The “Revolutionary Storytellers”

BAC GIANG - During his lifetime, Uncle Ho gave journalists a noble "definition": "Journalists are also revolutionary soldiers". And poet To Huu, with simple words, once said that we "cut through Truong Son to save the country", we tell revolutionary stories, promote revolutionary movements with pages and words.

On June 21 this year, the Vietnamese press proudly and emotionally welcomed the centenary of the founding of Thanh Nien Newspaper. The newspaper is the voice of the Vietnam Revolutionary Youth Association, the most important predecessor organization of our Party. The first issue of the newspaper was published on June 21, 1925 and is published regularly every week. The editor-in-chief and founder of the newspaper is Nguyen Ai Quoc - Ho Chi Minh, a genius leader and world cultural celebrity. From him "emanates a culture of the future".

Uncle Ho reading Nhan Dan Newspaper. Photo archive.

Generations of Vietnamese journalists have been witnessing day by day the magical wings of science and technology taking people to distant, new horizons, things that were only dreams in the past. The bright future and great mission are posing requirements for further innovation, streamlining, and efficiency, to be worthy of a professional, humane, and modern press; for journalists to be worthy of the title that society honors as “the one steering the boat of truth”?

Over the past 40 years, in the process of national renewal initiated and led by our Party, the country's press has increasingly affirmed its pioneering role and demonstrated the professional maturity and political mettle of the team of journalists. They have truly responsibly participated and integrated into social life, condemned negative behaviors, fought uncompromisingly against corruption, waste, wrong and hostile viewpoints. At the same time, they have promoted the advantages of each newspaper, spread positive values, new models, good initiatives and simple examples in everyday life.

Since the 10th Central Conference (September 1924) until now, the press has vividly and widely conveyed major strategic policies and orientations of a Platform nature to be implemented in the new period. This is a particularly important milestone marking a period of rapid and sustainable development, opening a new era, an era of rising up of the Vietnamese people.

There are many things to worry about, many things to think about. The rich and attractive topics will be both an opportunity and a "test" for each press agency and each journalist: The revolution of streamlining the apparatus in the political system to be effective and efficient; promoting the development of science, technology, innovation and national digital transformation; a hopeful strategy for the private economy to remove the "golden rings" and do business well; the work of building and enforcing laws is considered a "breakthrough of breakthroughs" in perfecting the country's development institutions. It is called a "test" because each press agency must both focus on propagating new and unprecedented content, and must inform, comment, and promote images using the most advanced technologies, thereby creating diverse and attractive works to meet the increasing needs of readers.

With the goal of having 100% of Vietnamese press agencies post content on digital platforms by 2030, prioritizing domestic digital platforms, we are gradually arranging the organization, operation, and operation of a converged newsroom model and models suitable for the development of advanced science and technology. The public is familiar with the image of reporters who not only specialize in taking photos, filming, or writing news articles, but they can also combine reading, editing finished products or at least rough editing. Thanks to its versatility, the press can provide information the fastest and most attractive.

But whether journalism is more about contemplation, drawing out profound philosophical insights, or journalism in the race to keep up with every stream of news on the internet, the requirements for courage, knowledge, ability, and professional ethics remain unchanged. Journalists must always live at the source of news, accept hardships and sacrifices to be worthy of the role of contemporary historians. Their whole lives are devoted like bees making honey to write about the real, the new, and the typical.

The press continues to carry out its mission as "revolutionary storytellers".

Uncle Ho often reminded that the first topic for writers is "what the eyes see and the ears hear". That means that writing must first be truthful, based on real life with numbers and events that have been examined, checked, and selected. Truth is both the strength of the work and the measure of the ethics of a true journalist. As for what is new in journalism, first of all, it is what has just happened, hot, competing with each other every minute. The 2025 Pulitzer Prize for Journalism announced in early May had many fierce polemics by famous writers.

Sharp analyses of the war in the Middle East, the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Pakistan-India conflict, and then to the burning issues of society, from the fentanyl crisis (a highly toxic drug, also known as “zombie drug”), causing headaches, the hidden corners of the US military’s activities and the failed assassination of US President Donald Trump have brought the two newspapers New York Times and The New Yorker to the top of the world’s most prestigious journalism awards. What have we learned? Is it because of the in-depth investigative style, sharp analysis, and frank commentary? The commentators not only inform but also ask questions, create debates, and explore the root of the problem.

Regarding typical propaganda, there are opinions that typical propaganda is no longer suitable in the market mechanism. Everywhere we see fear of responsibility, see pushing and avoiding, everyone is dissatisfied but then everyone raises their hands in agreement (!) So where is the motivation, where is the typical? How can we propagate a series of articles about an advanced typical example like "in the past"? I would say that in the era of globalization, international integration, the era of the 4.0 industrial revolution, there have appeared many typical individuals and groups - people of today. Journalists with a keen eye discover new factors when they are still buds, sprouts, not waiting until they become trees, flowers, and bear fruit.

After a century of accompanying the nation, journalists today are fortunate and honored to continue “telling revolutionary stories” in the new era. Great opportunities and challenges lie ahead of us, requiring innovation and even stronger growth. Innovation is not only in applying advanced technology to the journalism process, but also in exploring, testing, and exploiting new topics, in order to truly and deeply reflect the burning issues of society.

In the midst of love and passion, here and there are inevitably distractions and sad glances. Before our eyes, there are still many deep ditches cutting off the way, many obstacles, many worries and thoughts. Many newspapers have been merged and dissolved. A drastic reduction of press agencies is necessary, because each journalist is not only an observer, an audience member, but more than that, a living note in the national symphony. But there is another point. Journalism is a special profession, with a clear personal creative mark and talent, not everyone can become a good journalist. Now that the newspaper is gone, where will they go, what will they do, can they replace their strengths with their weaknesses? "When the water is high, why worry about the duckweed?" colleagues advise each other. Or talk further, deeper when a veteran journalist mentions the confidences of a British historian: "Hundreds of people can overcome poverty, but very few can overcome abundance". Who knows, in the most difficult times, our bravery and talent shine the brightest.

Then there is the issue of financial resources, distribution, advertising, and event organization. No matter how difficult it is, we must not fall into commercialism, which has even led to some managers, reporters, and employees being prosecuted for threatening and extorting property from individuals and businesses. "If you fall, don't blame the foundation", the lesson of maintaining professional integrity and journalistic ethics must be reminded more than ever, especially at this time.

After a century of accompanying the nation, journalists today are fortunate and honored to continue to "tell revolutionary stories" in the new era. Great opportunities and challenges lie ahead of us, requiring innovation and even stronger growth. Innovation is not only in applying advanced technology to the journalism process, but also in exploring, testing, and exploiting new topics, our own unique features, to truly and deeply reflect the burning issues of society. At this time, the advice of Uncle Ho - the great teacher of Vietnam's revolutionary journalism - echoes in our minds: To complete the task well, journalists "Must strive to study politics, improve their ideology, stand firmly on the proletarian class position; must improve their cultural level, delve into their profession. We must always try, and if we try, we will definitely succeed."

Rose

Source: https://baobacgiang.vn/nhung-nguoi-ke-chuyen-cach-mang--postid420270.bbg