Keep the passion for journalism alive.

Journalism is a demanding, even dangerous, profession, but it is also full of glory and a passion that not everyone has. What could be more fulfilling than exploring, discovering new things, writing about what you truly love, encouraging and spreading goodness, fighting against negativity and evil, and sharing your thoughts and aspirations with the community? Each journalistic work is a "spiritual child" of the writer, cherished and appreciated by readers.

Believing journalism to be the noblest profession, before his death, journalist Hoang Tung only requested that the words "Deeply mourning Journalist Hoang Tung" be inscribed above his coffin, instead of all the positions he had held, such as: Secretary of the Hanoi and Hai Phong City Party Committees, Member of the Northern Regional Party Committee, Deputy Head of the Central Organization Department, Head of the Central Propaganda Department, Secretary of the Central Party Committee in charge of ideological work, etc. Having learned journalism in prison, he was a "giant" of the revolutionary Vietnamese press, serving as Editor-in-Chief of Nhan Dan Newspaper for 30 years and being one of the most incisive political commentators in the country's journalism scene, with thousands of articles.

In the ebb and flow of life, journalists are always the first to arrive and the last to leave between events. Some manuscripts sent to the newsroom still reek of gunpowder, the product of war correspondents who braved death amidst bombs and bullets to report on the great wars of national defense. To capture the vibrant pulse of life, journalists accept the threat to their lives, as in their coverage of the recent COVID-19 pandemic. Many journalists are willing to throw themselves into hotspots of crime prevention, floods, and natural disasters, delivering the most up-to-date and comprehensive information to readers and viewers as quickly as possible.

Only a passion for the profession can achieve such results, and in return, these qualities create immense value for the work and the writer's reputation. Journalists are not only "secretaries of the times" but also use their writing to guide and direct public opinion, especially on new issues or those with differing viewpoints. Their contributions have helped write the golden pages of Vietnamese revolutionary journalism over the past 100 years. Today's journalists must keep the flame of passion alive to uphold that tradition; this is both a responsibility and an act of gratitude to those who came before.

Journalism is about experiencing and learning countless valuable lessons and principles through each trip, growing and enriching one's soul. This is what makes this arduous and dangerous profession so respected by society and pursued by many, especially young people. Journalists in the days before technology was developed faced hardship but also joy. Traveling to the field on a rickety bicycle, writing articles on paper, and then finding a place to fax them back to the newsroom wasn't easy; therefore, readers could sense the strong smell of sweat from those who produced them.

With technology developing at a breakneck pace, journalists can now sit in air-conditioned rooms, gather information online, or even issue a few commands to AI (artificial intelligence) and add their own embellishments to create a compelling article without breaking a sweat. No one can deny the remarkable achievements of technology and its immense value. Failing to fully utilize the advantages of technology, especially for journalists, will leave them behind.

But the overuse of technology will sooner or later lead to a loss of the passion for reading, listening, seeing, and reflecting that is characteristic of a professional journalist, and gradually stifle creativity. In that case, the article will only be a dry, cold collection of information from a "journalist's assistant," not from a true journalist (the word "journalist" is capitalized, as Gorky, the outstanding writer of 20th-century Russian literature, put it).

Speaking of the profession, many journalists will surely remember the advice of the late General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong: writing news is an art, and one must "write the truth in an inspiring way." The supreme principle of revolutionary journalism is respect for the truth, writing truthfully from a correct political perspective and in accordance with the newspaper's purpose. That truth must benefit the people and the country, be in line with the nation's customs and traditions, and be expressed through the author's emotional pen so that the article touches the reader's heart and remains in their mind. Without passion and dedication to the profession, it would be difficult to produce such journalistic works.

Every profession has its own joys and sorrows that only those involved can truly understand. In the current context, journalism is facing significant pressure from social media. With just a smartphone, anyone can post anything online, from small stories to big ones, joyful or sad events in bustling cities or quiet villages. Especially with the streamlining of organizational structures and the merger of many media outlets, this directly impacts the work and lives of everyone.

"Only in rocky soil can you find golden eels," "One profession brings life, many professions bring death"—our ancestors often said this. Only by dedicating yourself wholeheartedly to your profession can you hope for success. View difficulties as opportunities to prove yourself and overcome your limitations. Keep the flame of passion for your profession burning in the heart of every writer and rekindle it during your work. Keep reading, traveling, exploring, reflecting, and then writing.

Writing with all the responsibility and emotion of a writer will evoke feelings and nurture passion. Nothing comes naturally. Without passion, everything becomes bland. Passion for one's profession is like a boat that carries us through storms, like a companion that helps us succeed in our work.

For journalists, this is especially true; they must keep the passion for the profession alive to engrave into the flow of national journalism pages that bear the mark of the digital age and the era of national progress. That is the happiness of those in this profession.

Bac Van

Source: https://baoquangtri.vn/giu-lua-dam-me-voi-nghe-bao-194478.htm