Sports reporters need flexibility and creativity...

Công Luận•09/02/2024

The national flag flies in the wind.

Beyond the significance of a sporting event, the 31st SEA Games truly became a celebration of solidarity and friendship. The theme of the Games, "For a Stronger Southeast Asia," shone brightly and spread powerfully, leaving a lasting and positive impression on members of participating sports delegations as well as international friends.

This sporting event also brings together many domestic and international reporters and journalists who come to directly attend, report on the events and matches, and experience life as well as learn about the country and people of Vietnam.

Present during the Vietnamese team's matches in this tournament, photojournalist Le Thuy Nguyen from Nhan Dan Newspaper captured many memorable and proud moments of the national athletes. With her work "Proud of the Vietnamese Fatherland," Le Thuy Nguyen excellently won the Silver Award in the Sports category at the 2022 "Journalistic Moments" awards ceremony organized by the Newspaper & Public Opinion.

Sports reporters need flexibility and creativity (Figure 1). — Artwork: Proud of the Vietnamese Fatherland.

Recalling that assignment, Le Thuy Nguyen said that the reporting process at this Games had been underway since after the Lunar New Year of 2022. Despite the support and facilitation from the leaders of the sports training centers and the national teams, he and his colleagues had to be very careful when interacting with the athletes, as everyone understood that even a slight oversight could affect the entire long-term preparation of the athletes, teams, sports disciplines, and the Vietnamese sports delegation as a whole.

Le Thuy Nguyen doesn't come from a background as a sports photojournalist, but he considers covering a major sporting event in his home country a rare opportunity and is very excited about the job. Furthermore, it's a chance for him to meet and network not only with colleagues from Vietnam but also from across Asia.

Many people typically imagine sports reporters to be immersed in the vast, open spaces of stadiums and grand arenas. However, to capture beautiful photos, sports reporters need flexibility, creativity, and especially a deep understanding of the sports field and the ability to assess situations.

Le Thuy Nguyen was enrolled in Taekwondo training by his family from a young age, a course he continued for about seven years. Therefore, he proactively registered with his unit's leadership, the organizing committee of the sport, and the stadium to be able to cover events there on Taekwondo competition days.

In her work "Proud of the Vietnamese Fatherland," Le Thuy Nguyen recounts that on the afternoon of May 16, 2022, amidst the enthusiastic cheers of the audience at the Tay Ho District Gymnasium in Hanoi , the Vietnamese Taekwondo team had an outstanding day of competition in the poomsae (forms) events, winning 4 gold medals out of 5 finals.

In the men's team standard poomsae event, Tran Ho Duy, Nguyen Dinh Khoi, and Nguyen Thien Phung also brought good news to the Vietnamese sports delegation. Each movement was performed decisively and powerfully by the athletes. After two performances, the athletes achieved an average score of 7.782, thereby winning the gold medal for Vietnamese sports.

"The moment Tran Ho Duy, Nguyen Dinh Khoi, and Nguyen Thien Phung unfurled the Vietnamese national flag inside the stadium was captured by me with a series of clicks, and luckily I got the perfect photo titled 'Proud of the Vietnamese Fatherland,' which won an award in the 2022 'Journalistic Moments' photo contest," Nguyen recalled.

For Le Thuy Nguyen, covering the SEA Games 31 was also a time of "historic" moments. "Every time I witnessed a Vietnamese athlete winning a gold medal, I was always very moved, excited, and incredibly proud, and our job is to convey those sacred moments to fans back home," Le Thuy Nguyen shared.

Choosing to be a photojournalist was the right decision.

Le Thuy Nguyen officially became a photojournalist in 2017, when he started working at the Photo Department, Editorial Secretariat, Nhan Dan Newspaper, and has been there for almost 7 years now. However, his passion for photography began much earlier.

"When I was in 9th grade, with the film camera my grandfather brought back from a business trip abroad, and later during my high school years with a digital camera my family bought for me, I started taking simple photos, from pictures of friends in class to solo strolls through the old town or flower markets. After graduating from high school, I was determined and passed the entrance exam to the Photography Department at the Hanoi University of Theatre and Film," Le Thuy Nguyen said.

Sports reporters need flexibility and creativity (Figure 2). — Author Le Thuy Nguyen receives the Silver Award - Sports Category at the 2022 "Journalistic Moment" Awards Ceremony. (Photo: Son Hai)

Working at the Nhan Dan newspaper helped Le Thuy Nguyen hone his skills and qualities. From a wandering student taking photos with beautiful composition and lighting, considering them beautiful works of art, Le Thuy Nguyen understood that photojournalism is different from other genres because it must adhere to a strict framework of rules and ethics.

The stories told must be true, recounted objectively, and not influenced by the photographer's personal emotions. These images aim to evoke strong emotions in the viewer. While conventional journalism uses words and supporting images to recount events, photojournalism is the complete opposite, using body language and facial expressions to build a story—something words alone cannot achieve.

"I increasingly feel that choosing this job was the right decision. In 2023, I traveled to many places across Vietnam, from North to South, from the capital to the Northwest highlands and down to the Mekong Delta. Everywhere I went left unforgettable emotions, memorable experiences, and captured so many beautiful moments in life," Le Thuy Nguyen expressed.

Regarding his plans for 2024, Le Thuy Nguyen shared that, as a reporter for Nhan Dan Newspaper, he will continue to carry out the tasks assigned by his superiors and agency. In addition, he plans to travel to new places, meet and learn about different people and cultures across the country in order to produce higher-quality works.

"In 2024, our country will have many major holidays, along with numerous festivals, cultural activities, and sports events. This is also an opportunity for me to immerse myself in these special events and capture beautiful moments about life and people in the places I visit," said Le Thuy Nguyen.

Phan Hoa Giang

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