Cherished memories of bicycles

*Whenever* *he reads Hai Duong Newspaper, journalist Vu Dinh Khan, former Editor-in-Chief of Hai Hung Newspaper and Hai Duong Newspaper, recalls fond memories of working on assignments by bicycle.*

More than just a means of transportation, in the memories of veteran journalists, the bicycle is like a companion that has witnessed the ups and downs of their journalistic journeys.

Journalist Tieu Ha Minh (born in 1949), former Deputy Director of Hai Duong Provincial Radio and Television Station (now Hai Duong Newspaper and Radio and Television Station), is one of the Hai Duong journalists who has long been associated with bicycles during his reporting trips. According to him, in the years after 1975, with the country unified, economic life was still very difficult. Therefore, at that time, having a bicycle for reporters to travel to the field was considered quite a luxury.

In 1977, Mr. Minh worked at the Hai Hung Provincial Radio Station, assigned to broadcast information about agricultural production and distribution. The area covered a vast region, encompassing what are now Hai Duong and Hung Yen provinces, so spending two to three days in the field was normal.

“There were days when the tires would go flat, making a rattling noise, and we had to wrap them with rubber or add another broken tire on top. It was scorching hot, and I was drenched in sweat. I always carried a stick with me in case the chain came loose, so I could use it to push the tire back in and avoid getting my hands dirty. Every pair of pants had the chain rubbing against the hem; we jokingly called them 'toad-chewed pants.' We worked hard during the day, but in the evenings, we'd diligently write articles without showing any signs of fatigue,” journalist Tieu Ha Minh shared.

Journalist Dang Thi Anh (born in 1949), a seasoned journalist of Hai Hung Newspaper and Hai Duong Newspaper (now Hai Duong Newspaper and Radio - Television Station), recounts that since childhood she has been fascinated by newspaper pages and news reports. That invisible thread led her to the profession of journalism.

In 1973, after graduating from the Central Propaganda School (now the Academy of Journalism and Communication), Ms. Anh started working at Hai Hung Newspaper and remained with the newspaper until her retirement in 2004. Back then, the editorial office had few staff. She was assigned to cover propaganda for mass organizations, the Fatherland Front, and later the health and education sectors. Although she has been retired for over 20 years, Ms. Anh is still deeply moved and retains the same emotions when recounting the arduous and difficult years of her career, working on assignments by bicycle.

To deliver timely news, there were days she had to wake up at 4 a.m. to cycle to the reporting location. Sometimes, when the reporting location was further away, Ms. Anh had to leave the afternoon before, sleeping at a local's house to work the next morning. Many times, while en route, her bike would suddenly break down – flat tires, punctures, or broken chains. At those times, the only option was to walk. "One day, it rained heavily, the road was muddy, the mud was up to half the wheels, making it impossible to pedal, so I had to carry the bike. Some days, I went to work completely soaked, my clothes covered in mud," Ms. Anh recalled.

According to journalist Vu Dinh Khan, former Editor-in-Chief of Hai Hung Newspaper and Hai Duong Newspaper, he "had done every job at the newspaper." In 1967, when Hai Duong Newspaper had just evacuated to Phuong Hung commune (now Gia Loc town), he worked correcting printing errors. At that time, the printing house was still located in Ngoc Son commune, Tu Ky district (now part of Hai Duong city), about 7 km from Phuong Hung commune. The newspaper was published twice a week, on Wednesdays and Saturdays. So, on Tuesday and Friday evenings, after cycling from Phuong Hung to Ngoc Son, he would have to sleep there to correct the printing, waiting for the newspaper to be published the next morning before bringing it back to the office. On some rainy days, the dirt road was slippery, and the mud clung to the wheels, making the manuscript heavy. He had to struggle to pedal and find ways to protect it from getting wet.

Mr. Khan recalled that he cycled to work so much that his tires were worn out and had to be wrapped tightly in rubber, but he would repair them whenever they broke down so he could continue his journey the next day. These hardships always motivated him to strive and successfully complete all the tasks of a journalist.

*Journalist Tieu Ha Minh continues to read books and newspapers regularly even after retirement.*

One of the most memorable experiences for journalist Tieu Ha Minh during his time cycling to work was when he and journalists Tran Luu Loat and Vu Tuan Nghia went to Doan Ket commune (Thanh Mien district) to write an article exposing corruption. They had to travel back and forth between Doan Ket commune and Thanh Mien town to work with the commune and then the district. Fearing that eating lunch at the commune might compromise objectivity in their articles, the district leaders suggested the journalists cycle back to the district for lunch, then immediately cycle back to the commune to continue their work. Although quite tiring, after the trip they meticulously gathered information and wrote a series of investigative articles exposing corruption in local agricultural production, which was highly appreciated by the government and public opinion at the time.

The bicycle is not just a means of transportation; it's like a witness to many life stories and professional experiences of veteran journalists. The bicycles of yesteryear are now a thing of the past, but the memories of them, of a time of hardship in journalism, remain vivid in their hearts. It's the story of an entire generation of journalists, who silently dedicated themselves to bringing information to readers with all their heart and responsibility.

PHAN NGA

Source: https://baohaiduong.vn/ky-uc-xe-dap-than-thuong-413770.html