, not just a single reporting unit or certain stories, - This news
package format allows users to choose to read, view any content they like first, no
need in certain order.
 Immersive category has the following characteristics: - Using a lot of audio
visuals to strongly influence the viewers' vision; - High-resolution, full-screen,
vivid, full-screen audio images, like watching movies, or like
watching/experiencing a video game. It requires viewers to interact, and open the
screen full screen; - Usually has Play/Launch button on the first page of
multimedia news package.
 Mixed category: In fact, many news packages combine characteristics of
many packages, forming a group with the interference characteristics of two out of
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the three groups mentioned above. Includes: Immersive - Continuous: news
package has many features of the Immersivegroup, with impressive audio and
video, giving the audience a sense of the story’s part. Besides the way of telling
stories with a linear orientation, the reader needs to read in the order from the top
down, which is predetermined by the author. - Comprehensive - Continuous: The
package is distributed in the style of the Comprehensive group - that is, divided
into chapters, sections, the reader can choose the order of chapters to read
according to preferences, not too affect the whole product logic. Each chapter is
told in the style of the Continuous group; - Immersive - Comprehensive: This is
news package prioritized reader's absolute experience - producers want readers to
have their own reading order, and readers' experience with the product. Each

person's own way is also the number one priority of this news package format.
1.5. Quality evaluation criteria for a multimedia news package on the online
newspaper.
The two basic criteria to evaluate are: 1. The multimedia news package
content that reports, reflects a major event, or analyzes certain issues, topics, and
characters; 2. The diversified, highly personalized news package structure, and
complete body of the elements of the package with specific transition techniques.
1.6. Factors affecting the trend of using multimedia news package on online
newspaper.
The thesis raises the impact factors including: 1. Viewpoints and principles
of the editorial office; 2. The variety of editorial channels / platforms; 3.
Interaction between product producers and the needs of the public; 4. The effects
of technological progress, especially digital technology.
*Summary of Chapter 1
In Chapter 1, the thesis managed to clarify concepts related to research
issues such as journalism trend, multimedia, multimedia news package, digital
longform; clarify roles, characteristics and classification of 4 main groups of news
package with different genre characteristics. This chapter also clarifies the
practical basis of the topic with the prevailing press trends: the trend of the press
media continues to be promoted, the social network continues to be an unofficial
source of information but still predominantly, algorithms of social networks
significantly influence policy decisions on the content and advertising of news
publishers; The problem of fake news and disinformation tends to be stronger; In
the media, television is stalling, online and radio tend to increase in viewership.
All of these trends are set in the context of highly interactive, digitalized and
personalized digital media.
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CHAPTER 2:

CURRENT SITUATION OF TREND IN USING MULTIMEDIA
NEWS PACKAGE ON ONLINE NEWSPAPER

2.1. Introduce 3 surveyed online newspapers
Nytimes.com is the online version of The New York Times (NYT) print
newspaper dating back to 1851, the electronic version was born in 1996 and is one
of the most important newspapers in America. NYT and Nytimes.com have won
many awards for their innovative journalism. The Guardian also originated as the
famous print newspaper of England born 1821, the electronic version
Theguardian.com was developed in 1994-1995, TG is always one of the leading
newspapers in multimedia journalism. VNE online newspaper at Vnexpress.net is
among newspapers that producing multimedia news packages in the early stage
and many of them were modern and impressive. At the time of the research
students selected this topic, VNE is one of the electronic networking newspapers
that has the most impressive multimedia presentations.
2.2. Analyze trends in using multimedia news package on the three online
newspapers in the research
2.2.1. Frequency of use of the news packages of the three surveyed newspapers
from 2014 - 2016
While NYT and TG gradually increased in frequency of using news
packages, VNE newspaper of Vietnam tended to decrease in the period of 2014 2015, and news packages, slightly increased in the period of 2015 - 2016.
2.2.2. Contents of news packages of three surveyed newspapers from 2014 2016
Among the articles published, using the systematic random method, the
thesis selected 20 articles per year of NYT and TG for specific research, which
sum up 60 articles per newspaper per year. Particularly VNE newspaper is
intentionally researched entirely, because 3 years the total number is only 45
articles. Since there are some articles that are no longer available on the website or
the video link is broken, only 16/23 articles are published in 2014, 9/10 articles in
2015 and articles in 2016 are 12/12.
News packages often cover topics that have social impacts: First, about

individuals, groups of people (or animals) with unusual talents, special stories,
famous characters; Second, reflect on individuals or groups of people who
encounter big and complex problems; Third, the news package
recreates/stimulates complex events, complex issues or exciting real-world
15


experiences; explain things, events, difficult to visualize phenomena. The content
of news package has three main purposes: 1. to give information, 2. to explain, to
analyze; 3. the meaning of entertainment. Specifically, according to the survey,
there are 119 news packages used for giving information, storytelling, 50 news
packages is used to analyze, explain a certain problem and 1 news package used
for entertainment. In which TG uses the number of articles for giving information/
storytelling information is 47 articles, while NYT’s is 41 articles and VNE’s is 31
articles.
2.3. Format of multimedia news package on 3 surveyed online newspaper
As mentioned in the news packages classification in chapter 1, news
package is divided into 4 categories: Continuous, Comprehensive, Immersive and
Mixed group (including Immersive - Continuous, Comprehensive - Continuous,
Immersive - Comprehensive) based on two factors: storytelling and characteristics
of the use of the multimedia elements. The dissertation analyzes the model and
illustrates the proof of this news packages format.
2.4. Use multimedia elements in the multimedia news package of the three
online newspapers. The dissertation also analyzes ways to use outstanding
multimedia elements: text, images, audio, video, graphics and interactive
programs.
* Summary of Chapter 2
This chapter analyzes the general characteristics of the quantity, frequency,
content and format of multimedia news package on the three surveyed
newspapers. The results show that the number of TG and NYT is approximately

the same, tends to increase slightly, while VNE is less and tends to decrease the
forms of news package with complicated forms. Each newspaper shows its own
strengths about content exploitation. Two international newspapers, developed
from print newspapers, have rich and abundant content sources. All three
newspapers have news packages that exploit the content of the three topic groups.
Formally, NYT uses a variety of Continuous, Comprehensive, Immersive and
Mixed group. Meanwhile, the strength of TG is Continuous, and Mixed. VNE also
has products that use quite comprehensive model.
The creativity of the content and design team is no limit. Over the years,
newspapers have innovated the same old elements, and also applied new
techniques in graphic design and interactive activities with readers such as virtual
reality, 3D techniques... Chapter 2 is the overview and detailed observations of the
entire multimedia news package of the three surveyed newspapers in 3 years 2014,
2015 and 2016. These are the background research results for the thesis to go into
Chapter 3 of the case studies with comparative analysis.
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CHAPTER 3:
TRENDS IN USING MULTIMEDIA NEWSPACKAGE ON
ONLINE NEWSPAPERS THROUGH CASE STUDIES:
OLYMPIC RIO 2016 AND USA PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION 2016 ON
THE NEW YORK TIMES, THE GUARDIAN AND VNEXPRESS
3.1. Introduction to two case studies
3.1.1 and 3.1.2 introduce two major survey events. These are two international
events which are a political event and a sport event and both have great social
impact, and are favorable topics for the press to promote creativity and show the
technical level of technology in reporting.
3.1.3. Correlation in quantity and frequency in using multimedia news package
on two topics on three survey newspapers. The purpose of the following analysis

is to understand the trend in using forms of news packages in online newsrooms.
Understanding how to do the three survey newspapers on the same topics has
important comparative implications (whether in terms of journalism style/type,
certain choice and reality). Currently, different editorial offices are different
because of their conditions and position. But the research, analysis and comparison
are still necessary to achieve the general purpose of the thesis. On NYT, the
number of news package on the 2016 US Presidential election event is 133, five
times higher than the news package on Olympic Rio 2016. In TG, the number of
news package used in two major events of the world near the same, with 18
articles on the Olympics Rio 2016 and 21 articles on the US Presidential Election.
VNE has the modest number usage of news package at two events which are three
packages and four packages, respectively.
3.2. Current situation of news package on Olympic Rio 2016
3.2.1. About quantity and frequency of news package Rio Olympic 2016.
Through the statistics of the number of news package used in the Rio 2016
Olympic Games, we saw that NYT produced the most with 26 packages, TG
ranked second with 16 news packages, VNE ranked third with three packages.
VNE - Vietnam online newspaper representative in this study has 3 news packages
covering Rio 2016. By analyzing the three newspapers, we can see that VNE had
great effort in reporting this important sporting event.
3.2.2. About the content of news package Rio Olympic 2016 theme. In this
section, the dissertation analyzes the content and techniques shown in these news
package, including: impressive victory moments, world records through the
Olympics, scandals in the period Rio 2016 Olympic Games; memorable images in
the Rio 2016 Olympics, remarkable achievements of countries, emerging
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generations of international sports, the journey to the success of Olympic legends,
analysis of competitive techniques.

3.2.3. The multimedia news package texture is preferred Mixed structure
(structure with a combination of at least 2 out of 3 types Continuous,
Comprehensive, Immersive) is the most used structure - with a total of 81
packages, and mostly by NYT; the second most used package is the Continuous
package with 58 packages, used by TG, the third is the Comprehensive package
with 56 packages, in which NYT has 35 packages and TG has 21 packages, and
the fourth is Immersive with 3 packages which all used by NYT. The dissertation
analyzes the outstanding news package, different ways of exploiting the structure,
and the multimedia techniques of each newspaper's own creative ways.
3.3. Current situation of news package about the US Presidential Election
2016
3.3.1. Number and frequency in using news package on 2016 US Presidential
Election.
NYT dominates with 133 news package, six times more than TG with 21
news packages, and 33 times more than VNE with 4 news package. Since this is a
big event taking place in the US, this editorial office has invested manpower and
resources (time, tools, and external support) to produce high quality news package
Thus, NYT has proved its superior strength in manufacturing news package about
outstanding political events. Although the US presidential race ended in 2016, the
newspaper continued to investigate and successfully uncovered the Russian
involvement in this political event, as well as "dissecting" the detail Russia's
relationship with the cabinet of President Donald Trump. This series of
investigations helped NYT win the "National Press" category of the Pulitzer 2018
award [21].
In news package of US Presidential Election, VNE selected 4 topics: 2016
US Presidential Election, Trump's win and Republican Party, Representing the
most important battleground states in the US election; Presidential debate in
American history as the subjects to implement news package. Most of these are
general content topics, and there are elements that need different layers of
information including history. Different from TG, most packages are about voting

sessions.
3.3.2. Content of the news package about the topic US Presidential Election
2016
The theme of the news package in the 2016 US Presidential Election event
includes synthesis of voting results, analysis of the debate among candidates,
assessment of candidates' views, prediction of voting results, public opinion on
18


election, speech analysis of candidates, analysis of reports from authorities, and
other topics.
3.3.3. News package structures most uses
The often used news package stypes are Continuous, Comprehensive Continuous, Immersive - Continuous. In this section, the thesis analyzes the
specific content and techniques shown in these news packages.
* Conclusion of Chapter 3
In Chapter 3, the thesis writer conducts indepth research on two research
cases: Olympic Rio 2016 and the US Presidential Elections 2016. The author has
specifically analyzed and detailed both of these cases to clarify how to use news
package in terms of content, form, analysis of causes and explain the successes
and limitations of each in this particular cases, compares the relationship between
each newspaper when reflecting on a topic. Each newspaper has its own strengths
and exploits the subject and structure, the multimedia elements are unique and
extremely impressive. Detailed surveys in Chapters 2 and 3 are the basis ground
for a general assessment of the successes, limitations and causes of success, the
limitations of using multimedia news package on three online newspapers, and
predict trends in using multimedia news package in the near future.

19

CHAPTER 4
EVALUATION OF SUCSESS AND LIMITATION,
TREND PREDICTION AND RECOMMENDATION TO ENHANCE
QUALITY OF MULTIMEDIA NEWS PACKAGES
ON ONLINE NEWSPAPER IN VIETNAM
4.1. The success, limitation and causes of success and limitation of the three
publishers in the use of multimedia news package
4.1.1. The success of the three publishers in using multimedia news package can
be listed as follow: the three newspapers are always in the group of multimedia
creative pioneer in their industrial level; the content of the news packages are
extensive, highly social valued with diverse, creative forms; Successful news
package are powerful tools to strengthen and spread the brand of publishers; the
publishers proceed to standardize the news package production process to reduce
time, manpower and finance costs; Meet the public's expectation for receiving
high-quality press information, creating more interactive opportunities for readers
4.1.2. Limitation and limited causes of the three publishers in using multimedia
news package can be listed as follow: Most news package are designed for
website format, no mobile version yet; The drawback of VNE is that there are not
many breakthroughs in producing news packages; limited quality of the
transmission line, and website infrastructure will reduce the creativity of
designers, especially for the domestic newspaper VNE; In TG and NYT, there is a
conflict between the ambition of journalists and editors in transferring large and
complex content with readers' acceptability/ability; Financial pressure, revenue
and human resources are factors that greatly affect quality journalism choices,
especially in the domestic newspaper VNE.
4.2. Predict the trend of using multimedia news package on the online
newspaper in the future
4.2.1. Package-based reporting continues to be a trend to be promoted with
advanced technology, actively support press content
Application of technology to communication activities is an important factor for

news publishers and publishers to exist and develop. Multimedia, social media,
data journalism, mobile journalism, virtual reality technology, artificial
intelligence, online chat platforms ... are the prevailing trends in the press flow and
world digital communication today. The content, the form of media products are
changing, the process of creating multimedia journalism works is changing, the
method of distributing is also changing.
4.2.2. The trend of strengthening news package production on mobile phones
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According to the author's report with the new mobile phone habits, longform holds readers twice as long as short-form articles, and attract the same
number of readers. According to Pew Press Research Center, the types of longform articles that retain readers are 123 seconds on average, compared to 57
seconds for the short form, the corresponding number of readers of the two
corresponding works are 1530 and 1576 respectively.
4.2.3. The development trend of newspapers in general depends heavily on the
algorithms of social networks, especially Facebook and Google
With 1.7 billion users every month globally, Facebook has become the
world's largest newspaper, in other words a great source of information. 44% of
people in 26 countries around the world participated in a recent survey by the
Reuters Press Research Institute of Oxford University, saying they consider
Facebook a key source of information. The rate for printed newspapers dropped to
a very low level of 24%. Facebook-owned platforms - including Instagram,
Messenger and WhatsApp - reach 86% of Internet users between the ages of 16
and 64 in the GlobalWebIndex survey's 33 countries.
4.2.4. The news package will be produced more and more personalized
Personalize the communication shown in 3 categories: - Personalize news
content; Personalize the news experience; Personalize news services,
4.2.5 The production process becomes more complicated with the editor having
to build the raw script of the news package, and the role of the coder and the
painter increases.

The importance of programmers and designers in the production process
increases, in addition to the role of reporters and editors. The thesis proposes basic
steps in the production process news package on online newspaper.
4.2.6. The trend of producing products for paying customers (paid content) or
coordinating production with partners is based on the principle of mutual
benefit between the editorial office and organizations.
Although there is no strong potential like NYT and TG, the newsrooms are
focusing on high-quality journalism, and this will be a way to attract advertising
and readers. The tendency to tell stories in an interactive way increases.
Sometimes words, videos or images are not enough to put a story in the most
appealing way.
4.2.7. The trend of storytelling in interactive way increases
Interactive storytelling uses technology to engage users on multiple levels,
evoking as many senses as possible, to create a unique experience that stands out
from traditional content delivery. The next phase of the creative design will be an
21


ingenious blend of art, sound, photography, movement and tempo that is
beautifully illustrated and cleverly combined.
4.3. Recommendations to enhance the quality of multimedia newspackage on
Vietnam's online newspapers
4.3.1. Editorial research and development teams need to develop user-friendly
and easy-to-use structure and tools collections for journalists and readers who
can create news packages or restructure content.
4.3.2. Set up bigger content data to get resources for essential topics
4.3.3. Recruitment of human resources to meet the requirements of multimedia
journalism
4.3.4. Change correspondent training format
4.3.5. Invest equipment in the production of innovative journalism products

Each agency itself needs to regularly update the trend, supplement
knowledge on the use of new technology products in the production of press
products in general and multimedia news package technology in particular for
reporters and editors. Maintaining engagement with loyal readers becomes the
"heart" of the business and messaging strategy.
* Conclusion of Chapter 4
In the production of high quality news package, the connection between
sections in newsroom becomes stronger than ever. The role of reporters and
editors in developing multimedia news package in writing script, and the role of
programmers and painters increased. In the past, technology followed information,
served information, but today two fields support each other and help each other
improve. Besides, essential factors of finance, marketing strategy ... also directly
affect the production process and quality as well.
Using visualization reportage and promoting digital applications is an
important management strategy that media editorial leaders consistently pursue.
NYT and TG have strongly developed the high quality multimedia news package
genres and won many prestigious journalism awards, as well as won the trust of
readers of the global 4.0 technology era, the smaller scale VNE also achieved
certain success. Although in the annual report released 1/2017 entitled "Journalism
That Stands Apart", "Lady Grey" NYT though self-assessment they have
"significant innovation, but need more speed" and "need to change at a faster pace
than ever ", but what NYT does is actually the "dream" of many newspapers, what
NYT pursues is motivation also is the goal to the newsrooms of the world. But the
concerns of NYT newspaper leaders are not without foundation.

22


CONCLUSION
Accelerating the visualization of press information is now the most

important task to be done of many major press agencies in the world and in
Vietnam. In the world, this trend has formed and continues to grow strongly with
diverse manifestations. The study of the work of the two global newspapers on
multimedia news package and the study of a representative of Vietnam to
synthesize general reasoning, as well as matching to draw practical lessons for the
Vietnamese press is essential.
The thesis has studied 4 main issues that are 1. Explaining what the news
package is, the history of formation, the overall characteristics and characteristics
of multimedia attributes. That means the multimedia news package currently
available on online newspapers is essentially a long-term literary and journalistic
product that is expressed in polymorphic languages on the Internet platform. In the
digital media context, when the public changes, when social networks dominate
most of the time and become their main source of daily information, multimedia
news packages with the superiority of it becomes a quality and nutritious dish on
information tray. 2&3. Conducting two case studies: one is a quantitative survey
of the entire news packages within 3 years (2014-2016) in 3 survey papers to find
out the number, frequency and internal characteristics, content, form of
multimedia news packages; secondly, with a case study of the Olympic Rio 2016
and the US Presidential Election 2016 - two important events in the world to
analyze, compare deeply into the structure and way of development. 4. From these
two surveys, in chapter 4, the thesis clarifies the success, limitation in the use of
multimedia news packages and the causes of those. Since then, the thesis predicts
the development trends of news package in newsrooms.
In the 4.0 revolution era of journalism, when robots were programmed to
exploit big data to write articles within only 3 minutes, a question is raised: "Will
journalists as humans soon be replaced?". The answer is "Not yet", because of the
fact that although it is possible to produce news, articles with high speed and
accuracy, feature stories which need analysis, expressing views, feelings,
comments, with sophisticated storytelling, robot has not been able to do so. The
researchers also pointed out that, in the era of mobile journalism, readers still like

to read long and deep, besides, they also want to receive press products in a new
format. Therefore, in order to fully implement its role, journalists need to provide
deep, analytical and highly compelling journalistic products. The response of the
newsroom to these trends will be crucial to their success.
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