Constructing “Productive Youth:” Journalistic Discourse, Power Relations, and Pop-Culture Consumption in Vietnam

Abstract

This article examines the construction of journalistic discourse regarding the cultural consumption of Vietnamese youth through music entertainment programmes. The research focuses on prominent case studies, including Sao Mai Điểm Hẹn, Vietnam Idol, Rap Việt, and  Anh Trai Vượt Ngàn Chông Gai (the Vietnamese version of Call Me by Fire). Adopting a constructivist perspective, the article draws on a qualitative methodological approach that combines content analysis and discourse analysis of 28 articles from online newspapers Tien Phong, Tuoi Tre, and Thanh Nien, with  in-depth interviews with journalists who work in the culture and entertainment sector. The findings reveal established patterns within journalistic discourse concerning youth cultural consumption, latent biases, and the intricate network of power relations that interact to shape media perspectives.

Received: 31^st January, 2026; Revised: 1^st April, 2026; Accepted: 13^th April, 2026