"Igniting the passion for the profession" through authentic snapshots.

(Baothanhhoa.vn) - With the belief that "journalistic works must be born from real-life experiences," journalist Nguyen Thi Minh Thuy (pen name An Thu, working at the News Department of Thanh Hoa Newspaper and Radio and Television Station) has quietly gone about, quietly listened, to gather stories and destinies, creating journalistic works that are deeply imbued with the breath of life, full of emotion, and rich in humanistic values. For her, journalism is not just a profession, but a journey of telling life stories with all her heart.

Reporter An Thu (on the left) receives an award at the 42nd National Television Festival. (Photo: Provided by the subject)

Journalist An Thu's dream of becoming a journalist was nurtured since her school days. She recounts: “When I was in 10th grade, I was selected to participate in a game show on Thanh Hoa Radio and Television (now Thanh Hoa Newspaper and Radio and Television). That was my first encounter with journalists; I witnessed the professional production process of a television crew; and I saw the dynamism and enthusiasm of the reporters and editors. From then on, the dream of becoming a journalist was formed within me.”

To pursue her dream, after graduating from high school, journalist An Thu enrolled in the Journalism and Communication Faculty at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi. Upon graduation, she entered the profession at the very place that sparked her passion – Thanh Hoa Radio and Television Station. From then on, under the pen name An Thu, she dedicated herself to journalism with the belief that she would constantly travel, constantly feel, and constantly spread true stories to create works that breathe the essence of life.

Sharing her thoughts on the creative process, journalist An Thu said: “I think that the topic is one of the most important factors contributing to the success of a journalistic work. If we compare the production of a journalistic work to the process of making a cake, then the topic is the ingredient. Only with good ingredients can the baker make a delicious cake. Therefore, when producing television works, especially high-quality journalistic works, I always pay close attention to finding and selecting the right topic.”

With 15 years in the profession, journalist An Thu is not afraid of difficult and challenging topics, and is passionate about cultural and social issues. Recounting the creative process behind a work that left a deep impression on her, journalist An Thu shared: “At that time, I had just started working at Thanh Hoa Radio and Television Station. Through my observations, I learned about a 12-year-old girl in Thach Thanh district who had been sexually abused multiple times and gave birth at a very young age. Recognizing this as a ‘hot’ topic with high social critique potential, I proposed implementing a project. I still remember that day vividly. It was a sweltering summer morning in a remote mountainous rural area. In a cramped, old house, the 12-year-old girl sat holding her tiny newborn baby in her arms. Every time someone asked her about it, the young mother would burst into tears.”

Based on the character's tragic story, reporter An Thu and her team created a 10-minute television documentary titled "The Story of a 12-Year-Old Mother." When aired, the documentary had a significant impact on public opinion, contributing to raising awareness in society about the problem of child abuse and its serious, long-lasting consequences.

Not only has journalist An Thu made her mark with many works reflecting real life, but she also has a special knack for winning journalism awards. To date, she has amassed a rich collection of awards, with approximately 50 journalistic works winning prizes in national and local competitions. Notable examples include the Gold Award at the National Television Festival in 2016 and 2020; the Gold Award at the National Radio Festival in 2022; the Silver Award at the National Television Festival in 2025; the C Prize at the National Journalism Awards in 2021; 10 A Prizes at the Tran Mai Ninh Journalism Awards and the Golden Hammer and Sickle Award in Thanh Hoa province...

Sharing about how she invested in one of the award-winning works, she said: “During my travels, I saw many villages where people had chosen to end their lives by consuming the poisonous plant, *Gelsemium elegans*. The story of suicide by *Gelsemium elegans* among the Hmong people in Muong Lat deeply troubled me, and I decided to create the educational film “Gelsemium Elegans.” To create the work, we spent several months searching for characters and developing the script. The characters we chose all had tragic stories about their lives. However, approaching them was not easy. We not only dedicated time but also used sincerity, understanding, and empathy to find authentic and valuable materials. From these characters, we reflected the pain of outdated customs and the solutions proposed by the authorities to help people overcome superstition and build their villages. The work won the gold medal at the National Television Festival.”

Full of passion for her profession and a relentless pursuit of creativity, journalist An Thu practices journalism with love and responsibility towards society – these are the valuable qualities of journalist An Thu. Thanks to these qualities, her journalistic works not only leave a deep impression on viewers and score highly in competitions, but also contribute to building the "brand" of journalist An Thu – a skilled, innovative, and compassionate professional.

Quynh Chi

Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/thap-lua-nghe-bang-nhung-lat-cat-chan-thuc-252783.htm