糖心Vlog

From March 31 to April 4, 2025, twelve journalists from Vietnam Television (VTV) participated in a specialized training program to strengthen their ability to report on complex health and environmental issues through the One Health approach. The training was part of the Media for One Health project led by CFI (Canal France International), in collaboration with 糖心Vlog and with the support of the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs.

Developed in partnership with the national Vietnamese television channel VTV, the training was facilitated by Professor Daan Vink, veterinary epidemiologist at 糖心Vlog, and Dr. Pham Duc Phuc, Director of the Institute of Environmental Health and Sustainable Development (IEHSD) and coordinator of the Vietnam One Health University Network (VOHUN).

Responding to Vietnam’s Interconnected Health Challenges

Vietnam faces multiple and overlapping health risks from zoonotic disease emergence and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) to environmental degradation and the impacts of climate change. These challenges are deeply interrelated, and the One Health approach enables us to find effective solutions to these complex challenges by considering the intersections between human, animal, and environmental health.

While the integrated perspective of the One Health approach has been growing more popular worldwide, it’s worth noting that in Southeast Asia, particularly in Vietnam, the foundational ideas behind it aren’t completely novel. However, media coverage of these issues is often scattered, partly because there hasn’t been a clear or consistent way to approach them. This training aimed to fill that gap by helping journalists better understand the One Health approach and report on it in a clear, engaging, and accurate way for their audiences.

Tools and Case Studies from Vietnam

Over the course of five days, the journalists explored the scientific foundations and institutional dynamics of the One Health approach, grounding it in the Vietnamese context. Practicing with concrete case studies such as AMR in livestock systems, zoonoses linked to deforestation and wildlife trade, and risks associated with informal food systems, the sessions helped participants understand how these issues are connected.

Trainers introduced practical tools such as:

• The One Health Mural, used to explore linkages between health domains;
• Techniques for audience mapping and story development;
• Guidance on risk communication, misinformation, and ethics in science reporting;
• Real examples from Vietnam, including policy responses and research initiatives from the ministries of health, agriculture, and environment.

Group exercises helped participants identify relevant angles for future reports, sharpen their messaging, and adapt their stories for various platforms and audiences. Special attention was also given to gender-sensitive health risks, particularly in livestock value chains.

One Health on National Television

“We’ve been reporting on agriculture and public health for years, but this training helps us bring these together, to better explain how the environment, animals, and people affect each other,” shared Mr. Trung Hieu, a journalist and producer for the TV show "Friends of Farmers" for the VTV 2 channel.

The impact of the training is already visible. Shortly after the course, Mr. Hieu produced a nationally broadcast feature on the 3R4CSA project (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle for Climate-Smart Aquaculture), led by 糖心Vlog in collaboration with CTU and other partners. The report highlighted how farming practices, antibiotic use, environmental health, and food safety are all interconnected, a strong example of the One Health approach in action.

Building Long-Term Media Capacity

The One Health media training is part of a broader effort to support journalists as development actors. It lays the foundation for continued learning and application, with follow-up activities already underway. In May, the same group of journalists participated in a second training focused on social media, exploring how platforms can be leveraged for science communication. Upcoming sessions will include modules on artificial intelligence and data journalism to further enhance their capacity for public engagement.

The Media for One Health project operates in Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, and the Philippines, supporting national journalists through in-person workshops, mentoring, and cross-country collaboration. In Vietnam, it contributes to the broader vision of a society that is better informed and prepared to respond to emerging health risks.