In June 1993, the Kon Tum Provincial Journalists Association was established two years after the separation of Gia Lai and Kon Tum provinces. At that time, the 18 members were all experienced and well-known writers in the Central Highlands region. Journalist Le Van Thieng, then Deputy Editor-in-Chief and later Editor-in-Chief of Kon Tum Newspaper, was the first Chairman of the Provincial Journalists Association. He recalled that when the province was newly separated, amidst the numerous difficulties and countless tasks to be resolved to stabilize people's lives and ensure the effective and efficient operation of the political system's organizational structure, the Provincial Party Committee and the People's Committee of Kon Tum Province still paid great attention to information and propaganda work because revolutionary journalism was always the vanguard, helping the voice of the Party reach far and deep into every corner of the villages and hamlets. “ It wasn't that the early days were weak. Because before, Gia Lai - Kon Tum was a single province, the 18 members who were officials and journalists who came here were all excellent journalists selected from agencies such as the Gia Lai - Kon Tum Newspaper, the Radio and Television Station, and the Gia Lai - Kon Tum Department of Culture and Information. So I remember that in the beginning, there were many famous articles. I remember that almost every week or month, the provincial leaders, from the Provincial Party Secretary, the Standing Deputy Provincial Party Secretary to the Head of the Provincial Propaganda Department, took turns visiting the press agency to discuss. For example, they provided guidance on the content and format of each issue , ” journalist Le Van Thieng shared.

Ms. Y Xuoi, former Standing Committee member of the Provincial Party Committee and former Chairwoman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of the province, affirmed that in the province's development process, the press plays an important role, contributing together with the Party Committee and the people of all ethnic groups in the province to the socio -economic achievements of today: “ The press practically goes deep into the grassroots to write about and help cadres and Party members understand how their mobilization and propaganda efforts are directed at the grassroots level. For example, in the past, when people were building longhouses, the Standing Committee of the Town Party Committee at that time had to coordinate efforts to mobilize people to relocate, separate households, and establish gardens. Our press also went down to the grassroots to understand the situation, to write about it, and to highlight the good examples and good deeds of cadres, village heads, and deputy village heads to promote their role in mobilizing the people to develop socio-economic development, ensure security, and national defense.”

Journalist Nguyen Thi Lieu Hanh, Deputy Director of the Provincial Media Center, emphasized that over 34 years of formation and development, from a small number of veteran writers active in the Provincial Journalists Association, the team of journalists in the area has increased in both quantity and quality. Kon Tum's press agencies have always adhered to the principles, objectives, and direction of the province in information and propaganda, creating a strong mark in the regional press with a series of national and provincial awards. Journalist Lieu Hanh added: “ Continuing to uphold the traditions of previous generations, the team of journalists in Kon Tum today always strives to improve and learn to constantly live up to the role and responsibility of journalists to society and the people. Especially in the current period, when we have a very diverse and rich flow of information, what is the role of journalists in guiding public opinion and promoting their role as a source of official information to lead public opinion for the people?”

Sixteen years of dedication to Kon Tum province is also the same amount of time journalist Thuy Huong has spent working at the Provincial Media Center. As an experienced writer with strong expertise, she is prepared to fully commit to the changes in administrative boundaries and future work. Journalist Thuy Huong said: “ During this merger, as a Party member and journalist, I am very ready to move to a new workplace. To adapt and perform my duties well in the new location, I have also discussed this with my family, prepared my children mentally, and encouraged everyone to work together so that when the whole family moves to the new place, we can quickly settle down and adapt to the new working conditions, climate, and location, in order to successfully complete the tasks assigned by the agency and unit .”

Joining the flow of 100 years of Vietnamese revolutionary journalism, Kon Tum's press faces numerous challenges and opportunities as the revolution to streamline the organizational structure, build a two-tiered local government model, and merge the two provinces of Kon Tum and Quang Ngai is urgently underway. Not only playing the role of news carriers and message transmitters, the journalists of Kon Tum province are now an integral part of this revolution. Recognizing that opportunities and challenges are intertwined in every change, Kon Tum journalists today are even more determined to overcome obstacles and continue to be a pioneering force, a vanguard on the cultural and ideological front, always maintaining "sharp pens and pure hearts" to worthily continue the glorious history of 100 years of Vietnamese revolutionary journalism.

Thu Trang – Pham Ha

Source: https://kontumtv.vn/tin-tuc/tin-trong-nuoc/bao-chi-kon-tum-dong-hanh-voi-su-phat-trien-cua-tinh