The joy of journalism

Reporter Kim Loan working. Photo: Archive

"Fate" to journalism

Having loved reading books and newspapers since I was a child, and having a bit of a talent for writing, from high school to university I really enjoyed making wall newspapers. My classmates and I selected suitable topics on the occasion of the Uncle Ho's Good Children Congress, the founding day of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union, Vietnam Teachers' Day, the founding day of the school... to participate. Although they were stories about the school, teachers, friends, youthful dreams... when presented with drawings and writing on roki paper, neatly framed into a wall newspaper, the above content became a common story of the class, of the school to learn, to spread and of course, my class's wall newspaper was always ranked high, individuals with good writing were recognized. That was also the first joy when I first picked up a pen and the motivation to nurture my passion later.

While working in the military environment, although not a press agency, the daily work helped me maintain my writing. At first, I only wrote short news about conferences, military recruitment, live ammunition shooting... and sent them to the editorial office of Military Zone 9 Newspaper, the editorial office of Dong Khoi Newspaper. I sent the news with a feeling of excitement and anticipation, because in the late 80s and early 90s, communication was still very difficult, to send articles, I had to send letters via the Post Office or send them by express fax, at that time there were only landline phones in the unit, so there was little contact between the editorial office and collaborators and informants. When the issue was published, the military postman brought the newspaper as a gift, happy as if he had received a precious gift, opened the newspaper to quickly read the news, saw my name and felt indescribably happy, sometimes happy all day and felt like he was re-energized. After that, I attended a training course for collaborators organized by the Dong Khoi Newspaper Editorial Board, the Military Region 9 Newspaper Editorial Board invited me to train informants and I started writing news and articles more regularly. The joy kept multiplying after the news and articles were published, at the end of the year, there was a meeting for collaborators and informants to summarize the propaganda work of the year, I was invited to receive the Military Region's certificate of merit for excellent informant, I was so happy I wanted to cry, I couldn't sleep all night. This was a great encouragement and an unforgettable memory, the first time I was awarded in the field of journalism. Those were also the first memories and the "fate" that brought me to journalism.

Joy comes with responsibility

After being trained in journalism, I really embarked on my “destiny” of journalism. Having a basic education is a joy, opening up a new direction for myself when I am equipped with knowledge, professional skills, and a firm grasp of regulations, principles, and professional ethics… Working in the field of journalism has helped me become more confident when holding a pen. Especially when working in press management, I always determine that joy and responsibility must go hand in hand, the higher the responsibility, the more joy is doubled, that is the responsibility towards the Fatherland, towards the industry, the personal responsibility of the writer towards society, towards the community, towards readers and audiences.

Therefore, when in the position of a collaborator, an informant or a reporter, it is only the responsibility of a professional, contributing to information and orienting ideology, public opinion, guiding people to the values of truth, goodness and beauty through articles and programs that are published and broadcast, but when participating in the Editorial Board, in the position of a manager or leader, it requires even higher responsibility, especially with the political functions and tasks of the newspaper, the ideological theme of each issue, each broadcast program. I often compare managing a newspaper agency to a soccer goalkeeper, keeping the goal safe, not letting "goals in", so first of all, one must put oneself in the position of a reporter, so the eyes must be bright, the pen must be sharp; the position of an editor must have a pure heart, a bright mind, and an objective view of all issues; The role of a manager is to combine the qualities of a journalist: a steadfast stance, a firm viewpoint, a sharp pen, bright eyes, a pure heart, objectivity, and honesty to put on the newspaper articles with full, accurate, and timely information, bringing the breath of life, inspiration, and positive energy to everyone around, exploiting many rich and diverse topics in many areas of life, work, living, working, studying, researching, etc., creating a colorful picture.

Through each published issue, each broadcast program is a message that helps me and everyone live optimistically, positively, and towards the good things in life. There is no greater joy than being welcomed and satisfied by readers and listeners because we have fulfilled our tasks before the leaders and commanders through each specific product, which is the published issue, each broadcast program. However, to make the joy complete, the Editorial Board always waits and listens to information, comments, and feedback from managers, leaders, specialized agencies, readers, and listeners about the articles and images that have just been published in the newspaper and the broadcast program with a spirit of openness, respecting when there are comments, compliments, and criticisms in a sincere manner, accepting them to promote strengths, and at the same time promptly supplementing and correcting limitations and shortcomings, without making excuses or avoiding them. That is the real joy, the spiritual motivation, the most positive encouragement to help the Editorial Board complete the tasks of a press agency well.

I have completed my mission, returned to normal life, enjoyed the vegetable garden, fish pond, but still do not forget the time when I was a busy journalist, worried about lack of news, articles or content that did not meet requirements, photos that were not on the right topic... At the same time, I also put aside the joys after each published issue, each special broadcast program or medals after each Television Festival, Spring Newspaper Competition, along with compliments from leaders and commanders who highly appreciated the quality of news and published articles... All are memories for me to always remember and be proud of for having spent years working in journalism, from being a collaborator, informant, editor and a manager who gave me the joy of holding a pen, experiencing the experience of a journalist. Journalism has been deeply imprinted in my memory as a passion and I always cherish and preserve sacred and beautiful things, all of which will become the spice of life to help me have more faith and strength in everyday life.

Kim Loan

Source: https://baodongkhoi.vn/niem-vui-nghe-bao-20062025-a148463.html