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Media development in practice : What Swedish aid achieved in Vietnam

Mattsson, Andreas LU orcid (2025) In Development Dissertation Briefs
Abstract
This Development Dissertation Brief summarises a study of Sweden’s long-
term media aid engagement in Vietnam from 1993 to 2007, examining how
journalistic skills, norms and practices were introduced, translated and reshaped
within an authoritarian media system. Drawing on project documentation and
interviews with Swedish journalism trainers and radio technicians, the disserta-
tion analyses how technological innovations, pedagogical encounters and lin-
guistic and cultural differences influenced the development of Vietnamese
journalism during a period of rapid economic and digital change.
The research shows that media aid functioned as an arena for negotiations ra-
ther than a transfer of journalistic... (More)
This Development Dissertation Brief summarises a study of Sweden’s long-
term media aid engagement in Vietnam from 1993 to 2007, examining how
journalistic skills, norms and practices were introduced, translated and reshaped
within an authoritarian media system. Drawing on project documentation and
interviews with Swedish journalism trainers and radio technicians, the disserta-
tion analyses how technological innovations, pedagogical encounters and lin-
guistic and cultural differences influenced the development of Vietnamese
journalism during a period of rapid economic and digital change.
The research shows that media aid functioned as an arena for negotiations ra-
ther than a transfer of journalistic ideals from Sweden. Technological capacity
building, such as live broadcasting and principles for presenting news, gener-
ated the most durable impact, while normative components related to ethics or
autonomy encountered structural resistance tied to political oversight, incentive
systems and social norms. The study also identifies trainers and interpreters as
key mediators who shaped how journalistic ideas were understood and adapted
in local settings.
The Brief argues that foreign aid for media development is most effective when
interventions align with local conditions, prioritise context-specific learning
and recognise the central role of relational and cultural brokerage. These in-
sights contribute to ongoing debates on the future of media development and
media assistance efforts. It offers guidance for designing sustainable support to
journalism in transitional and restrictive environments. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
organization
publishing date
type
Book/Report
publication status
published
subject
keywords
journalism, media development, media assistance, foreign aid, development aid, vietnam, interpreters
in
Development Dissertation Briefs
issue
07
pages
36 pages
publisher
Expertgruppen för Biståndsanalys (EBA)
report number
2026
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
a64afea2-b94a-4305-a87d-e77bf222913a
alternative location
https://eba.se/app/uploads/2026/05/DDB-2026-07-Vietnam-DIGITAL.pdf
date added to LUP
2026-06-09 10:32:11
date last changed
2026-06-10 08:51:07
@techreport{a64afea2-b94a-4305-a87d-e77bf222913a,
  abstract     = {{This Development Dissertation Brief summarises a study of Sweden’s long-<br/>term media aid engagement in Vietnam from 1993 to 2007, examining how<br/>journalistic skills, norms and practices were introduced, translated and reshaped<br/>within an authoritarian media system. Drawing on project documentation and<br/>interviews with Swedish journalism trainers and radio technicians, the disserta-<br/>tion analyses how technological innovations, pedagogical encounters and lin-<br/>guistic and cultural differences influenced the development of Vietnamese<br/>journalism during a period of rapid economic and digital change.<br/>The research shows that media aid functioned as an arena for negotiations ra-<br/>ther than a transfer of journalistic ideals from Sweden. Technological capacity<br/>building, such as live broadcasting and principles for presenting news, gener-<br/>ated the most durable impact, while normative components related to ethics or<br/>autonomy encountered structural resistance tied to political oversight, incentive<br/>systems and social norms. The study also identifies trainers and interpreters as<br/>key mediators who shaped how journalistic ideas were understood and adapted<br/>in local settings.<br/>The Brief argues that foreign aid for media development is most effective when<br/>interventions align with local conditions, prioritise context-specific learning<br/>and recognise the central role of relational and cultural brokerage. These in-<br/>sights contribute to ongoing debates on the future of media development and<br/>media assistance efforts. It offers guidance for designing sustainable support to<br/>journalism in transitional and restrictive environments.}},
  author       = {{Mattsson, Andreas}},
  institution  = {{Expertgruppen för Biståndsanalys (EBA)}},
  keywords     = {{journalism; media development; media assistance; foreign aid; development aid; vietnam; interpreters}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{05}},
  number       = {{2026}},
  series       = {{Development Dissertation Briefs}},
  title        = {{Media development in practice : What Swedish aid achieved in Vietnam}},
  url          = {{https://eba.se/app/uploads/2026/05/DDB-2026-07-Vietnam-DIGITAL.pdf}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}