United in the field of journalism

In the world of journalism—where work pressure and sudden business trips seem commonplace—many couples have found each other, built families, and nurtured their careers. Compatibility, understanding, and shared professional experiences have become a solid foundation for family happiness.

Reporters interview National Assembly delegates in the hallway during the session. (Photo: DUY LINH)

The fate of a car is determined by karma.

Journalism seems to have a special allure, bringing together people with shared passions and leading to marriage. Journalists Le Chi Cong and Phan Thi Duong were classmates in the Print Journalism major at the Academy of Journalism and Communication. Their feelings blossomed naturally during their time in university. Cong recounts that the more they talked, the more they realized their shared life views, especially their love for the profession – a love that was "devoted to their subject matter, characters, and articles." For his classmate Phan Thi Duong, Cong always appreciated her clarity, precision in handling issues, and her intense focus on each piece of writing.

Their love story began with a passion for writing. Despite their rural backgrounds, these two young people, through hard work and progress, quickly established themselves in journalism and secured stable jobs in the capital. Ms. Duong passed the entrance exam to become a reporter for VnExpress just six months after graduation. Mr. Cong, initially a contributor at the Lao Dong newspaper, was recruited to work for the police magazine, later the People's Police Magazine. Their professional ties continued until they got married and experienced the joys and sorrows of being a journalist couple.

Meanwhile, the story of director and Meritorious Artist Ta Quynh Tu and journalist Nguyen Thi Yen takes on a different hue, romantic and full of meaning. Due to difficult family circumstances, Mr. Tu had to start university four years later than his peers. Their love began when the poor student met the girl in 12th grade next door, who later became a student of Chinese at the Hanoi University of Foreign Languages ​​(now Hanoi University).

Interestingly, although Nguyen Thi Yen did not major in journalism, she was introduced to the job of sports editor by Mr. Tu, who was then a cameraman for the Editorial Secretariat of Vietnam Television (VTV). She later became a Chinese-language editor at VTV4. In 2007, the two decided to get married and build a family, despite facing many challenges ahead.

Sharing and companionship

Both husband and wife work in journalism, which clearly offers advantages. Director Ta Quynh Tu recounts that his wife, Nguyen Thi Yen, plays an extremely important role, not only as his support system but also as a colleague and source of inspiration: "After we got married, Yen knew that I had long harbored a dream of making documentaries. When she learned that VTV4 had a quota for documentary films, she was the one who introduced me to my first documentary projects, and I've been involved with them ever since."

Later, Ms. Yen was often the first audience to see her husband's films right from the editing table. Moreover, being avid readers, she would often tell her husband about good books, helping him "learn" knowledge and generate ideas. Her foreign language learning mindset also inadvertently helped her husband refine his film ideas on many occasions. Notably, if the topic was compelling, Ms. Yen was willing to take time off work and go on a scouting trip with her husband... at her own expense. She even patiently waited for her husband outside a massage parlor during their two-week research trip to Taiwan (China) for the film "Chông Chênh" (Precarious), which depicted the hardships of Vietnamese brides abroad – a work that later won the Golden Lotus Award at the 21st Vietnam Film Festival.

Journalist Nguyen Thi Yen often went on field trips with her husband, journalist, director, and Meritorious Artist Ta Quynh Tu, to gather material for their documentary films.

Meanwhile, in their daily lives, journalists Le Chi Cong and Phan Thi Duong frequently chat about issues in journalism, the journalistic community, and prominent events. Ms. Duong asks Mr. Cong to read her articles and offer feedback on critical analysis. Conversely, Mr. Cong learns from Ms. Duong new journalistic skills and trends. A common reality in the homes of journalist couples is that sometimes professional discussions take place even in the bedroom. And not infrequently, these discussions escalate into heated debates... but once they're over, it's over. According to journalist Le Chi Cong, if both spouses work in journalism and know how to listen, understand, and be tolerant, their marriage will overcome any challenges.

Besides the advantages of their similar professions, they also face many challenges that outsiders can hardly understand. Journalist Le Chi Cong works in a specialized magazine environment that requires thorough research but allows him to be flexible with his time. Conversely, Ms. Duong works at VnExpress - a fast-paced online newspaper that demands high quality and speed. Her time is almost entirely dedicated to journalism, regardless of weekdays, weekends, holidays, or Tet (Lunar New Year). Mr. Cong doesn't hesitate to help his wife with housework and childcare so that Ms. Duong can fully devote herself to her work. Although sometimes the children still remind him that their mother doesn't take them out, or that when his wife is away covering storms and floods, the three of them are left alone at home, filled with worry...

Meanwhile, Meritorious Artist Ta Quynh Tu cannot forget his wife's feelings when he and his colleagues had to go into the Covid-19 epicenter in Ho Chi Minh City to film "The Boundary" - a film that caused a social uproar at the time: "I will always remember my wife's restless gaze every night as she looked up at the ceiling. Only later, when her close friend told me, did I learn that Yen was very worried about my upcoming journey into the heart of the epidemic."

As for Ms. Duong, she is always caught between work pressure and family responsibilities. She recounted a time when she went on a business trip to Thailand and her 27-month-old son had a high fever of unknown origin. Although her son had just been discharged from the hospital a week before she left, throughout her time abroad, the journalist worked while constantly worrying about her son's fever returning. When she returned, the baby's fever was nearly 42°C and he was diagnosed with sepsis. In that moment, the mother couldn't help but blame herself for not spending more time caring for her child—a constant feeling of guilt. Ms. Duong shared: It wasn't her profession that made her neglect her son, but rather that she wasn't a good enough mother to balance work and family. This is a profound self-understanding and acceptance of the choices a woman pursuing a career in journalism makes.

Achievements after overcoming difficulties

After decades of dedication to his profession, journalist Ta Quynh Tu has won numerous prestigious awards, including the A Prize at the National Journalism Awards, the Gold Prize at the National Television Festival, the Golden Lotus Award, the World Television Award, and the VTV Awards. However, for him, the greatest happiness in his life is "having a wife and colleague who has accompanied and shared many hardships with him, and together we have been fortunate enough to achieve certain successes." In 2024, journalist Nguyen Thi Yen successfully defended her Master's thesis at Tsinghua University (China) with a documentary film she co-wrote with her husband...

Journalist Le Chi Cong, a former winner of the Golden Hammer and Sickle Award, recounts: After three years of marriage, with a small amount of savings, he and his wife decided to buy a house with installments covering 70% of its value. Paying the monthly interest and principal was very difficult, but with a self-reliant attitude and a simple lifestyle, they completed the debt repayment in 2025. Currently, their family has two healthy and well-behaved children, a boy and a girl. Journalist Phan Thi Duong still works late into the night or wakes up at 4-5 am while her husband and children are asleep to write articles. But now, she is more efficient, managing her time effectively to clean, cook, and care for her children while maintaining her passion for each article and piece of work.

Source: https://baotuyenquang.com.vn/dong-long-cung-nghe-bao-213833.html