The hearts that remain

During more than 10 years of working as a journalist, I have had the opportunity to travel to many places and meet many people. After each trip, the baggage that a reporter like me brings back is not only hot news or photos and videos capturing every moment, but also the thrill of the heart being touched by the stories and people I have met.

The author took a photo with members of the Women's Club preserving the identity of Dao ethnic costumes in Khe Ria hamlet, Vu Chan commune (Vo Nhai).

Go, listen and understand

When I first started my career, I was “fixated” on the idea that “journalism only requires reason and speed. I have to report the news as quickly as possible. The faster, more accurate, and more up to standard, the better.”

But then, the more I write, the more I meet different situations in society, listen to their stories and use my emotions to gently touch their lives, I realize that, in addition to the above factors, journalism also requires a heart. It is a heart that knows how to listen, how to be moved and leaves a part of that emotion for itself after each article. Such thoughts often come suddenly, I don't know when they started but always make me think every time I talk to the characters.

It may have started on a scorching hot day in June, when I stood in the middle of a construction site under the scorching sun, watching a worker hastily wipe away the sweat on his dark face to look his best for the interview. It was when I noticed the worker’s eyes lit up when talking about the team’s determination to “overcome the sun and rain” to complete the project ahead of schedule.

Or perhaps it was when the veteran who experienced the fiery summer in Quang Tri Citadel in 1972 had tears in his eyes when talking about his fallen comrades.

I still remember clearly his choked words at that time: "We promised each other that when we left the army, we would go to Nam Dinh, Thai Binh, then Hai Phong , then up to Thai Nguyen to visit each of our families. But when the war ended, only I stayed behind to keep my promise."

It could also be that I myself shed tears when listening to the story of Ms. Trinh Thi Le, in Thinh Dan ward ( Thai Nguyen city). Despite having nearly ten serious illnesses, she still persevered in living, working and raising her two children to study.

Not collapsing before the "storm of life", Ms. Le is the one who transmits positive energy to everyone around her, helping them deeply feel the values ​​of life and appreciate the present moments; knowing about the resilience of human beings even in the depths of physical and mental pain.

Or sometimes I often sit and recall the days of working during the historic flood that occurred in Thai Nguyen in early September 2024. That is the image of Mr. Nguyen Van Tu (in Chua Hang ward, Thai Nguyen city) sitting on the roof of a level 4 house with a purple face, his eyes anxiously looking out at the raging water around. And then the old man's eyes lit up when he saw the rescue boat of the army.

Or when I met Ms. Le Thi Kieu (Linh Son commune, Thai Nguyen city) after the flood, I didn't know what to say, I just sat quietly next to her and listened to her talk in a low voice about how her property, crops, and livestock were all swept away by the water. Listening to her story, I silently recorded every word, not only with a pen, but also with my heart.

Journalism helps me and many other reporters to go and listen to many stories with many different nuances. Then we realize that we are not just news reporters. We are witnesses, sometimes also sharers. Then, we will bring that information to readers, so that the very "real" stories touch the emotions deep in each person's heart.

Thai Nguyen Newspaper reporters report on deforestation in the mountainous district of Vo Nhai.

Use the pen to touch the heart

A famous associate professor in the industry once taught us journalism students: “The journalism profession values ​​objective information. Before each incident, journalists must put themselves in a professional perspective. However, this profession does not choose people who are indifferent. It requires a heart strong enough to empathize, and a mind clear enough to tell the truth sincerely, kindly and humanely.”

It can be said that the days of working have changed my perspective on my job. As a reporter, I do not only write to provide information, but also to “touch”. Touch the joy, sadness, torment and hope of people. And when sharing this thought with my colleagues, we came to the same conclusion: The heart of a journalist also needs to learn how to vibrate, and then learn how to leave a part of themselves in each story. Because if we do not feel, how can we help readers understand?

And also from the vibrations of each word, each look, each fate I encounter, I also learned how to use language as a means of human love, not to judge or compare, but to understand.

Although I have experienced many big and small events and written hundreds of articles, what remains after each article is not only information, data, and arguments, but also hearts that vibrate with every beat of emotion. It is the heart of the journalist, of the character, of the reader.

And when heart touches heart, it is the strongest proof to affirm that: In a society that is sometimes insensitive because of the abundance of information, there are still writers who know how to listen and sympathize. We use our pens to keep emotions together, quietly but deeply.

Source: https://baothainguyen.vn/xa-hoi/202506/nhung-trai-tim-o-lai-f863962/