Confessions of a female journalist

Everyone says that journalism is hard work, and for women it is even harder. However, thanks to journalism, I have the opportunity to travel to many places, meet many people, and learn many things. Each trip and each story has left an impression on me, stories that give me more motivation to love and be more responsible for my job and to train myself to become more mature.

Having just graduated from the Faculty of Literature, I was fortunate to become a reporter for the News Department, Ninh Thuan Radio and Television Station. For me, journalism is the career I have dreamed of pursuing since I was a high school student. Every time I see reporters and editors appear on TV or when I see them working at the scene, I secretly think that I will try my best to be like them one day.

I remember the first days, I was extremely bewildered and somewhat self-conscious with the rather “hard to hear” accent typical of my hometown, a rural area in the North Central region. I was shy about communicating, and there was no family or relatives to encourage me, which sometimes made me falter. However, I was fortunate to work in the News Department, with a team of professional and enthusiastic reporters. They helped me a lot in my work and in my life, creating conditions for me to have more motivation to stick with the profession.

Over 12 years of working in this profession, I have been to many places, met many people, helped me understand more about life and have very special memories. Those are valuable assets that I think I am lucky to have. Although I am a woman, I am very "willing" to travel, not afraid of hardships and difficulties, I often go on business trips to the highlands, to the most remote communes and villages to experience and reflect on the lives of people in ethnic minority and mountainous areas.

Reporter Le Na working at an event.

Talking about working trips to the highlands, I remember the times of walking through forests, climbing passes, wading streams... Despite the difficulties, the people in the highlands still strive to overcome hunger and reduce poverty; with the unique traditional cultural features, I am urged to return to the base. The most memorable memory is 8 years ago, when Ta Noi village, Ma Noi commune (Ninh Son) did not have a concrete road connecting from the commune center. To get here, you had to cross more than 10km of forest road and wade through 7 large and small streams; there were sections of road just wide enough for a motorbike to pass, with cliffs on one side and deep abysses on the other. Despite the difficulties, my team and I went there at least 10 times to report on the life, culture, production and efforts to escape poverty of the people here.

As a news reporter, I am determined to always be ready to carry out tasks as soon as assigned, in any situation. I remember during storms, right after receiving the assignment from the department leader, we female reporters did not hesitate to go to the base to promptly propagate about storm and flood prevention work in the localities, about human love stories in the storm and flood.

Especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. At that time, my husband was studying in Hanoi, my daughter was still young, but there was not a day that my colleagues and I were not present at medical facilities, epidemic control stations or even at concentrated quarantine areas to report on the epidemic prevention and control work of localities. Knowing that it was dangerous and difficult, but the responsibility of a journalist did not allow us to be afraid or falter...

Many people have asked me: "As a woman, why don't you choose another job that is less difficult, but choose journalism?"... Yes, journalism is very hard, and you have to endure a lot of pressure because the working hours of journalists are not according to office hours, especially during holidays and Tet, it is even harder. In particular, female journalists not only do their professional work well but also have to fulfill their role as women in the family; especially when their husband is a soldier, taking care of a small family is somewhat more difficult for me. Many times, I have to go to work on Saturdays and Sundays, so the desire to be home with my children on the weekend is often put on hold. This feeling is not only mine but also that of every female journalist.

There have been many times when the hardships and pressures of meeting work deadlines and taking care of my family have left me exhausted. However, those are just fleeting thoughts, because beside me there is my family, my agency with leaders who understand and encourage me, and my close colleagues who share and share, and above all, my love for the profession is always "burning" inside me. Knowing that there are still many difficulties, but every time a journalistic work is highly appreciated by superiors and welcomed by the people, it gives me and my colleagues more strength and energy to continue working, more determined, more effortful, and dedicated to the profession we have chosen.

Le Na

Source: https://baoninhthuan.com.vn/news/153636p1c30/tam-su-nha-bao-nu.htm