The glorious journey of revolutionary journalism in Bac Kan.

BBK - On the occasion of the 100th anniversary of Vietnamese Revolutionary Journalism (June 21, 1925 - June 21, 2025), let's review some outstanding events in the glorious journey of revolutionary journalism in Bac Kan province.

According to historical documents, the Vietnam Independence Newspaper, founded by leader Nguyen Ai Quoc, with its first issue published on August 1, 1941, can be considered the origin of revolutionary journalism in Bac Kan. This is because the Vietnam Independence Newspaper was initially the propaganda organ of the Cao Bang Provincial Viet Minh Association - then later the organ of the Cao Bang - Bac Kan Provincial Viet Minh Association and the Cao Bang - Bac Kan - Lang Son Inter-Provincial Viet Minh Association.

During its operation, the Vietnam Independent Newspaper published many articles promoting and encouraging the revolutionary movement in Bac Kan, notably reporting on the establishment of the Provisional People's Committee of Trung Vuong District on March 30, 1945, which served as the revolutionary government of Bac Kan province. Specifically, issue 213 of the Vietnam Independent Newspaper, published on April 21, 1945, reported: “Trung Vuong District, (Chu Trinh) Province, has established a Provisional People's Committee to resist the Japanese. In March 1945, the people of Trung Vuong District and surrounding areas held a large rally to elect the Provisional People's Committee. Many patriotic and people-loving educators and officials participated. The newly established Provisional People's Committee declared the abolition of taxes and forced labor, prohibited the taking of people's money, and granted the people all freedoms and equality...”

Issue 213 of the Vietnam Independent Newspaper, dated April 21, 1945, reported on the establishment of the Provisional People's Committee of Chau Trung Vuong. Photo: Archives of Bac Kan Provincial Museum.

After the August Revolution and during the resistance war against the French, journalistic activities in Bac Kan took place within the general context of the nationwide revolutionary movement. Documents, news, leaflets, and bulletins were disseminated to propagate and encourage the fighting spirit of the people, such as the Bac Kan News and Bac Kan Information newspapers, edited by poet Nong Quoc Chan, Head of the Bac Kan Information Department. Regarding the formation of these two newspapers, according to the annual report (from January 1st to December 31st, 1948) of the Bac Kan Provincial Resistance Administrative Committee, it states: "The Bac Kan News newspaper was published with a circulation of 16,000 copies. In 1949, along with the 'Bac Kan News' newspaper, the Information Department also published the 'Bac Kan Information' newspaper. These two newspapers were published weekly and distributed by the Information Department to various places, with 300 copies per issue."

A newsletter published by the Ngan Son District Information Office on October 25, 1948, is currently preserved at the Vietnam Press Museum.

Assessing this period, poet Nong Quoc Chan wrote: " The education of old party members and the recruitment of new party members were carried out through many short training courses. The News Bulletin printed on stone was widely distributed, gradually elevating to a newspaper named Deo Giang, then Doan Ket, and then Bac Kan."

The poet added: “The newspaper Doan Ket – the mouthpiece of the Provincial Party Committee – opened a new page on culture and arts. Through creative writing and performances, the Cultural Association was able to gather a large number of intellectuals outside the Party, giving them the opportunity to learn more about Marxism-Leninism and the Party's foreign policy. From 1949 to 1954, our people's resistance war continuously achieved great victories.”

After 1954, the Bac Kan News, managed by the Provincial Party Committee's Propaganda Department, functioned as the provincial Party newspaper. In 1963, the Bac Kan Newspaper was established based on the Bac Kan News, according to Resolution No. 05: NQ-BK dated November 18, 1963, of the Bac Kan Provincial Party Committee, marking the birth of an official provincial press agency. The Bac Kan Newspaper has played an important role in disseminating the Party's guidelines and policies, the State's laws and regulations, reflecting the lives, labor, and production of the people, and contributing to building a more prosperous and beautiful homeland.

When Bac Thai province officially came into operation under its new administrative boundaries on July 1, 1965, Bac Kan Newspaper and Thai Nguyen Newspaper merged to form Bac Thai Newspaper, with a total of 16 staff members, reporters, and editors, headed by Comrade Le Chinh as Editor-in-Chief, and Comrade Hoang Vinh Xuyen, former Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Bac Kan Newspaper, as Deputy Editor-in-Chief.

The first issue of Bac Thai Newspaper was published on June 4, 1965.

The Standing Committee and Executive Committee of the Bac Thai Provincial Party Committee worked with the Party Branch and Editorial Board of Bac Thai Newspaper on personnel matters for Bac Kan Newspaper in November 1996 (photo taken at the Bac Thai Newspaper editorial office).

In 1997, after the re-establishment of the province, Bac Kan had three media outlets: Bac Kan Newspaper, the Provincial Radio and Television Station, and Ba Be Arts and Literature Magazine. Depending on their functions, tasks, principles, and objectives, each media outlet has continuously innovated and improved the quality, content, and format to meet the increasingly high demands of propaganda work in the new situation. Bac Kan's press has become an important bridge between the Party, the State, and the people, disseminating policies, guidelines, and laws to the people, reflecting truthfully and vividly the economic, cultural, and social life of the locality, while also discovering and commending advanced models and innovative practices. Bac Kan's press has made a significant contribution to encouraging and motivating the people to actively participate in patriotic emulation movements and build a more prosperous, beautiful, and civilized homeland.

Currently, in the wake of the historic provincial merger, the press in Bac Kan and Thai Nguyen will undergo changes in name, organizational structure, content, and operating methods. However, the common mission remains to continue disseminating information and reflecting the economic and social life of the localities, while also serving as a bridge between the government and the people in the new context, with the ultimate goal of best serving the development of the localities.

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Kim Kim

Source: https://baobackan.vn/chang-duong-ve-vang-cua-bao-chi-cach-mang-bac-kan-post71458.html