VNA reporter at the historic moment of celebrating the 80th anniversary of National Day

The 80th anniversary of National Day is a sacred milestone for the country. For journalists - especially for reporters assigned to cover the anniversary, parade, and march (A80) of VNA, this is also a great professional challenge, where each reporter devotes their efforts and intelligence, considering the information task as a commitment of honor of journalists before the important event of the Fatherland.

At 8:30 a.m. on August 29, 94 hours before the rally, parade, and march to celebrate the 80th anniversary of National Day, after the meeting of VNA leaders with heads of units the previous afternoon, the Domestic News Editorial Board also had an urgent meeting with the Board's A80 reporter group and the A80 reporter group of the Hanoi Resident Office to review the final work.

The meeting focused on discussing the content of the news and articles according to the pre-planned schedule and the deployment of forces. Each content before, during and after the ceremony was carefully discussed. Concerns or technical issues were raised and agreed upon.

Reporters in the A80 group also did a final review. Details that needed to be emphasized were identified. The goal was to avoid overlap and create a complete, vivid, and complete picture of the historical event.

After the meeting, the A80 staff of the Domestic News Editorial Board were divided into three groups: a group reporting on the parade; a group working in the Square and the activities of Party and State leaders; and a group taking quick notes in the outer circle.

That serious spirit is also present in other units: Photo Editorial Board, Digital Content and Communication Center, and newspapers: News and Ethnicity, VietnamPlus, Sports and Culture, Vietnam Pictorial Newspaper, Le Courrier...

All have a firm grasp of the Plan, coordinate operations, and calculate in detail and meticulously every step of each unit. From urgent meetings, instructions via zalo and viber groups regardless of day or night, they closely follow all aspects: culture, traffic, health care , security and order.

All work continuously, towards the highest goal: To spread information of Vietnam News Agency to the public. Each reporter is clearly aware that he is participating in a very important event, contributing to portraying the Vietnamese spirit on the great festival.

At the same time, the A80 Information Work Group was established under the direct direction of the Industry leaders. The group had exactly 80 people, a very meaningful number, conveying the message "to win and complete the mission well!".

At 1:30 a.m. on September 2, from the VNA headquarters at 5 Ly Thuong Kiet, Hanoi, groups of reporters on duty at A80 boarded the bus and headed towards Ba Dinh Square.

The car sped through the night, passing through streets brightly lit with high-pressure lamps. At this time, from Trang Tien, Hang Khay, Hai Ba Trung, Trang Thi, Cua Nam streets, to Tran Phu, Dien Bien Phu streets… people crowded the sidewalks.

People mingled in the red flags and yellow stars, waiting together for the moment of the parade to celebrate the 80th anniversary of National Day. (Photo: Khanh Hoa/VNA)

Large LED screens at many intersections are ready to broadcast the festival scene. Before 4 a.m. on September 2, reporters, editors, photographers and technicians of VNA were present at dozens of key locations in Ba Dinh Square. Each person quickly completed equipment preparation, determined filming angles and shooting locations.

At 4:13 a.m., the A80 Information Work group saw a message from VNA General Director Vu Viet Trang: "Have you entered the Square yet?" The short question was both a concern and a responsibility, but also an invisible pressure, urging reporters to move forward, firmly into position, ready for a historic working day.

At 5:30 a.m. on September 2, the first rays of the morning sun cast streaks of light over Ba Dinh Square. The early morning sun mixed with the colors of flags and flowers reflected the radiant faces of thousands of young people preparing their ranks, anxiously awaiting the sacred moment.

On the stage, the faces of veterans silently watched the youth, carrying in their hearts the memories of the generation that gave their blood and youth to "sow freedom for the country".

In the middle of the stage in front of President Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum is the line "The spirit of the August Revolution and National Day September 2nd is immortal". On both sides of the stage are prominent slogans "Long live the glorious Communist Party of Vietnam" and "Long live the Socialist Republic of Vietnam".

At that moment, when the light opened up the great festival, continuing the flow of history, the reporter of the Domestic News Editorial Board urgently completed the quick note.

The main headline, which was still full of doubts, now popped up: “80 years of National Day: What could be more beautiful!” . At 5:38 a.m., the quick note was promptly published on the National News.

At the same time, news, photos, and videos from A80 reporters continuously "flew in". From 2:40 a.m., there was a series of photos "A80 parades and marching groups gather at Quan Ngua Sports Palace" by photojournalist Hoang Hieu; "Tens of thousands of hearts beating together, heading towards Ba Dinh Square" by reporters Vu Sinh; Thanh Tung, Tran Viet, Khanh Hoa..., then a series of photos "The strength of great solidarity shines on Independence Day" by reporters Vu Sinh; Quang Hai, Thanh Tung, Phan Phuong... about the image of "Sea of people" dyeing the streets red.

Paratroopers of the Special Forces marching. (Photo: VNA)

A few minutes before "G-hour", there were also very emotional videos on the digital platform of VNA: "Artist Den Vau: "Proud to be Vietnamese. Friends, love your homeland..."; Artist Hoang Thuy Linh: "Proud... My heart is always filled with a surging love for the country"; Artist Mono: "When the Fatherland needs me, I will be ready"; Artist Phan Manh Quynh: "Nothing is more precious than Independence - Freedom" .

At 6:30 a.m. on September 2, the traditional torch-lighting ceremony and the lighting of the pyre took place. At 6:45 a.m., the solemn flag-raising ceremony was held with the sound of cannons and the sacred national anthem.

The “sea of people” in the Square, along with leaders and former leaders of the Party and State, sang the National Anthem in unison. International guests, reporters from foreign news agencies and newspapers also solemnly turned towards the red flag with a yellow star fluttering.

.In that moment, photojournalists and photographers of VNA from many working positions recorded every moment. At 7:11 a.m., the official news "Solemnly organizing the 80th Anniversary of August Revolution and National Day of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam" was published.

Following that, reporter Tran Hien Hanh and two female colleagues Truong Thi Diep and Phan Thu Phuong continued to make the news: "80th National Day: Majestic parade formation on historic Ba Dinh Square".

News, articles and photos from VNA units from Ba Dinh Square also continuously "flew in". In the outer circle, A80 reporters also expanded the topic with many works of depth, accuracy and liveliness.

They reflected the atmosphere of the national festival, recording the parades and marching among the people. Many faces appeared: silver-haired veterans leaning on their canes, looking towards Ba Dinh Square; children traveling with their parents from the mountains to the capital; students from the South flying to Hanoi to attend the event. Each story of everyday life was included in the article, contributing to the depth of the festival.

In that flow, two VNA reporters, Nguyen Thi Cuc and Nguyen Van Thang, published emotional articles: “The eyes of history and tomorrow!”, “Lighting up the flame of patriotism, surging national pride”, “The harmony of faith and aspiration”.

According to the Head of the Hanoi Resident Office, Vu Quang Dan, those articles were achieved thanks to spirit, responsibility, and enthusiasm.

That effort has brought results, contributing to the overall success of VNA in this important information campaign.

Not only did the 94-hour period officially reach its peak, but for many months, every step taken by A80 reporters and the collective of VNA journalists demonstrated their professional mettle.

All have contributed to spreading the image of Vietnam, conveying the aspiration to build a strong and prosperous country./.

(Vietnam News Agency/Vietnam+)

Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/phong-vien-ttxvn-trong-gio-phut-lich-su-ky-niem-80-nam-quoc-khanh-post1060185.vnp