“And that's how I got into journalism.”

(Baohatinh.vn) - Vietnam Revolutionary Press Day is not only a day for professional journalists, but also an opportunity for those who have held a pen and aspire to convey truth and emotions to the community to look back on their journey with each news line and frame.

When I accidentally came across a short video recording images of reporters wading through mud and flooding to report timely news, I was extremely impressed. From that moment, I began to learn more about journalism, about the people who silently contribute behind each page of news.

Joseph Pulitzer - a great monument of modern journalism, who opened a new era for writing and media once said: "A good journalist must not only have intelligence, but also need a heart". That saying is deeply imprinted in me like a compass. I started to practice writing, not for any clear goal but because of a very real need in my heart: to tell, to understand, to connect.

Author Ngoc Khanh presented his work at the 22nd Vietnam Poetry Day, February 2024.

My first article was about the school's vice principal on Vietnamese Teachers' Day, November 20, which coincided with the 40th anniversary of my beloved school. When my homeroom teacher suggested that I write an article for the school's internal magazine, I was quite hesitant because I never thought that I would write well enough for anyone to want to read it.

But then the image of the vice principal - who always aspires to convey her passion for Math to her students through listening and gentle love - urged me to write. Without technique, without standard structure, that article is simply a stream of sincere emotions, full of memories and gratitude, but has touched the hearts and memories of readers - generations of her colleagues and students.

The Board of Directors of Le Van Thiem Secondary School rewarded students who had many articles published in newspapers and magazines.

From that moment, I realized that writing is not only to record events but also to connect, to share, to contribute a kind voice in the midst of the chaos of life. That first article opened up new perspectives for me. I began to observe more, listen more. The simple things in life became the material, the source for the following articles in a sincere, quiet and intimate way.

In the age of technology and digital transformation, anyone can become a “journalist”, but the more information, the more confusion; the more voices, the more honest, alert and compassionate writers are needed.

In my young journey, I had the opportunity to meet many veteran reporters and journalists. I heard stories of working in remote areas, being threatened but still not giving up, about old writers, whose hands trembled every time they typed but still kept the lights on until late at night just because of a line of news that was not yet free of errors. And I realized that writing a newspaper is not flashy, not colorful. It is a quiet profession but requires courage, perseverance and a strong belief.

Ha Tinh Newspaper reporter (right) working at the COVID-19 patient treatment area. Photo: Archive

A veteran journalist once told me: “There is no truth that is not written, only the writer does not have enough courage”. That saying has followed me for many years. And to do that, the writer needs to hone each word, keep the pen clean and most importantly, not forget who he is writing for, for whom.

When I had the opportunity to follow reporters, journalists, and volunteer groups to the grassroots, to the difficult lives, I understood more and more that the press is not only a means of communication, but also a bridge connecting beautiful, humane things that we sometimes forget in the rush of everyday life.

As a young person, I still have many lessons to learn, many shortcomings to correct, especially when I have chosen the path of writing pages with soul, of days and nights silently typing, of moments of bursting when knowing that my writing touches the hearts of readers.

Reporters working in the flooded area in Cam Xuyen district during the flood at the end of May.

Vietnam Revolutionary Press Day June 21 is an occasion to honor and show gratitude. To show gratitude to those who laid the first bricks for the country's journalism, to show gratitude to the lines soaked in sweat and blood of the generation of war journalists, to the articles written with courage and strong faith in the country. To show gratitude to those who are working silently day and night in the editorial offices, to the field reporters who are not afraid of danger.

And I believe that whether I pursue journalism for life or not, what journalism brings me will be valuable baggage that will follow me throughout the journey ahead, because journalism is not only a profession, but also a way of life. A way of life that knows how to look deeply, think far and love more.

Source: https://baohatinh.vn/va-toi-da-den-voi-bao-chi-nhu-the-post290133.html