Journalism is a profession where you just keep going and you'll get there...

(PLVN) - June is always a busy month for journalists. Whether it's a career choice for some or a dream come true, journalism is always a commitment and a passion once you've "taken on the job"...

This is not a place for "delusions of grandeur".

Today, we are learning to "live with" AI, and in an age of information overload from social media, the value of journalism is difficult to recognize. Not everyone has the strength to make a living and pursue this profession. In recent years, many well-known writers have gradually disappeared from the journalistic scene, moving on to new positions with better incomes. But alongside them, the majority of journalists quietly pursue their passion. Whether new to the profession or having dedicated their lives to it, each journalist remains an antenna for all the issues in life. Every journalist possesses a natural reflex of perseverance, pursuing each issue they are working on to the very end...

At an international journalism training course, a foreign instructor led a group discussion among journalists, listing the difficulties faced by Vietnamese journalists. Many difficulties were mentioned by the groups, with one common point being low salaries and the difficulty of making a living. After addressing the list of challenges and obstacles in the profession, and specifically the issue of "low salaries and the difficulty of living," the foreign instructor expressed surprise. In their country, or any other developed nation, journalism is not a high-paying profession; in fact, the average income is only at the societal average. Those who aspire to wealth and luxury would never choose journalism. They choose journalism to serve society. "There are outstanding individuals in our society who still choose this profession because of that ideal; they accept the trade-offs and are content with a less affluent life!"...

About fifteen or twenty years ago, when the internet wasn't as developed and social media hadn't yet emerged, or was just beginning to appear, newspapers were the primary means of delivering information to readers. Readers paid for timely and engaging information. Journalists, essentially, made a living from their profession, and therefore, they were respected by society. A correction to an article or disciplinary action against a journalist was always a sensational event.

Journalism has traditionally been a noble profession; journalists were expected to uphold ethical standards to practice their craft. However, nowadays, many consider writing as a means of livelihood. To earn a living and increase their income, many journalists disregard the ethics of a true writer, doing anything to make money. Meanwhile, each news article carries a message from the author, sometimes expressing love, but at other times destruction. Behind the news lie the lives of human beings! Therefore, if journalism deviates from its purpose of serving society, no one will trust it anymore, and sooner or later it will be eliminated.

Some argue that no profession experiences as many ups and downs and receives as much social attention as journalism. It's a journey of ups and downs... But waiting, working tirelessly day and night, regardless of terrain, and toiling through the night are also common occurrences. There is glory, and there is bitterness.

However, the decline of journalism is a real fact. So real that anyone in journalism has painfully experienced it. In reality, journalism is becoming increasingly difficult to make a living from, the economics of journalism are declining, print newspapers have no market, and advertising is dominated by giants like Facebook, Google, YouTube, TikTok, etc., which hold up to 80% of the market share...

Many people leave journalism because they can't make ends meet. But there are still genuine journalists who love their profession and cling to it, taking on side jobs to support their writing careers. Journalists teaching, opening shops or restaurants, and selling clothes online are no longer uncommon sights. Some switch to PR or communications roles, while others, more successful, become communications directors for corporations and businesses.

However, it cannot be denied that authentic journalism still possesses its own unique beauty, strength, and function. Beyond its constant informational function, journalism also has a political and ideological function. The role of journalism in guiding and shaping public opinion is indispensable in journalistic practice. Alongside this, its educational and entertainment functions provide fertile ground for journalism to develop its values. And journalism remains a source of intellectual nourishment for many Vietnamese readers.

Journalists and reporters will be working during Typhoon Yaghi. (Illustrative image)

Because of its beauty and glory, journalism possesses a unique power that is often compared… in an illusory way, to the fourth power after the legislative, executive, and judicial branches. In reality, this power is the power of information. This subtle yet powerful force is what makes many want to stay in the profession. But it is also what creates difficulties for journalists today. Difficulties arise in an era where many journalists have an inflated sense of power, leading them to act against ethics and the law, causing the public to lose faith in the press.

A journalist's heart is not a machine.

The world is currently experiencing information overload, with many experts even using the term "information poisoning." However, in this context of information overload, the public is eager to find reliable sources that can select the most important and worthwhile content for them, saving them time. And journalists, with their passionate hearts and cool heads, their professional sensitivity, and their verified information, will always maintain their enduring value amidst the unpredictable flow of true and false information.

Moreover, journalism is not just a profession; for many, it's a calling. Sometimes, beyond their own worries about making ends meet, journalists become a pillar of support in seeking justice for others.

Gone are the days when journalists were the first to know the information and report it to the public. The current trend worldwide is what's called "explanatory journalism." Readers can access information through various means, and they expect the press to offer expert opinions to help them understand issues. Journalists may not be experts in a particular field, but they must be able to convey the voice of an expert to their readers.

Therefore, building trust with readers transcends the boundaries of accuracy in the information presented in each article. It demands greater integrity and transparency from journalists themselves. And viewed optimistically, this presents an opportunity for newspapers in the race against unofficial media outlets.

If one chooses this profession simply as a means of livelihood without ideals or ambitions, then perhaps they are mistaken. There is no greater glory or happiness than doing something good and meaningful through one's articles. It is far more important than any journalism awards one may receive. Bringing hope to an unfortunate life, finding justice for an innocent person, creating a beneficial change in a particular field, or simply evoking an aesthetic and humanistic emotion, helping people to be a little more optimistic about life... that is the noblest mission of journalism.

And importantly, the heart of a true journalist is not a machine! At the end of each professional journey, looking back on their path through their work, a true journalist is someone who has accompanied their readers, their country, and their people to give weight to their articles, contributing to the awakening of human values, compassion, right and wrong, gain and loss, transparency, and fairness… A journalist, in their quiet and persistent self-preservation, will always strive towards beauty and noble ideals because they have taken on this profession…

At 80 years old, writer and journalist Nguyen Thi Ngoc Hai is still passionately traveling and writing. She shared that journalism is never boring... Although readers now have many means to read, they tend to skim and scan rather than delve deeply into information. They read superficially, wandering online all day and abandoning meticulously crafted articles at any time. They even act as their own reporters, producing information on their personal pages, a practice known as citizen journalism. Today's journalism isn't just about speed; it's a race to see who can pinpoint the most accurate facts… Today's writing style must also compete with social media trends; journalists must know how to tell stories, find ways to write that truly "touch" and evoke strong emotions in readers. Journalists discuss the economic future of journalism, but the ultimate conclusion remains that journalism must compete based on its core values: high-quality content that attracts and retains loyal readers. Journalism still adheres to classic values, competing based on its strength: professional content. In reality, journalists choose journalism because of the respect society places on them, the grand or small things that resonate deeply within them, from sincere social critique to positive and benevolent messages...

Ethics and law are inseparable.

Journalist and writer Ho Quang Loi, former Standing Vice President of the Vietnam Journalists Association: “Journalist is a respected professional title, a sacred and precious legacy. Throughout its 100-year history, we are proud to have a revolutionary and humane press, built by honest, responsible, and dedicated professionals. They silently and tirelessly dedicate themselves to their profession, for the country, for the people, for justice, contributing to building a press that is for and respects humanity.”

A humane, positive, and healthy press will have the strength to protect good values, safeguard the supreme interests of the country, and protect the vital rights of the people. Laws are mandatory, while professional ethics regulations impose constraints on reputation, morality, and spirit. Ethics and law are inseparable. Adhering to professional ethics also contributes to building social ethics. Writers lacking ethics cannot contribute to building the moral and spiritual foundation of society.”

Mien Thao

Source: https://baophapluat.vn/nghe-bao-cu-di-roi-se-toi-post552485.html