Amateur journalist

BPO - After graduating from university, I and some friends went to the South to look for job opportunities. Later, I was fortunate enough to be hired by a state agency. This place gave me many interesting experiences from real-life situations and field trips. Most interestingly, I got to experience being an amateur journalist, without a name tag or press card – a regular contributor to a Party newspaper, the former Binh Phuoc Newspaper, now the Binh Phuoc Radio and Television and Newspaper (BPTV).

Due to the nature of my work, which involves many social activities, especially in implementing social welfare policies and humanitarian and charitable activities, I have visited almost every commune, ward, and town in the province. With enthusiasm, knowledge, and a good understanding of society, even though writing isn't my forte, I wanted to challenge myself in a new field, so I started writing for newspapers.

When I first started writing articles, I had to revise and rewrite them many times before finally completing the piece and confidently submitting it to the editorial office for publication. Honestly, I wasn't confident my work would be used. It was my first time using journalistic language; my sentences and writing style were awkward, while the newspaper had a large and experienced team of reporters and contributors. This was a real challenge for someone new to journalism like me. To improve, I read many news articles in various newspapers, studying the patterns of different types of news, articles, and reports to ensure they were both engaging and accurate. After some practice, my writing improved, and almost all the articles I submitted were published. This was a great joy and also motivated me to become a long-term contributor to Binh Phuoc Newspaper.

The author (left cover) during a business trip to Phuoc Son commune, Bu Dang district.

Since then, after each business trip, participation in social activities, or encounter with people facing hardship, I have more material to write about. Despite my busy professional schedule, I still dedicate time to contributing articles; I consider writing news and articles a daily habit. From writing short news items, I boldly ventured into writing longer articles, addressing various topics and aspects of life, deeply empathizing with and sharing the problems of society, as well as the difficult circumstances of others.

Many of my articles have been published on the front page of newspapers, helping to spread positive messages and deeply reflect the negative aspects of society. Among them is an article I wrote about implementing social welfare policies for the poor. This article required a considerable amount of time spent on fieldwork, as I wanted to convey the most authentic and vivid stories of real people and events; about the hardships faced by people in today's society, and the hidden aspects of poverty reduction policies that have yet to be clarified. Similarly, there are articles about caring for ethnic minorities in remote, border areas of Loc Ninh, Bu Dop, and Bu Gia Map districts – places where I didn't hesitate to overcome difficulties and long distances to gather accurate information, authentic images, and unforgettable emotions.

Although not a professional writer, I have always wanted to challenge myself with topics of profound humanistic significance, closely related to real-life situations. Through my works, I have contributed to more accurately reflecting the efforts of the locality, spreading examples of good people and good deeds, and working with the team of reporters to build a healthy and positive journalistic environment. Some of my articles reflecting on the shortcomings in the implementation of state policies and laws in practice, after participating in inspection and supervision teams, have been published, helping government officials at all levels to re-evaluate their management and administration to better suit the reality.

The author of the article (second from the left) during a business trip to Dak Nhau commune, Bu Dang district.

Although not a journalist, I always write with the heart and responsibility of a "storyteller" in everyday life. To date, after nearly 20 years as a contributor, I have learned and honed my skills from senior reporters and from real-life experiences, which has given me a multifaceted perspective on all aspects of society. This is not only an achievement but also a source of pride to have contributed my small part to the revolutionary journalism of Vietnam. Even as a contributor to Binh Phuoc Newspaper, I have had the experience of being a real journalist – a "non-professional journalist."

Source: https://baobinhphuoc.com.vn/news/636/174087/nha-bao-khong-chuyen