Responsibility after the article

Many people think that the press is the fourth power, which sounds "powerful", but in reality, there are times when we cannot help but feel sad because we feel like we are "being taken advantage of" rather than respected.

Reporter of Thai Nguyen Newspaper working in the operating room of a hospital. Illustrative photo

For example, in inter-sectoral inspection plans, it is not uncommon for us to be “honored” to be included in the list of participants, but in reality… we are absent. Some units clearly stated in the document inviting reporters from press agency A, but when it came time to implement it, they “forgot”. When we proactively contacted them, the answer they received was “no plan yet”, “we will call you when we leave”. But when we asked again a few days later, they said… the group had already left the day before.

One of my colleagues once wondered: "Is it because last time I went with them, asked some difficult questions, or mentioned some shortcomings, that this time, they avoided me?"

There are also situations where the press is "suddenly invited" - right at lunchtime, in the blazing sun, sometimes close to bedtime. "We just caught a case of goods of unknown origin, please come over and help us report" - how can we refuse a call like that?

So he rushed to the scene. But when he got there, he realized: the owner of the goods was nowhere to be seen, only the landlord was there and it seemed that the reporter was only called… to put pressure on the person involved to appear.

After being “invited” like that, we sadly realized: there were actual numbers that were not the same as the data provided, there were minutes that were once easily accessible, but this time, they were rejected with the reason of “new regulations”. At that time, journalists could not help but wonder: Are there things that people do not want the press to witness from the beginning?

We understand that not every incident requires or should have the presence of the press, but there are incidents that the public is very interested in and needs to be widely publicized, but "they" still do not want to invite.

In fact, the presence of the press in inspection teams not only helps increase objectivity, but also contributes to promoting transparency and spreading timely information to the community. But unfortunately, besides many agencies that are always proactive and ready to invite the press, considering the press as a companion, there are still places that see the "appearance of reporters" as a nuisance, sometimes becoming a "monster" to scare someone or to "show off" achievements to superiors.

Journalism is a profession that is not without its pressures and its own difficult-to-express feelings. Journalists do not expect to be welcomed with a red carpet, but only to be respected in the true sense of their role, which is to fight against wrong and hostile thoughts, to discover negativity, to condemn evil for a better life... And above all, we hope to be listened to, not because we are the "fourth power", but because behind each article is a responsibility to readers, to society and to the job we have chosen.

Source: https://baothainguyen.vn/xa-hoi/202506/trach-nhiem-sau-bai-viet-0621dce/