Spring Press Festival: A Colorful Picture

When tradition is carried on…

Every time Tet (Lunar New Year) arrives, journalists gather together to reminisce about the history of the Spring Newspaper Festival with pride. Journalist Nguyen Uyen, former Head of the Association's Working Committee of the Vietnam Journalists Association (VJA), recounts: On the morning of the second day of Tet in the year of Tan Mui (1991), the Association's leaders welcomed General Secretary Do Muoi to extend New Year greetings at the headquarters at 59 Ly Thai To and visit the Tet newspaper and magazine exhibition booth at the Cultural House at 12 Ly Dao Thanh.

After reporting on the results of the press's contribution to the cause of national renewal, the Association's leaders proposed to the General Secretary that the Vietnam Journalists Association, in coordination with relevant departments and agencies, hold an annual Spring Press Festival. Hearing the report on the purpose and methods of organizing the Spring Press Festival – primarily to encourage competition in producing beautiful and high-quality newspapers; to spread the role of journalism; and to collect and send newspaper publications as gifts to soldiers on the border and islands – the General Secretary gave his permission, his words firm: "Do it. Do it really well, starting from next Tet (Lunar New Year)!"

Experience making banh chung (traditional Vietnamese rice cakes) for Tet (Lunar New Year) at the Yen Bai Spring Newspaper Fair.

The Tet Newspaper Fair – Spring Newspaper Fair officially opened during the Lunar New Year of the Monkey – 1992 at the Press Center No. 12 Ly Dao Thanh Street...a year marked by a very special astronomical event. The first day of the Lunar New Year coincided with the beginning of spring (February 4, 1992). This also meant that the Party's birthday fell on the 30th day of the Lunar New Year (February 3). This unique event created a double inspiration for the press to compete in producing beautiful and excellent newspapers, all presented in a special edition. That first Spring Newspaper Fair attracted hundreds of participating newspapers. The following year, also held at the same Center, there were 500 newspapers, with 12 booths, 11 of which belonged to local Journalists' Associations. On each occasion the Fair opened, the General Secretary, the Prime Minister, and other dignitaries attended.

After the Vietnam Journalists Association (VNA) organized its first Spring Press Festival, local journalists' associations nationwide also organized Spring Press Festivals at the provincial level. More than 30 years have passed, and the Spring Press Festival continues to be maintained and promoted as a beautiful cultural tradition of journalists. At provincial and city-level Spring Press Festivals, the Journalists' Associations at all levels assign their branches to design and display publications in their respective spring newspaper booths. Spring newspaper publications, radio and television programs, and events during Tet (Lunar New Year) are now indispensable offerings for the journalistic public every time Tet and spring arrive.

From very early on, media outlets proactively develop and implement plans for Tet (Lunar New Year) publications, eagerly producing the most special editions of the year. The Tet publication plan always includes an increased number of newspapers specifically for the Spring Press Festival. To produce a truly excellent Tet issue, media outlets seem to secretly compete with each other to gain the highest praise from the media public, especially those attending the Spring Press Festival – the first readers and the most impartial judges when evaluating each newspaper and article.

The Spring Newspaper Fair "spreads its fragrance" throughout the country.

These days, many provinces and cities are bustling with preparations for the Spring Press Festival – a meaningful cultural event to welcome the new year. Local Journalists' Associations at all levels have actively participated, making important contributions and creating a lasting impression of the Spring Press Festival in their respective areas. For each locality, the theme of the Spring Press Festival reflects the unique characteristics of the region and the important highlights that the press has focused on in the past year. This shows the meticulous investment of each unit, especially the local Journalists' Associations, which have continuously learned, innovated, and created, contributing to raising the status of Journalists' Associations at all levels in the provinces and cities…

The vibrant and colorful atmosphere of the Spring Press Festival in many localities created a comprehensive picture of journalism, reflecting the socio-economic situation of each region over the past year. It can be said that the Spring Press Festival clearly demonstrated how journalism comprehensively portrayed the political, economic, cultural, and social landscape of the entire country, conveying the New Year's messages from Party and State leaders, and the joyful and happy atmosphere of celebrating the Party and the Spring Festival among people across the country.

Calligraphy activities at the Spring Festival of the Year of the Rabbit in Thanh Hoa.

Beyond the vibrant Tet publications, nowadays, along with the Vietnam Journalists Association, many provinces and cities, when organizing the Spring Press Festival, also conduct activities to evaluate the journalistic skills of their members through journalism awards, competitions, and awarding prizes for spring newspaper covers, spring articles, paintings, Tet couplets, etc. And many other meaningful activities. These include giving gifts to families receiving preferential treatment and the poor; providing scholarships for underprivileged students; and setting up Tet stalls…

In Hung Yen, every year there is a New Year's Eve celebration with activities such as: voting for the top 10 Hung Yen journalistic events, writing spring poems and New Year couplets, and performing various cultural shows… In Thai Binh, the Provincial Journalists Association, in coordination with the Department of Industry and Trade, combines the exhibition of spring newspapers with a Tet fair to serve the people. In Bac Giang, within the framework of the Spring Newspaper Festival, there are activities that attract a large number of people such as chess competitions, journalism seminars, and Tang Dynasty poetry exhibitions…

More than just a "destination" for networking and product display, the Spring Press Festival is also an opportunity to organize competitions honoring impressive works from the past year. This recognition is given through competitions and awards to journalists with outstanding journalistic works and media organizations that have made positive contributions to fulfilling political tasks, aiming to provide cadres, Party members, and readers with a comprehensive view of the innovation and development of journalism. For example, at the Hanoi Spring Press Festival, the organizing committee always awards prizes to the winners of the Ngo Tat To Journalism Award. Similarly, the Nghe An Provincial Spring Press Festival is always an opportunity to honor outstanding works that have won the "Golden Hammer and Sickle" Award at the provincial level…

It can be said that the annual Spring Press Festival is a momentous occasion for journalists, members, and reporters from provinces and cities across the country. The festival is a time for meeting, exchanging ideas, and recognizing the efforts, intellect, and creativity of those who wield the pen. It also allows provincial and city leaders and the local public to better understand the contributions of the press to the development and progress of their localities. The Spring Press Festival , spreading its fragrance throughout the country, leaves a lasting impression of the efforts of all levels of the Journalists' Association.

This spring of the Year of the Dragon, it is certain that this spirit will converge and bring many fresh and diverse colors, promising brilliant success for the 2024 National Press Conference.

Ha Van - Do Ha

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/hoi-bao-xuan-buc-tranh-da-mau-post282372.html