Journalists don't know everything.

Because the press reflects all aspects of social life and they know that I work at Dong Nai Newspaper, a provincial newspaper in addition to many famous central and local newspapers sold at newsstands in Bien Hoa City, the people living in the same boarding house with me often ask for this or that. Because in their minds, every day they read the newspaper and see that whatever the journalist writes, says, comments, analyzes… very subtly, so the journalist knows everything, while the things they ask for are just trivial things that they can help with.

Journalist Doan Phu (Law - Life and Readers Department of Dong Nai Newspaper, left) receives readers at the office. Photo: Nhan Thai

Luckily for me, in addition to my specialized journalism knowledge trained at the Institute of Journalism and Propaganda of the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics (now the Academy of Journalism and Propaganda) and over 25 years of journalism, I also diligently studied Law and Psychology, so when people in the boarding house asked for advice on divorce, inheritance division, land disputes, children disagreeing with their parents, etc., I could explain and advise them.

I feel sorry for them, but I also feel happy, especially when the weak in society ask for help when they are being bullied and cannot ask for help from anyone faster. It is all because they ask for sincere help, not because I am someone who likes to meddle in other people's business, or who boasts that because I am a journalist, I have power and authority.

When helping people in the boarding house, I have to think of ways to be effective and not be known as a gossip, causing resentment, so sometimes it is more tiring than writing a reportage with characters, events that require careful research, going to many places to find interesting, valuable details, and beautiful photos. The hardest and most exciting thing is that sometimes while working, I have to listen to them if anything happens so that I can appear in time, especially to appear quickly after carefully instructing them "if there is anything, just shout loudly or pull my door hard, no need to shout". Thanks to that, for the past few years, everything has been peaceful, they are more confident that journalists know everything and can do beneficial things when they ask for help.

Last night, I didn’t dare to sleep soundly because I had to turn on the lights in the room to see if Uncle Ut - the landlord’s son - would come back from playing and harass his sister-in-law, because before leaving, he left a threat saying “I will deal with her when I get back”. This happened not just once, but many times, so my sister-in-law had to ask me for help, even at night, if something happened, remember to go to the security guard and help stop it. Luckily, last night was peaceful, but someone had put some glue on the lock of her motorbike, so it couldn’t be unlocked.

It is not that journalists know everything, it is that people and newspaper readers idolize journalists too much. However, even though journalists are considered “unable to tie a chicken”, they do not lack courage in their writing. And I also boldly believe that journalists need to practice courage in their daily lives so that people will love them more.

Source: https://baodongnai.com.vn/xa-hoi/202506/nha-bao-khong-phai-viec-gi-cung-biet-1e31545/