The press promptly reflects political events and emulation movements, contributing to spreading the beauty of the land and people of Bac Giang (*)

BAC GIANG - On the morning of June 17, at the 100th Anniversary of Vietnam Revolutionary Press Day June 21 (1925 - 2025), Comrade Trinh Van Anh, Provincial Party Committee member, Editor-in-Chief of Bac Giang Newspaper, Chairman of the Provincial Journalists Association gave a speech reviewing the tradition of 100 years of Vietnam Revolutionary Press Day. Bac Giang Online Newspaper respectfully publishes the full text of the speech.

Dear Comrade Nguyen Van Gau, Member of the Party Central Committee, Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee!

Dear Comrade Nguyen Thi Huong, Standing Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairwoman of the Provincial People's Council!

Dear distinguished guests, comrades and colleagues!

Implementing Plan No. 99 - KH/TU, dated August 23, 2023 of the Standing Committee of the Bac Giang Provincial Party Committee on organizing activities to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Vietnam Revolutionary Press Day, in recent times, together with the press nationwide, press agencies and members of the Bac Giang Provincial Journalists Association have enthusiastically competed and organized many practical activities to achieve achievements to celebrate the traditional day of journalists.

In an exciting and proud atmosphere, today, the co-chairing agencies including: Provincial Party Committee's Propaganda and Mass Mobilization Department - Provincial Journalists Association - Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism solemnly organized the celebration of the 100th anniversary of Vietnam Revolutionary Press Day June 21 (1925 - 2025).

Comrade Trinh Van Anh presented a commemorative speech.

On behalf of the co-hosts, I would like to warmly welcome and sincerely thank the provincial leaders, the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee, departments, branches, provincial unions, districts, towns, cities, and all members of the provincial press association for attending, sharing joy, and encouraging the provincial journalists in today's solemn celebration.

Dear delegates! Dear comrades!

Exactly a century ago, on June 21, 1925, in Guangzhou (China), Thanh Nien Newspaper, founded by leader Nguyen Ai Quoc, published its first issue, giving birth to Vietnam's revolutionary press. With the responsibility of "serving the people, serving the revolution", during the years of fighting for power, the revolutionary press contributed to mobilizing, gathering, and encouraging the masses to rise up and destroy the yoke of colonialism and feudalism, bringing our nation into a new era - the era of national independence associated with socialism.

During the resistance wars for national liberation, national reunification and defense of the Fatherland, the revolutionary press continued to play a pioneering role on the ideological front, promptly encouraging and promoting the patriotism and determination to defeat the invaders of our army and people. In the midst of the war, generations of journalists enthusiastically set out to fulfill their duties, holding both pens and guns. Thousands of cadres and reporters fought side by side with soldiers and laborers, serving in combat. Hundreds of journalists heroically sacrificed their lives for the independence and freedom of the Fatherland, embellishing the glorious tradition of revolutionary journalism.

Entering the period of innovation, the Vietnamese revolutionary press has truly integrated itself into real life, clearly demonstrating its role in leading ideology, orienting public opinion, spreading belief and development aspirations to all classes of people, together making efforts to contribute to the successful implementation of the innovation initiated and led by our Party; at the same time, the press is an important bridge in foreign information work, contributing to enhancing the prestige, role and position of Vietnam in the international arena.

Dear delegates! Dear comrades!

In line with the flow of the country's press, very early on, progressive intellectuals in Bac Giang advocated the establishment of a newspaper as a means of disseminating knowledge, reflecting social life, and awakening patriotism among the people. In January 1941, in response to the urgent need for propaganda work to serve the revolutionary mission, the Party Committee of Bac Giang province published Phuc Quoc newspaper. Although the colonial and feudal governments strictly controlled, to avoid being hunted down, journalists defied danger, moved the editorial office to many places, overcame difficulties and dangers to publish the newspaper. Although it only operated for a short time, Phuc Quoc newspaper fulfilled its mission of propagating and disseminating the Party's guidelines, building forces to prepare for the general uprising to seize power for the people.

Implementing the Government 's directive, in early 1947, the Provincial Information and Propaganda Department was established, publishing a weekly newsletter on production and combat tasks. In early 1949, the Provincial Party Propaganda Department published the "Internal News" newspaper. In mid-1950, the "Internal News" newspaper merged with the "Bac Giang News" newspaper. Implementing the Central Committee's resolution on press work, on November 30, 1961, the Provincial Party Committee Standing Committee issued a resolution to convert the "Bac Giang News" newspaper into Song Thuong Newspaper, the predecessor of today's Bac Giang Newspaper.

Through each period, new types of journalism were formed and developed, effectively serving the revolutionary cause of the province. After the print press and the rudimentary radio broadcasting method, on October 9, 1974, the Ha Bac Provincial Administrative Committee decided to establish the Provincial Radio Station under the Ha Bac Information Department. On September 21, 1977, the Ha Bac Provincial People's Committee decided to establish the Ha Bac Radio Station on the basis of the radio and broadcasting system under the Information Department and operated from October 1, 1977.

On January 30, 1992, the Provincial People's Committee decided to change the name of Ha Bac Radio Station to Ha Bac Radio and Television Station. Thus, in addition to print newspapers, radio and television, during this period, the Literature and Arts Newspaper was also born along with the development of the Provincial Literature and Arts Association.

To gather a team of journalists and propaganda workers, in 1972, the Ha Bac Provincial Journalists Association held its first congress. Before that, the Ha Bac Newspaper Journalists Association was established and started operating in 1963. Since its inception with more than 10 members, the Association now has 200 members. The Association regularly performs well the role of gathering, uniting, and motivating members to work enthusiastically and creatively, practice in accordance with the law and professional ethics, contributing to the good performance of the tasks of press agencies.

Looking back at those outstanding milestones, we can see that in each period, although with different names associated with the merger and separation of the province, the press agencies and the Provincial Journalists Association have continuously grown and matured. Especially in recent years, the press agencies of the province have promoted the application of information technology, digital transformation, and comprehensive innovation in all aspects. In particular, Bac Giang Newspaper always adheres to political tasks and practical life, innovates editorial management; the content and form of publications are regularly innovated and improved. Currently, the printed newspaper publishes 6 daily issues and Saturday and end-of-month newspapers; the electronic newspaper has 3 versions in Vietnamese, English, and Chinese. The printed newspaper publications circulate an average of 15,000 copies/issue; the electronic newspaper is in the top of local Party newspapers with the highest number of readers nationwide.

The Provincial Radio and Television Station currently broadcasts television 24 hours a day, and radio 14 hours a day. The station has completed the project "Investing in high-tech equipment systems to serve digital transformation", ranking 4th nationwide among local Radio and Television Stations in digital transformation. Song Thuong Literature and Arts Magazine always improves its content and enhances the quality of its works; maintains many special pages and columns with many genres. Currently, the Magazine is published every 2 months, with a circulation of 800 to 1,000 copies per issue.

Working side by side with the provincial journalist association members, generations of reporters from central press agencies stationed in the area regularly share the joys and sorrows, are ready to be present in flood areas, fires, epidemics, etc. to promptly reflect political events, socio-economic situations, and patriotic emulation movements, thereby contributing to spreading the beauty of the land and people of Bac Giang to domestic and international readers.

In recognition of their achievements, the Provincial Journalists Association and press agencies have been awarded many noble prizes by the Party, the State, ministries, branches, the Provincial Party Committee and the Provincial People's Committee. In particular, Bac Giang Newspaper, Radio - Television Station and the Provincial Journalists Association have been awarded many medals, emulation flags and certificates of merit for their outstanding achievements in emulation movements.

In particular, in the last 5 years alone, Bac Giang press has won more than 40 Central Press Awards, the most awards ever. Among them are many prestigious awards such as: 3 Third Prizes of the National Press Awards; 1 Second Prize, 1 Third Prize of the Golden Hammer and Sickle Award; 1 Third Prize of the Dien Hong Award; 1 First Prize of the Press Award for Writing about Protecting the Party's Ideological Foundation; 1 First Prize of the Press Award on Agriculture for reporters from ASEAN countries. The above awards have contributed practically to enhancing the position and prestige of press agencies, the Provincial Journalists Association in social life and with colleagues nationwide.

Comrade Nguyen Thi Huong, Standing Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People's Council and Comrade Trinh Van Anh awarded the "For the cause of Vietnamese journalism" Medal to individuals.

Dear delegates! Dear comrades!

Reviewing the golden pages of history to see that 100 years is a glorious journey but also a turning point when the press of the whole country in general, Bac Giang in particular, is having many advantages but is also facing unprecedented challenges. To firmly step forward with the locality and the whole country into the new era, the team of journalists needs to identify the opportunities and challenges to overcome, which are: The process of merging administrative units is posing new requirements in reorganizing the local media apparatus; The Journalists Association, press agencies of the two provinces of Bac Giang and Bac Ninh will merge with the requirements of streamlining, quality, efficiency, avoiding overlap.

Information technology and the rapid development of artificial intelligence are profoundly changing the way the public produces, distributes and accesses information. The press must transform dramatically if it does not want to fall behind. In addition, to strengthen public trust in mainstream journalism, while competition with social networks and cross-border platforms is increasingly fierce, journalists must have a strong will, be sharp and steadfast in their professional principles.

We believe that challenges always contain opportunities. With an increasingly important geopolitical and economic position, Bac Giang is growing strongly, becoming a growth pole of the region and the whole country. Accompanying that development, Bac Giang press considers this a golden opportunity to build and develop truly sustainably and professionally, becoming a "media ecosystem" that leads information, creates trust, and spreads the image of a modern - dynamic - humane Bac Giang.

On this occasion, on behalf of the press agencies and members of the provincial journalist association, I would like to express my deep gratitude for the attention, leadership, direction and facilitation of the Provincial Party Committee, People's Council, and People's Committee; the support and assistance of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee, departments, branches, organizations, localities, enterprises and the trust of the public for the journalists of our province. In the next stage, we hope to continue to receive such deep and effective attention.

We respectfully remember and pay tribute to veteran journalists, martyr journalists and generations of journalists who have devoted their intelligence and enthusiasm, contributing to the glorious tradition of revolutionary journalism in Vietnam in general and Bac Giang in particular.

We would like to thank and acknowledge the achievements, contributions and silent sacrifices of all members of the press association, officers and employees of press agencies who have contributed to the common achievements of Bac Giang press and the Provincial Journalists Association over the past years.

I wish the provincial leaders, delegates, comrades and colleagues health, happiness and success.

Thank you very much!

(*) Title set by the editorial board

Source: https://baobacgiang.vn/bao-chi-phan-anh-kip-thoi-cac-su-kien-chinh-tri-phong-trao-thi-dua-gop-phan-lan-toa-net-dep-vung-dat-con-nguoi-bac-giang--postid420165.bbg