The Glory of Journalism (Part 3): Young Journalists - Energetic and Creative

(Baothanhhoa.vn) - Journalism has many difficulties and challenges. If you are not passionate and dedicated, it is easy to quit the job. But if you are in love, you are willing to accept the commitment to go and write, tirelessly contributing to ensuring the flow of information to the public.

Journalist Hoang Khanh Trinh: WORKING WITH PASSION

Graduating from a major in Party building and state administration, which means he was not trained to be a reporter or editor, but for journalist Hoang Khanh Trinh, journalism is love and passion.

Journalist Hoang Khanh Trinh works in Xuan village, Son Thuy commune (Quan Son).

He recounted the first days of “trying out” writing, working as a contributor to several newspapers. Especially from 2002 to 2008 when he was a political officer of Naval Region 5, in Phu Quoc, “whenever he saw something interesting, he wrote it right away”. At the end of 2008, he transferred to the Political Department, Military Command of Thanh Hoa Province, the habit of writing was still “deeply ingrained” and he was a regular contributor to the People’s Army Newspaper.

That is also the reason why by the end of 2018 he officially became a reporter for the People's Army Newspaper. "It was from the 3-month class of the People's Army Newspaper for informants and collaborators that I learned a little about journalism. At first, I compared the version I wrote with the version published by the press agencies, then bought books to read to learn. Gradually, I learned from the angles of photography, filming, editing, and writing commentary. After 7 years of officially working as a journalist, I have to take the plunge in any type of journalism."

If you have ever worked with journalist Hoang Khanh Trinh, you will see that he is truly passionate and dedicated. Carrying a camera on his shoulder, hooking a camera around his neck... he alone does all kinds of work: news, photos and television. Remember the sudden flood that swept through Sa Na village, Na Meo commune (Quan Son), most of the journalists were working in difficult circumstances, and journalist Hoang Khanh Trinh at that time had the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, by means of transport, road, river, motorbike taxi, even walking dozens of kilometers, he reached the people in the flooded area, working in circumstances without electricity, without mobile signal. "Perhaps it is the hardships that have given me many skills", journalist Hoang Khanh Trinh shared.

Because of his love for the mountains, he has traveled to most of the villages in Muong Lat, Quan Son, Quan Hoa. The more he travels, the more he understands the difficulties of cadres and party members. “The National Defense Economic Group 5 was established in 2002. And there are cadres and soldiers who have stayed in Muong Lat since then. More than 23 years is not a short period of time, they have helped the people of Muong Lat develop the economy, eliminate hunger and reduce poverty, and at the same time coordinate with local authorities to conduct surveys, planning, and invest in the construction of infrastructure works including roads, electricity, irrigation works, water works, kindergarten classrooms, village and hamlet cultural houses... From a professional perspective, contacting, working, eating and living with cadres and soldiers, I am more concerned about their contributions, but not everything can be written and fully propagated in the press".

As a reporter for the People's Army Newspaper, journalist Hoang Khanh Trinh is always aware of finding and discovering topics to reflect on and build on all types of journalism. "When recognizing a problem and finding many angles of the problem, journalists will certainly find an approach and direction to develop the article, especially finding specific details to build a quality article."

Journalist Pham Thanh Phuong: BUILDING BOOKSHELF - BUILDING DREAMS

Up to now, journalist Pham Thanh Phuong, Head of the Cong Ly Newspaper Representative Office, has published 8 poetry collections. According to him: My goal when publishing books, besides my passion for poetry and literature, is to have some money to help schools and disadvantaged students.

Journalist Pham Thanh Phuong brings books to children in the highlands (photo taken in Lang Chanh).

One day, Pham Thanh Phuong's job as a reporter was to exploit news articles and complete the agency's assigned targets. It was because he traveled a lot, knew a lot, and met a lot that journalist Pham Thanh Phuong realized: "The more I travel, the more I realize the gap between the rich and the poor, the gap in awareness between social classes, especially in remote areas, border and island areas. Children are not only deprived of material things and family care, but the biggest disadvantage is that their enjoyment of social foundations, values, books... is very limited". Previously, Pham Thanh Phuong wanted to participate in the process of spreading reading culture, but now, his goal is to open the door for communities in remote areas... to look outside. He shared that: When you realize that the outside world is vast and vast, then you will have a big enough dream. The poor and beggars dream of having a place to sleep under a bridge, a house to avoid the rain and sun, and the students who follow me dream of overcoming their inferiority complex and stepping out into society, need to have self-maturity in their awareness.

Writing books, sponsoring books, and building schools are also ways journalist Pham Thanh Phuong tries to give the places he visits a door, a key, a new sky to kindle truly useful dreams.

Recalling the first day of launching the poetry collection "Children's Story" (Thanh Hoa Publishing House, 2022), he transferred all the proceeds from book sales to Yen Khuong Primary School (Lang Chanh) to repair tables and chairs. "Up to now, after 3 years of returning, "the biggest thing we see is that teachers and students of the school smile more, ready to overcome current difficulties. I feel that the key I gave them has opened the right lock". Students of Yen Khuong Primary School and many other schools now have flat tables and chairs to write in straight lines.

Journalist Pham Thanh Phuong expressed his point of view very clearly: "The construction of the school and the school's bookcases will not stop but will continue, so I have no summary or evaluation...". In fact, in the journey of a journalist, he still wants to discover himself to grow, share material and spiritual things to know how to love and care for everyone.

Journalist Xuan Hung: NEED COURAGE, ACCEPTANCE OF SACRIFICE

Working in Thanh Hoa at the Lao Dong Newspaper Representative Office for more than 10 years, a series of major articles on preventing corruption and negativity have affirmed the "brand" of journalist Xuan Hung.

In 2013, the case of burying pesticides by Nicotex Thanh Thai Joint Stock Company shook the press community. If the job of a news reporter was simply to provide information, then right after the meeting between the government, the people and the factory, when everyone had gone home, he stayed behind. "With a sense of professionalism, I wanted to delve into what was behind it. When I stayed and crawled into the garden where they buried pesticides, in the hot noon, the smell rose and I was nauseous, I stood there and cried because I had never seen pesticides leaking white water, seeping into the ground. I felt sad, bored, and kept thinking, what if my parents were here now, what if my family were here? It was that urge that made me call the Editor-in-Chief and write the first article."

Journalist Xuan Hung received the B prize of the 2016 National Press Award in the categories of reportage, investigative reportage, journalistic writing, and notes (printed newspaper) with the series of articles "Thanh Hoa: Right from birth, "carrying" all kinds of fees".

With the spirit of fighting against negativity, following this event, journalist Xuan Hung wrote nearly 120 articles, writing every day, writing from the beginning until the end of the handling, with a time of nearly 6 months. "My point of view is that the fight against corruption and negativity must go to the end", he shared.

Or the case of the goat that went into the mandarin's house. Of the 24 goats distributed to 6 poor households in Thanh Yen commune (Thach Thanh), only 12 goats reached the poor households, the other half were transported directly to the farm of the District Party Secretary. "In terms of money, it is not much, but the problem here is the personality and perspective of the government leaders towards the people. For this leader, catching a few goats and putting them in the farm is like raising a pet. But for the poor, this is property. A District Party Secretary taking advantage of the support policy for the poor is ridiculous."

Or the case of the principal of the Thanh Hoa Province Ethnic Boarding High School. Upon receiving documents and records from students and teachers of the school reflecting on the principal embezzling food, clothing, and living expenses of ethnic minority children in the mountainous areas, journalist Xuan Hung wrote a series of articles that were highly appreciated by readers.

“Journalists who participate in writing about anti-corruption and negativity need a warm heart and a cool head. A warm heart here comes from a pure motive and love for the profession. A cool head means that the fight against corruption and negativity must target sophisticated and cunning people. If not careful, journalists can easily be attacked and the editorial office will be affected. And above all, doing investigations and anti-corruption must rely on the people. The people know everything, big or small, in the village and on the street."

To leave himself a way out when writing articles against negativity, journalist Xuan Hung's principle is to always doubt himself. His experience is that, when he finishes writing, he stops, puts down his role as a reporter, and plays the role of an editor to be objective. "Asking if I'm afraid, yes. Doing journalism to prevent negativity requires courage, accepting sacrifice, at least sacrificing time, effort, and facing all kinds of threats and bombings. Doing it carefully, thoroughly, and transparently is the way out."

After more than 20 years of working as a journalist, if he did not love his job, journalist Xuan Hung could have gone in another direction, or maybe quit his job and become a literature teacher as he once confided. But, most of all, 20 years as a journalist have created the “brand” of Xuan Hung with thorny topics, articles full of information and emotions, quiet moments to think about people and life.

Bao Anh

Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/vinh-quang-nghe-bao-bai-3-nha-bao-tre-sung-suc-va-sang-tao-252539.htm