My father and journalism

That year, while teaching, my mother faced persecution from superiors and colleagues simply for fighting against corruption in her role as Chairwoman of the school's labor union. A highly-rated teacher at the provincial level was suddenly transferred to teach far away, subjected to public denunciation, and ostracized...

My father then sought help from the authorities. A friend, a writer, advised him that the Vietnam Law Newspaper was a highly combative publication that wouldn't ignore social injustices. He went to the newspaper's representative office, located on Tran Dinh Xu Street, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City. He was met by journalist Nguyen Bich Loan, who, after reviewing the case file, sent a reporter to investigate. The article reflecting the injustice my mother was facing was published with truthful information and sound reasoning. Thanks to this, those who had done wrong had to reconsider their actions, and things changed for the better for my mother and my family.

From that story, a new opportunity arose. My father was a dentist but loved literature, often writing poetry and prose, and participating in local literary associations. After the incident, moved by the newspaper, he subscribed to the Vietnam Law Newspaper for a long term to read and share with others. Reading the newspaper so much, he suddenly discovered that... he also had a talent for writing. My father became a contributor to the Vietnam Law Newspaper, starting with short news articles about local arts and culture.

In 2000, the Vietnam Law Newspaper organized the first "Shining Examples in Justice" writing contest under the direction of the Ministry of Justice . The contest aimed to discover exemplary individuals who uphold the law and actively contribute to the community. The person my father chose to write about was Ms. Lam Hong Nhan, a former Con Dao prisoner with a courageous revolutionary life. Even in peacetime, despite her advanced age, she remained actively involved in local activities such as donating land for schools, participating in the education promotion association, and serving as the Chairwoman of the Women's Association. Throughout her career, she helped countless children attend school, provided employment for many women, and mediated and healed many families on the verge of collapse. She received numerous medals and commendations, including one from the Minister of Justice.

Such a prominent figure had never been honored in a single newspaper article. I remember, in the days when my father went to write articles, he seemed to have truly "embodied" a journalist. He bought a camera, went around gathering information, and taking pictures. He interviewed people, interviewed local leaders... My father's clinic was very busy back then, so he could only write at night. There were no computers back then; he wrote by hand, and after each paragraph, he would read it aloud to the whole family. My mother would offer suggestions, and then my father would meticulously correct and erase... In my memory, that scene was so beautiful and heartwarming.

All his efforts were richly rewarded when my father received news that his insightful article had won second prize in the "Exemplary Figures in Justice" competition. My father went to Hanoi to receive the award, met and talked with the Minister of Justice, Uong Chu Luu, and interacted with many veteran journalists, learning a great deal.

It was a proud moment in my father's life, a dentist who was successful in his medical career but fell in love with writing. The certificate from the competition was proudly displayed in his office, right behind where he worked. For months and years afterward, my father would tell his friends and patients about that prestigious award. The memory of his trip to Hanoi to receive the "Exemplary Figure in Justice" award is one of his sweetest memories.

With everything I had witnessed in my family, during my formative years, journalism seemed like something noble, admirable, and a dream began to take shape in the mind of this young student. That's why I chose to apply to the Faculty of Literature and Journalism at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities in Ho Chi Minh City. After graduation, although I had the opportunity to work for many newspapers, I still applied to work at the Vietnam Law Newspaper.

The Vietnam Law Newspaper is where I learned my first lessons in journalism: how to write a proper news article, how to take a journalistic photograph, how to write reports and features, how to interview people, how to listen to the voices of the people… In 2010, the Vietnam Law Newspaper reorganized the "Shining Examples in Justice" writing competition, and I participated and, by chance, won second prize with an article about a programmer with many groundbreaking initiatives at the Department of Justice of Binh Duong province. My father was very proud at the time, saying, "I am following in my father's footsteps," and he also had the opportunity to relive the happy memories with the newspaper that he always held in his heart.

My father has now passed away. The Certificate of Merit awarded to him by the newspaper years ago is still carefully preserved by our family alongside his precious mementos. During his lifetime, my father loved literature and was passionate about writing, but when faced with choices, he always chose to be a dentist. It was a practical choice, because he wanted my family to have enough to eat, and for his children to grow up in the best possible economic conditions, because "journalism is wonderful, but… it's very poor."

My father's dream of becoming a journalist was buried deep within his heart due to circumstances, but luckily I was able to continue his unfinished dream. When my father was alive, having a daughter working in journalism at the Vietnam Law Newspaper was always a great source of pride for him.

In this vast world, there are countless talented people who have accomplished great things. My story, that of my father and I, is just a drop in the ocean. Yet, I believe it still holds some significance. It's a brushstroke that adds color to the vibrant tapestry of journalism, a small but interesting anecdote in the history of the Vietnam Law Newspaper's many achievements.

...Fate is something very strange and difficult to explain. Twenty-five years ago, my connection with journalism was sown by a family tragedy. For 15 years, I have worked at the Vietnam Law Newspaper, always striving to improve my skills and steadfastly refusing to let any temptations sway my pen. I cannot disappoint my father in heaven. Nor can I betray journalism, or the newspaper that my father and I both love.

Ngoc Mai

Source: https://baophapluat.vn/cha-toi-va-nghe-bao-post552480.html