A profession indebted to time.

In the course of their journalistic careers, every reporter cherishes and contemplates topics so that when their work is published, it will be well-received by readers, especially reflecting the thoughts and aspirations of the people, and addressing issues of public concern, thereby prompting relevant authorities and agencies to take action and resolve them.

Reporters from various media outlets cover the 9th Vietnam-China Border Defense Friendship Exchange Program.

To find compelling journalistic topics, every reporter and journalist constantly searches and thinks. Topics can sometimes be discovered through observation, interviews, information provided by citizens, or from aspects of social life...

Information from local residents.

To obtain material and topics, one of the most important sources of information for journalists is from the people. They are both readers and providers who help journalists grasp information quickly and promptly, reflecting reality truthfully and objectively, and giving articles a strong sense of real life.

On the night of April 11, 2025, I received a message from a resident in Block 3, Tam Thanh Ward, Lang Son City, complaining about the foul and unpleasant smell emanating from Phai Loan Lake. The message stated that family members were unable to sleep and hoped that journalists would investigate and report on the situation. This message also kept me awake, eager for dawn so I could investigate the situation at the lake.

The following day, upon arriving at the Phai Loan lake area near Tam Thanh Primary School, we clearly noticed a foul and unpleasant odor emanating from the area. Observations revealed a thick, dense layer of scum on the lake's surface, with many patches showing signs of mold, mixed with floating weeds and garbage. This situation not only negatively impacts the environment, the lives of residents, and the urban landscape but also affects the teaching and learning activities of the teachers and students at Tam Thanh Primary School in Lang Son City.

That same day, after researching and gathering information, I wrote an article titled "Lang Son City: Phai Loan Lake 'smells bad,' disrupting people's lives." The article was approved by the department's leadership, the leadership of the Lang Son Newspaper, and the Lang Son Radio and Television Station for publication on the online platform. The article received a lot of interaction and was shared many times, creating a positive effect.

Ms. Lo Thi Thao, whose house is near Phai Loan Lake, shared: "Previously, we had reported this situation through various means, but without success. After the article was published, the very next day, the authorities came to pump out and remove the scum, dead water hyacinth, and accumulated waste that were polluting the environment at Phai Loan Lake. This work will be carried out by the authorities in May 2025. This will restore the clean air in the lake area and help stabilize the lives of the local people."

Another example: in late November 2023, following a message from a resident reporting illegal logging in the Lan Day area, Lan Ca village, Tran Yen commune, Bac Son district, a team of reporters from Lang Son Newspaper and Radio and Television quickly verified the information and set out to investigate the situation firsthand.

Reporter Nguyen Dinh Quyet from the Print Press Department of Lang Son Newspaper and Radio & Television Station recounted: "At that time, we traveled over 100km by motorbike from Lang Son city to Lan Ca village. From there, posing as people searching for medicinal herbs, we walked into Lan Day, infiltrating and gathering important information and images. Following that, our team of reporters worked with the commune and district authorities and functional forces of the district, producing the article 'Lan Day: The worry of illegal logging,' published in the print edition of Lang Son Newspaper and Radio & Television Station on December 6, 2023. The article reflected the reality of illegal logging, and based on the information and images provided by the reporters, the local authorities and functional forces intervened to address the issue, contributing to the protection of forest resources."

Besides the two topics mentioned above, a great deal of information from the grassroots level, provided by citizens and officials, has helped reporters develop interesting and engaging journalistic topics. This could include the reality of deteriorating infrastructure, environmental pollution, pressing security and order issues, or positive information, examples of good people and good deeds, exemplary economic models, and outstanding scientific and technological innovations...

Among these topics, there are those that journalists ponder and research for days, even months. Each topic stems from real-life situations, from the policies and guidelines of the Party and State, and from a close connection with the people… And to produce compelling topics, each reporter must constantly explore, think, regularly grasp the reality, and especially maintain contact with the grassroots.

Topics in life

Besides constantly searching and thinking, the ability to discover topics is also directly proportional to each reporter's life experience, accumulated from many field trips, or in the reporter's notebook, from daily notes, from relationships, through observation, social media, or even from life itself and empathy with the people about the hardships and difficulties in their lives...

For example, while passing through a forest with many trees whose leaves had changed color, some reporters didn't pay attention, but others discovered a great topic and produced the work "Huu Lung: Yellow Forest - People's Eyes Red" by author Cat Tien, published in print and broadcast on Lang Son Radio and Television on July 23, 2024. Or one day at the market, reporter Hoang Vuong saw farmers selling tomatoes too cheaply, so he inquired, then went to their homes and fields, working with the leaders of Gia Cat and Tan Lien communes (Cao Loc district) to investigate and interview them, resulting in the article "Bitter...tomatoes"...

It can be said that journalistic topics are always diverse and abundant, always present in daily life, and largely stem from the ability to observe and listen. Even with the same topic, each reporter has a different perspective, thus exploring different aspects, creating the richness and multifaceted reflection of journalism on social life.

At the same time, the team of reporters from Lang Son Newspaper and Radio and Television Station always closely follows the propaganda guidelines of the Provincial Party Committee's Propaganda and Mass Mobilization Department, the agency's propaganda plan, and the direct guidance of the heads of specialized departments, with specific topics and themes, ensuring that the propaganda is timely, accurate, relevant, and effective. This contributes to making Lang Son Newspaper and Radio and Television Station worthy of being an organ of the Lang Son Provincial Party Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam , the voice of the Party Committee, government, and people of the province.

And for topics and themes to become journalistic works, the author needs to be deeply concerned and thoughtful. Above all, those who wield the pen must maintain a "pure heart and clear mind," constantly honing their skills to create a "sharp pen." Each reporter must be responsible for the topic they pursue, clarifying issues of public concern, or reflecting the legitimate thoughts, aspirations, and suggestions of the people so that relevant authorities and agencies can understand and address them promptly… Because if some topics are delayed, the writer feels indebted to time and to the people, much like the lyrics in the song "Proud of My Journalism" by musician Dinh Tham:

"I am proud of my profession."

Oh! Journalism is a very hard and demanding profession.

Day and night, I pour my heart out through words.

I always feel indebted to time...

Source: https://baolangson.vn/tran-tro-nhung-de-tai-5048951.html