President: The press must always be a sober and trustworthy companion

The President affirmed that the country is changing, with its mission, the press must always be a sober and trustworthy companion, and must be a pioneer in that great cause.

On the occasion of the 100th anniversary of Vietnam Revolutionary Press Day (June 21, 1925 - June 21, 2025), on the morning of June 20, at the Presidential Palace,President Luong Cuong held a meeting to honor outstanding journalists nationwide.

Also attending were Politburo member, Party Central Committee Secretary, Head of the Central Propaganda and Mass Mobilization Commission Nguyen Trong Nghia; Party Central Committee members: Mai Van Chinh, Deputy Prime Minister; Le Khanh Hai, Head of the Office of the President; Lai Xuan Mon, Permanent Deputy Head of the Central Propaganda and Mass Mobilization Commission; Le Quoc Minh, Editor-in-Chief of Nhan Dan Newspaper, Deputy Head of the Central Propaganda and Mass Mobilization Commission, President of the Vietnam Journalists Association ; representatives of leaders of a number of central departments, ministries and branches; and 150 veteran journalists, outstanding journalists representing the large number of journalists nationwide.

According to the report at the meeting presented by comrade Lai Xuan Mon, member of the Party Central Committee, Deputy Head of the Central Propaganda and Mass Mobilization Commission, on June 21, 1925, Thanh Nien newspaper, founded by leader Nguyen Ai Quoc, published its first issue - a press agency with the mission of propagating and preparing in theory, ideology, and organization for the establishment of the Communist Party of Vietnam in 1930.

Since that historical milestone, the Vietnamese revolutionary press has had a century of brilliant and proud development, making important and great contributions to the cause of national independence, unification and national construction.

With the guiding thread throughout “The press is the shock force on the ideological and cultural front,” the team of journalists have truly become “revolutionary soldiers” as President Ho Chi Minh instructed.

The dedication, even the sacrifice of their lives, of generations of senior journalists for the revolutionary ideal and for their professional mission has become a glorious tradition, a shining mark, a shining example for generations of Vietnamese revolutionary journalists to learn and follow.

Comrade Lai Xuan Mon, member of the Party Central Committee, Permanent Deputy Head of the Central Propaganda and Education Commission, reports. (Photo: Lam Khanh/VNA)

The journalists present at the meeting were typical representatives of nearly 41,000 journalists nationwide who are working day and night, dedicating themselves to fulfilling their mission as journalists, serving the country and the people, including typical veteran journalists - representing generations of predecessors, who have devoted themselves to the revolutionary flow, persistently and steadfastly contributing their efforts, talents, enthusiasm and intelligence to the glorious revolutionary cause of the country, as well as journalists currently working with outstanding achievements, many contributions to revolutionary journalism regardless of their position, role or job title.

Comrade Lai Xuan Mon emphasized that entering a new era of development - the era of the Vietnamese nation's rise, the Vietnamese revolutionary press needs to comprehensively innovate, from content, technology, people to operation methods, to adapt to the new context and better serve the revolutionary cause in the new period.

Today's generation of revolutionary journalists will vow to continue the glorious tradition of previous generations to maintain the nature of revolutionary journalism: serving the country and the people.

At the meeting, veteran journalists and leaders of press agencies spoke to review the glorious tradition, important and great contributions, and noble mission of the Vietnamese revolutionary press over the past 100 years; shared the advantages and difficulties of journalism in the new era, from content, technology, people to working methods, to adapt to the new context and better serve the revolutionary cause in the new period.

Notable journalists attending the meeting. (Photo: Lam Khanh/VNA)

Speaking at the meeting, on behalf of the Party and State leaders, President Luong Cuong sent to all press workers nationwide his warmest greetings, sincere greetings and best wishes; at the same time, he expressed his respect, remembrance and deep gratitude to more than 500 journalists-soldiers and martyrs (of which VNA alone had more than 260 journalist-martyrs) who devoted and sacrificed for the glorious revolutionary cause of the nation; as well as his deep gratitude to thousands of deceased journalists who left behind many valuable journalistic works, contributing to the enrichment of the country's revolutionary journalism, especially his gratitude for the immense contributions of beloved Uncle Ho - journalist Nguyen Ai Quoc - the great President Ho Chi Minh, the founder of Vietnam's revolutionary journalism.

Reviewing the process of birth and development of the Vietnamese revolutionary press over the past century since the first issue of the newspaper "Thanh Nien" founded by leader Nguyen Ai Quoc on June 21, 1925, the President emphasized that under the leadership of Uncle Ho and the Communist Party of Vietnam, the Vietnamese revolutionary press has always been loyal and closely attached to the revolutionary cause of the nation, always been a vanguard force on the ideological-cultural front, propagating, mobilizing, encouraging, rallying the masses to unite and fight for the revolutionary ideal, for the aspirations of the nation, truly making an outstanding contribution to the great, great achievements of historical significance of the country.

President Luong Cuong speaks at a meeting with outstanding journalists nationwide. (Photo: Lam Khanh/VNA)

During the years when the entire nation fought steadfastly, with great sacrifice and hardship to firmly protect the borders and territories of the Fatherland, generations of Vietnamese journalists and publicists accompanied the nation.

Entering the period of national construction and defense, the press continues to promote its tradition during the resistance war, being a responsible, dedicated, honest and sober voice, contributing together with the Party and people to carry out the renovation process with profound revolutionary significance from 1986 to the present.

Over the past 40 years, thanks to the strong influence of the reformist ideology, the press, whose core are journalists and journalists, has overcome many challenges and difficulties, continued to develop, and strived to truthfully and promptly reflect the people's life of struggle, labor, and creativity, protect and affirm new factors, be alert, and courageous in exposing and fighting against the bad, the evil, the degeneration, corruption, waste, negativity, etc., contributing to creating a new face of the modern, humane, and national revolutionary press of Vietnam, striving to closely follow the moving life, closely attached to the people, and sensitive to the rhythm of life.

The President affirmed that the country is entering a new era, with a burning desire to develop the country into a rich, prosperous and happy one, in which, with its mission and role, the press must always be a sober and trustworthy companion, and must be a pioneer in that great cause.

Recalling the profound lesson that Uncle Ho learned throughout his life of serving the Fatherland, serving the people and during his more than 50 years of journalism that “Journalists are also revolutionary soldiers. Pens and paper are their sharp weapons,” the President said that the achievements of Vietnam’s revolutionary press and our outstanding and exemplary journalists over the past 100 years all stemmed from thoroughly understanding, studying and following this advice of Uncle Ho.

That is the most fundamental lesson about the role, qualities, and ethics that Vietnamese journalists today and tomorrow need to learn, practice, and strive to follow.

Noting that revolutionary soldiers and Vietnamese journalists need to maintain political will, professional ethics, heart, vision and talent; maintain the flame of passion for the profession, be loyal to the Party's revolutionary ideals, to the cause and aspirations of the nation, and be closely attached to the people, the President affirmed that this is the highest requirement for journalists and revolutionary journalists to be able to create truly valuable journalistic works, discover and reflect truthfully and promptly the truth of life.

The President said that as those directly involved in the cause of innovation, the press, journalists and journalists need to innovate themselves, strive to reflect truthfully, vividly and persuasively the new developments, the good, the noble, the kindness in life, while at the same time courageously and strictly condemning and criticizing the evil, the base, the degeneration, corruption, waste, negativity, bad habits, vices, and social evils, resolutely fighting against erroneous and hostile viewpoints, protecting the Party's ideological foundation, consolidating and strengthening the people's trust, thereby actively contributing to the victory of the cause of building people, innovating and developing the country in the new era.

That is the special fighting power of the press and of journalists and journalists in the new era, as Uncle Ho taught: "Your pens are also sharp weapons in the cause of supporting justice and eliminating evil."

President Luong Cuong meets with outstanding journalists nationwide. (Photo: Lam Khanh/VNA)

In the context of the press developing in the era of science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation becoming a strategic pillar, the President affirmed that the press must grasp that inevitable development trend, resolutely and urgently innovate comprehensively, synchronously and in accordance with the specific laws of the press to create press products that breathe the era, have creativity, and explore new content and expression methods; proactively grasp modern media trends, gradually creating a new model of the press in the era of digital transformation, the stormy development of science and technology...

The President requested that central and local agencies, according to their functions and tasks, proactively coordinate to research, propose, and perfect mechanisms and policies, creating conditions for journalists and journalists to be able to make a living from their profession, love their profession, and feel secure in their commitment to their profession.

At the same time, agencies continue to pay attention to training, fostering, promoting and honoring dedicated journalists and young journalists, aiming to build a team of dedicated journalists, passionate about their profession, truly "revolutionary soldiers on the ideological-cultural front" as advised by beloved Uncle Ho.

With the efforts of the entire press industry, the leadership, direction and management of the Party and State, the President hopes and believes that veteran journalists, journalists and exemplary journalists, with their talent, experience, life experience and professional experience, will continue to contribute to the revolutionary cause, as well as being a spiritual support, imparting experience and creative inspiration to the generations of journalists today and tomorrow, helping them to continue, maintain the precious tradition and bring the Vietnamese revolutionary press to new heights, meeting the expectations and trust of the Party, State and people for the noble journalism cause./.

(Vietnam News Agency/Vietnam+)

Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/chu-tich-nuoc-bao-chi-phai-luon-la-nguoi-dong-hanh-tinh-tao-va-tin-cay-post1045363.vnp