Stories of journalists' profession

Journalist Cao Ngo: The profession chose me

71 years old, more than 40 years of writing since working as a contributor to Thanh Hoa Newspaper until becoming a professional journalist, journalist Cao Trong Ngo (pen name Cao Ngo) always believes: a journalist must keep a spirit of enthusiasm, journalism must be done with all his "heart".

One of journalist Cao Ngo's assignments. Photo: Contributor

Originally a cadre of the Thanh Hoa Provincial Youth Union, Cao Trong Ngo had a “fateful relationship” with journalism without realizing it. Journalist Cao Ngo confided: “In 1981, while I was a cadre of the Thanh Hoa Provincial Youth Union, I joined Thanh Hoa Newspaper as a contributor and some other central newspapers. In particular, the time I spent as a contributor to Thanh Hoa Newspaper was an important milestone, a “turning point” for me to become a professional journalist.”

The experiences and lessons learned during his time as a correspondent for Thanh Hoa Newspaper and doing propaganda work at the Thanh Hoa Provincial Youth Union were like “bricks” that laid the foundation for journalist Cao Ngo’s future journalism career. He shared: “Everything came as a coincidence, it could also be an arrangement. In 1996, I transferred to work at Thanh Nien Newspaper, 2 years later I was assigned to be the Head of Thanh Nien Newspaper’s Representative Office in the North Central region. At that time, I realized that journalism had chosen me.”

During his 18 years working at Thanh Nien Newspaper, journalist Cao Ngo has always worked with a sense of responsibility and dedication. He believes: “To be a journalist, one must maintain a spirit of enthusiasm in any circumstance. Journalists must know how to use their pens to fight, reflect the negative side of life and bring the correct policies of the Party and State to all classes of people. A true journalist must make worthy contributions to building a beautiful image of the homeland and country.”

From that concept, throughout his years as a writer, journalist Cao Ngo has written many journalistic works about various aspects of social life, such as: "The story of a hero: "Traveling" for 30 years without being able to return home"; "Martyr Nguyen Ba Ngoc, a hero who has not been posthumously awarded"; "Acceptance to put in... "museum"...

In 2014, journalist Cao Ngo retired from the social insurance regime at Thanh Nien Newspaper and returned to normal life. However, his passion for journalism did not allow him to stop writing. Cao Ngo continued to collaborate with many newspapers and is currently a resident reporter for the Citizen and Encouragement of Learning Magazine of the Vietnam Association for Encouragement of Learning .

During his time working for several newspapers after retiring from social insurance, journalist Cao Ngo has published many "brainchildren" with his own brand. Among them is the series of 5 articles "Decoding the Secret of Sao Vang Airport". This series of articles not only recreates the spirit of 10,000 Thanh Hoa youths at the construction site of Sao Vang Military Airport, but also reflects the spirit of Thanh Hoa youths during the war, which was promoted in peacetime to create Tho Xuan Airport. Or the series of 5 articles "Sam Son, infamous and famous"; the series of 3 articles "Once coming to the West of Thanh Hoa"; the series of 5 articles "Tu Son" random stories! - is a series of articles reflecting Thanh Hoa's strengths in 4 economic regions: Nghi Son, Bim Son, Lam Son, Sam Son, aiming to attract domestic and foreign investors to learn about investment...

Talking about journalism today, journalist Cao Ngo shared: “Nowadays, journalism has undergone many changes. Journalists are now dynamic, receiving and processing information quickly with the support of information technology... But in my opinion, in any period, “honesty, objectivity, respect for the truth” are still principled requirements when working in journalism. I am always concerned that journalism today faces many temptations. There are many people who have borrowed the name of journalism, taking advantage of journalism to do illegal things to serve personal purposes and ambitions. Although we know that it is just “a bad apple spoiling the barrel”, each writer must constantly fight against negativity, contributing worthily to the glorious career of journalism.”

Journalist Cao Ngo is still proud of the profession that chose him. He said: I will continue to write - write to contribute my voice to the Party Committee and government to build my homeland and country to develop more and more, so that every citizen can have a prosperous and happy life.

Journalist Ha Dong: Must know how to commit and stay close to the grassroots

With 25 years of experience in journalism, journalist Ha Dong (full name Ha Huu Dong) - resident of Tuoi Tre Newspaper in Ho Chi Minh City in Thanh Hoa has spent most of his time traveling to the "mountainous" Thanh Hoa, where people still face many difficulties and hardships, to record the "breath" of life. From there, he spreads the good values and responsibility of journalists to the community.

Stories of journalists' profession

Journalist Ha Dong interviews people during his work in Bo Hieng village, Na Meo commune (Quan Son). Photo: Contributor

Graduated from the Faculty of Journalism, University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi in 1999, Ha Dong faced many "crossroads" to make a career, but he chose the path of journalism according to his major and the wish he had cherished since he was in high school. Journalist Ha Dong shared: "When I first stepped into the "journalism village", I was lucky to work at Thanh Hoa Newspaper (now Thanh Hoa Newspaper and Radio - Television Station). The Thanh Hoa Newspaper environment "trained" me to become a journalist with a strong political stance, always upholding the ethics of journalism, holding a pen for the responsibility of the community, for the development and building a beautiful image of my homeland".

Recalling the question of a leader of Thanh Hoa Newspaper on the first day of work, "Can I go to the mountains?". The answer of the young man who was born and raised in the mountainous district of Ngoc Lac without hesitation: "I can go, uncle"!. From here, the "mountainous area" of Thanh Hoa became the "land" for Ha Dong to create journalistic works that were recognized by readers and colleagues. During 8 years and 9 months working at Thanh Hoa Newspaper and from the end of 2009 until now, as a resident reporter of Tuoi Tre Newspaper of Ho Chi Minh City in Thanh Hoa, journalist Ha Dong has created "brainchildren" with "multi-values". Among them are "I go to trade on Ma River rafts"; "The war against drugs in Muong Lat"; "Where the Ma River flows to Thanh"; "Bright spot of Cua Ha". Or the work "Golden season at the foot of Khiet stream" is about the achievements when the Thai ethnic people in Quan Hoa district put new rice varieties into production... His journalistic works are not simply to convey information about the Party's policies, the State's policies and laws to the people, but also have profound humanity and the desire to contribute their voices to make the lives of the people better.

Sharing his experience in journalism, journalist Ha Dong said, “To be a journalist, you have to know how to get involved and stick close to the grassroots. If you just sit and wait for information, the amount of information that comes to you will be very poor. Information sources are very important, they are like the “breath” and “blood” of life. To get information, journalists have to go to the grassroots, gain the trust of the people, and build public relations. In particular, when receiving information, you have to know how to choose and protect the source of information.”

Evidence of building public relations was mentioned by journalist Ha Dong from a business trip to the Sa Na flood area, Na Meo commune (Quan Son). This is also a business trip that he listed in his "memories" of journalism. Journalist Ha Dong shared: "At around 10:30 a.m. on August 3, 2019, I received a phone call from Mr. Vu Van Dat - then Chairman of the People's Committee of Quan Son district, briefly informing: "In Quan Son district, there have just been two flash floods, the flood swept away many houses of people in Sa Na village, Na Meo commune. Many people are missing after the two flash floods, the district has not been able to contact them. Please come up". Upon receiving the information, I quickly folded my clothes, stuffed my laptop and camera into my familiar backpack with my colleagues and left Thanh Hoa city on the way to the Sa Na flood center in the heavy rain, white sky to work with the spirit of rushing to the front line of information".

Not remembering how many streams he crossed, how many muddy roads he crossed, journalist Ha Dong only remembers that in the remote villages of the mountainous region of Thanh Hoa, there are still many difficult lives, but there are always people who welcome him. His love for ethnic minorities is not only concrete through reports and news, but also gifts and scholarships from charity programs that he himself connected to send to the people.

The dedicated and responsible contributions of journalist Ha Dong have been recognized by the people, readers, local Party committees and authorities, and he has been awarded valuable awards such as the Certificate of Merit from the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, the Certificate of Merit from the Director of Thanh Hoa Provincial Police... This is both an honor and a motivation for him to continue contributing his efforts and intelligence to the journalism career.

Journalist Pham Thi Hoa Mai: Each journalistic work is a lesson full of flavor.
Assigned by VNA to work in Thanh Hoa province since June 2007, over the past 18 years, I have always complied with the provisions of the law, regulations and local regulations on the press, always closely followed the newspaper's principles and purposes, clearly demonstrating social responsibility, in which I play a core role in propagating the Party's and State's policies and laws to the people.