Brokers of journalism: Exploring the assigned role of interpreters in media training in Vietnam

In this article, I explore the assigned role of interpreters in journalism training programmes in Vietnam, focusing on two media aid projects funded by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida): the Local Radio Project and the Further Training of Journalists programme. The study is based on qualitative analyses of project documentation and interviews with former trainers. A theoretical framework encompassing journalistic cultures, contrasting media systems and interpreters’ roles in development work is used to examine the implications of their involvement. Additionally, the concept of ‘development brokers’ is applied to understand interpreters’ contributions. The findings reveal that interpreters’ responsibilities extended beyond language translation to include mediating journalistic culture from Sweden to Vietnam, emphasizing their evolving and essential role in these training initiatives. Moreover, the study highlights how the project design overlooked the potential benefits of incorporating interpreters’ experiences, leaving trainers to discover these contributions organically through collaboration and relationship-building during the training activities. Finally, by applying the development brokers framework, this study demonstrates how trainer–interpreter relationships shaped project outcomes and offers an adaptable model for evaluating future media training initiatives across diverse media systems.