In an interview with Nhan Dan Newspaper reporters, Colonel Nham Hong Hac, Editor-in-Chief of Border Guard Newspaper and Chairman of the Border Guard Journalists Association, shared about the development journey, roles, responsibilities and expectations for the young generation of journalists in the period of strong transformation of multi-platform journalism today.
On April 22, 1959, "People's Armed Police News" No. 1 (the predecessor of Border Guard Newspaper) was born.
One of the publications of Border Newspaper in its 66-year history of establishment, growth and development.
One of the publications of Border Newspaper in its 66-year history of establishment, growth and development.
President Ho Chi Minh attended and gave instructions at the founding ceremony of the People's Armed Police Force, March 1959. Photo: Archive.
Reporter Tran Huu Tong (left) of the People's Armed Police News (now Border Guard Newspaper) interviews an American pilot captured by our army on the battlefield, 1964. Photo: Archive.
Lieutenant General Tang Hue, former Commander of the Border Guard, presses the button to connect to the Border Guard Electronic Information Website (now the Border Guard Electronic Newspaper), August 1, 2007. Photo: Document.
Generations of leaders, officers and reporters of Border Guard Newspaper at the Border Guard Newspaper historical book conference for the period 2009-2014.
From the People's Armed Police newspaper...
Dear comrade, could you please share about the formation and development journey of Border Guard Newspaper in the general context of Vietnam's revolutionary journalism?
On April 22, 1959, the People's Armed Police Newspaper, the predecessor of today's Border Guard Newspaper, was established and published its first issue. Over the past 66 years, although its name has changed many times, the Border Guard Newspaper has always closely followed the situation of the country, propagating the guidelines and policies of the Party, State, army and Border Guard (BĐBP) to cadres, soldiers and people of all ethnic groups in the border and island areas; encouraging and cheering cadres, soldiers and people of all walks of life to enthusiastically compete and successfully complete all tasks.
In the early stages of its establishment, especially during the years of war, the first generation of cadres and reporters of the newspaper were always present at the fiercest front lines to closely reflect the working, fighting and unit building activities in the border areas, islands and demarcation lines of the People's Armed Police Force; encourage, motivate and contribute to preventing and combating the enemy's provocative and destructive plots along the temporary demarcation line; fight against spies and commandos; propagate and mobilize people to prevent and combat plots to incite "declaring themselves kings", "raising bandits" to cause riots and seize power in border areas... which were received with interest by readers. The People's Armed Police Newspaper at that time became an important information channel to help Party and State leaders and ministries and branches promptly grasp the situation on the border, demarcation line, political security situation, social order and safety in remote and isolated areas, to have countermeasures to build a security line from the inland to the border, demarcation line...
Through the newspaper, the Border Guard force and readers have learned about many advanced models and shining examples of sacrifice and devotion of border guards. One of them is People's Armed Forces Hero Tran Van Tho, who worked in Leng Su Sin ( Lai Chau ). Stories about Tran Van Tho from the early years of the Border Guard force are still told today.
The People's Armed Police Newspaper has the great honor of being named by Uncle Ho and reading the issues. In some issues, Uncle Ho also wrote comments on the articles, requested rewards for good people and good deeds to be published in the newspaper, and pointed out mistakes in journalism. This is a great encouragement not only for the staff and reporters of the editorial office but also a common honor for the entire People's Armed Police force.
After 1975, the cadres and reporters of the People's Armed Police Newspaper, together with the entire force, entered a new phase of combat. Notable activities included propaganda activities to carry out the task of deploying forces to the borders, coasts, and islands in the South; working with the army and people to destroy the enemy's "post-war" plot; carrying out political and professional work to maintain territorial sovereignty and national border security; helping newly liberated localities build revolutionary governments, mobilizing people to stabilize their lives, and develop production.
During this period, the newspaper has matured in all aspects with a team of reporters with strong political will and capacity. The newspaper's articles have been received and cared for by readers nationwide, becoming a source of encouragement and motivation for officers and soldiers of the entire force and the border army and people to successfully complete the task of firmly protecting the territorial sovereignty and national border security.
Entering the period of innovation, along with the development of the country, Border Guard Newspaper has continuously developed and grown. And the biggest turning point was that on April 24, 2001, the Ministry of Information and Communications licensed Border Guard Newspaper to be widely distributed nationwide. In 2005, the newspaper continued to be licensed to publish the Border Security supplement; in 2007, the Border Guard Newspaper's electronic news site was launched and on July 31, 2013, the Ministry of Information and Communications signed a license for electronic press activities for Border Guard Newspaper.
In addition to carrying out key political tasks, the television programs organized by the Border Guard Newspaper have a strong influence on society, typically: "Border Spring warms the hearts of the villagers"; "Border echoes"; "Borders full of friendship"; "For the ships far away"; "People who light the fire of the border"; "Borders on the path of integration"... In particular, the Border Guard Newspaper has coordinated with Vietnam Television to produce a television documentary consisting of 25 episodes of "Border Journal" and 35 episodes of "Sea and Island Journal" which have attracted a large number of viewers and resonated with public opinion.
Throughout 66 years of construction, striving and growth, the Border Guard Newspaper has always adhered to the principles, goals, political tasks and propaganda orientations of the Party, the State and the Party Committee and the Border Guard Command. The newspaper's publications promptly inform about the guidelines, policies and laws of the Party, the State and the army; vividly reflect the practical work of protecting territorial sovereignty, national border security, maintaining social order and safety; regularly and persistently fight and effectively refute the distorted propaganda of hostile forces, fight against "peaceful evolution" and prevent and combat "self-evolution" and "self-transformation"; expose the tricks of all types of criminals, fight against negative phenomena, corruption, moral degradation and social evils; actively contribute to building a strong people's border defense. In particular, foreign information and propaganda work has been enhanced, contributing to building a peaceful, friendly, cooperative and mutually developing border.
General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong visited, worked with and wished a happy new year to officers and soldiers of the Border Guard Command, 2017.
…To three modern press publications
Dear comrade, in the process of reporting, how has the Border Guard Newspaper carried out its mission of propagating the Party and State's policies and guidelines to suit the situation in border and island areas?
Border Guard Newspaper currently publishes 3 publications: 2 printed publications: Border Guard Newspaper (published 02 issues/week) and Border Security Supplement (published 01 issue/week); 01 electronic publication Border Guard Newspaper (updated 24/7).
The publications of the Border Guard Newspaper always adhere to and properly implement the principles and purposes stated in the press operation license; thoroughly grasp, comply with, and strictly implement the Party's guidelines and policies, the State's policies and laws, the leadership and direction of the Central Military Commission, the Ministry of National Defense, the Party Committee, and the Border Guard Command; well perform political tasks, propaganda orientations, and guidance and direction of superior professional agencies such as the Central Propaganda Department, the Ministry of Information and Communications, the General Department of Politics, the Vietnam Journalists Association, etc.; strictly comply with legal regulations on press activities and well perform press functions.
The Border Guard Newspaper not only timely propagates the Party's guidelines and policies, the State's policies and laws, but also performs well its function as a forum for officers, soldiers of the armed forces and people in the cause of building, managing and protecting national territorial sovereignty and border security.
The newspaper's purpose and objectives are to propagate and disseminate the Party's guidelines and policies, the State's policies and laws, resolutions and directives of the Central Military Commission, the Ministry of National Defense, the Party Committee and the Border Guard Command on building and defending the Fatherland, managing and protecting national border security and sovereignty.
The newspaper reflects and propagates the results of the implementation of military, national defense and border defense tasks, all aspects of work and activities of cadres, soldiers and people in border areas, typical and advanced collectives and individuals in building, managing and protecting territorial sovereignty and national border security; building all-people national defense, building a regular, elite and gradually modern Border Guard.
Prime Minister Pham Van Dong met and encouraged CANDVT artists in 1976.
At the same time, the newspaper informs about border and territorial issues of countries around the world, experiences in applying science and technology to serve the management and protection of borders and sea areas, orientation, political and ideological education, dissemination of legal education on territory and national borders for officers, soldiers and people in border areas.
In addition, the newspaper also carries out the task of fighting against erroneous and hostile viewpoints that take advantage of border, territorial, ethnic and religious issues to sabotage the Party's revolutionary cause, divide the great national unity bloc and friendly relations with neighboring countries.
On March 2, 2009, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Border Guard's Traditional Day (March 3, 1959 - March 3, 2009), the 20th anniversary of the People's Border Guard Day (March 3, 1989 - March 3, 2009) and the conferment of the title of Hero of the People's Armed Forces, on behalf of the Party and State leaders, National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Phu Trong conferred the title of Hero of the People's Armed Forces (for the second time) on the Border Guard for its exceptionally outstanding achievements in performing the task of managing and protecting national border security and sovereignty in the new period.
The unique identity of the "journalist-soldier" team is dedication.
The team of reporters and editors of Border Guard Newspaper are often called “journalists – soldiers”. In your opinion, what makes this team unique?
The Border Guard Newspaper, Border Security Supplement, and Border Guard Electronic Newspaper always follow the principles, purposes, and information orientation of the above, closely following the current situation and key political tasks of the country, the Army, and the Border Guard, in-depth and effective propaganda of activities in all fields, building a position to protect the border, protect the sovereignty of the territory, sea, islands, national border security, and fight against all types of crimes in the border area; promptly bringing to readers the Party's guidelines and policies, the State's policies and laws on the border, border work, and border diplomacy. The newspaper's publications have also promptly praised and encouraged the movement of the entire people participating in building and protecting the country's borders, seas, and islands, helping people eliminate hunger and reduce poverty, build political bases, maintain solidarity and friendship with neighboring countries; and the work of building the Border Guard's forces.
The above results were achieved because the team of reporters and editors of the Border Guard Newspaper had a very serious sense of information discipline, followed the instructions and information orientation of superiors, closely followed the political events of the country, the Army and the political tasks of the Border Guard Command to carry out propaganda tasks.
What makes the unique identity of the team of "journalists-soldiers" is their professional awareness, not afraid of difficulties, hardships, bravery, dedication, responsibility, and excellent completion of all assigned tasks. Journalists are ready to work in the front lines, in remote areas, in extremely difficult areas, in floods, storms..., to record the most realistic and vivid moments, images and feelings...
Many quality press works have been published, with wide influence, contributing to encouraging new factors, replicating good programs, models, creative and effective ways of working of units in the entire force and ethnic people in border areas, seas and islands in the cause of firmly managing and protecting territorial sovereignty and national border security.
In addition, with a team of dedicated editors with high professional qualifications, contributing to the development of printed and electronic newspapers with many innovations in presentation forms, methods of expressing journalistic works, opening more columns; increasing the use of information from collaborators, especially experts and scientists.
How do you evaluate the role of multi-platform journalism in disseminating information about border areas, seas and islands today?
In the context of the rapid development of social media, along with the emergence of new forms of media, there is a profound impact on journalism and propaganda activities. The influence of multi-platform journalism on propaganda about border areas and islands is increasingly strong, especially on social media platforms.
To protect territorial sovereignty and national border security, comprehensive strength is needed, and close coordination is needed in all fields, including the press and media.
In recent years, multi-platform press has done a good job of propagating about borders, seas and islands; there have been important steps forward in both breadth and depth. Content, form and propaganda measures have been innovated, closely following reality. In addition to propagating the protection of territorial sovereignty, national border security, seas and islands; multi-platform press has clearly reflected the task of developing the economy, culture and society in border, sea and island areas. Reporters and editors have made working trips to border and island areas... to have hot news articles, promptly reflecting the situation of borders, seas and islands.
Colonel Nham Hong Hac, Editor-in-Chief of Border Guard Newspaper, spoke at the meeting to exchange journalism skills with Veterans Newspaper.
Colonel Nguyen Thanh Hai, Deputy Chief of Political Affairs of the Border Guard, presented flowers to congratulate the Border Guard Journalists Association in June 2024.
What do you expect from the current generation of young journalists in continuing and promoting the tradition of revolutionary journalism in general and of the Border Guard Newspaper in particular?
Journalists have the responsibility to accurately and multi-dimensionally reflect social reality, from social, economic, political to cultural, educational issues, etc., helping to provide valuable and timely information to readers. I have great faith and hope in the current generation of young journalists to continue and promote the tradition of revolutionary journalism.
In today’s digital media environment, information can be spread quickly and widely without being checked or verified. In my opinion, young reporters with their strengths in technology must ensure that the information conveyed is reliable and not misleading. While exploiting advanced data and technology to provide personalized content, young reporters must protect privacy and personal data, avoid privacy violations, and use data safely and transparently.
To fulfill their social responsibilities well, young reporters need to cultivate political qualities, professional ethics and professional capacity.
Major General Phung Quoc Tuan, former Deputy Political Commissar of the Border Guard, presented flowers to congratulate the Border Guard Journalists Association in June 2024.
In addition, young people participating in journalism need to deeply understand and carefully consider each action, and fully consider and analyze the political and social consequences of each detail in their work. If the information provided is not verified or thoroughly investigated, it will have a significant impact on public opinion and the thinking of the masses.
The more developed the society is, the higher the demand for information, the more diverse it is, especially the faster and more timely it is. To be a true journalist, one must not only discover, select and process information quickly and promptly, but more importantly, it must be honest, accurate, objective, reflecting the true thoughts and aspirations of the people and the political orientation of the Party, positively and effectively influencing the progress and development of society.
Thank you, Editor-in-Chief of Border Newspaper!
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Publication date: 6/14/2025
Director: Kim Phuong Binh
Production organization: Thao Le
Performed by: Diamond
Presented by: Duong Thinh
Photo: Nhan Dan Newspaper, Border Guard Newspaper
Nhandan.vn
Source: https://nhandan.vn/special/su-menh-truyen-thong-ve-bao-ve-chu-quyen-an-ninh-bien-gioi/index.html
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