I came to journalism as a profession.

I write these lines with mixed emotions, as the editorial office is bustling with celebrations for the 100th anniversary of the Vietnamese Revolutionary Press Day, which is also the last celebration in the current form of Thai Nguyen Newspaper, before merging with the press agencies of Thai Nguyen and Bac Kan provinces according to the provincial consolidation policy. As someone who has been associated with both Thai Nguyen and Bac Kan newspapers, I feel a mix of emotions.

Journalist Phuong Thom (standing in the middle) during a reporting trip to the offshore platforms (December 2017).

In August 1997, while my university friends had already found stable jobs after graduation, I was still struggling with my bachelor's degree, unsure of what to do next. One day, my father returned from our hometown in Bac Kan , bringing with him a surprising suggestion: "Why don't you go to Bac Kan and work in journalism?"

After hearing that, I felt a mix of joy and anxiety. Joy because it offered a new path for my future. Anxiety because journalism was still unfamiliar and daunting to me at the time. But then, I decided to follow that calling, a simple turning point that would later become my destiny.

I packed my suitcase and set off. Back then, Bac Kan was a small town with many shortcomings in infrastructure. The paved roads stretched for only a few kilometers; most government offices were still under construction, covered in dust. The Bac Kan newspaper was temporarily housed in a row of single-story buildings in the Bamboo Workshop – which served as both the headquarters and living quarters for the editorial staff.

I was given a simple room in the reading room of the editorial office. Besides writing articles, I also took on the task of answering the hotline phone. My tools of the trade at the time were an old bicycle from my student days, along with a notebook and a pen. In the early days, I cycled to the wards and communes around the town to gather material. In the evenings, I would answer the phone while diligently practicing writing my first short news articles.

I never received formal journalism training, but fortunately, senior figures like Mr. Nguyen Non Nuoc (Editor-in-Chief), Mr. Cao Tham (Deputy Editor-in-Chief), and Ms. Lan Phuong (Head of the Editorial Secretariat) at the time provided me with dedicated guidance on every skill and professional principle. Thanks to their mentorship, I gradually matured and confidently wrote my first articles.

As I gradually became more familiar with the work, I began to take on assignments in remote areas: Cho Don, Na Ri, Pac Nam… Journalism in the mountainous regions back then was a journey full of hardships. Sometimes we had to walk all day, wade through streams, and climb mountains to reach a point of access to information. Despite the difficulties and hardships, we always received warm affection and enthusiasm from the people of the highlands.

I still vividly remember my trip to Liem Thuy commune (Na Ri district) to conduct an investigative report titled "The Liem Thuy Forest is Bleeding." Knowing I was visiting the area, the commune leaders welcomed me warmly. That evening, in the simple stilt house by the crackling fire of the Women's Association Chairwoman's family, the heads of various committees and organizations were all present. They shared valuable stories about life and the difficulties of the locality. Meanwhile, I took the opportunity to record every detail, every piece of the puzzle for my upcoming article.

The author (far right) with colleagues from Bac Kan Newspaper at the ceremony commemorating the 88th anniversary of Vietnamese Revolutionary Journalism.

In 2014, due to family circumstances, I requested a transfer to work at Thai Nguyen Newspaper. The new, more modern work environment, with its faster pace and greater professionalism, left me quite overwhelmed. Here, while reporters were still writing articles on the third floor, the printing house on the first floor was already preparing the final print run for the day. The pressure of producing a daily newspaper was unprecedented in my previous work environment.

My first articles for Thai Nguyen Newspaper were often rejected because the writing was superficial, lacking depth and fluidity. But then, just like when I first joined Bac Kan Newspaper, I received guidance and understanding from my senior colleagues: Ms. Do Thi Thin (Editor-in-Chief), Mr. Lieu Van Chien (Deputy Editor-in-Chief), Ms. Minh Hang (Head of the Party Building Department)... and many other colleagues. They helped me adapt, grow, and gradually get into the vibrant environment of journalism.

Nearly thirty years in journalism, a journey that is neither too long nor too short, has left me with countless memories. I consider myself fortunate to have worked at two newsrooms with humane and professional work environments; places where I had dedicated leaders and sincere colleagues who were as close as family.

Now that the press agencies of Bac Kan and Thai Nguyen are about to merge, I feel a surge of excitement at the prospect of welcoming back my colleagues from Bac Kan Newspaper. My colleagues and I understand that while there will be initial difficulties, this is a necessary step in building a more professional press agency, one that lives up to readers' expectations in this new era.

I believe that wherever I am, whatever form I take, the flame of passion and the desire to contribute to journalism—the profession of truth and conscience—will always burn brightly within me and in the hearts of my fellow journalists.

Source: https://baothainguyen.vn/xa-hoi/202506/toi-den-voi-nghe-viet-bao-86729ee/