Great colleague of the press

Senior leaders "fix" questions for reporters

Assigned as a full-time reporter to accompany National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Phu Trong, journalist Do Phu Tho, former Deputy Editor-in-Chief of the People's Army Newspaper, has many memorable memories.

Journalist Do Phu Tho said that comrade Nguyen Phu Trong had many business trips by public transport with reporters, ate meals prepared by the office and often sat with fellow journalists.

General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong congratulated Nhan Dan Newspaper on the 97th anniversary of Vietnam Revolutionary Press Day (June 21, 1925 - June 21, 2022). Photo by Duy Linh

On the bus trips, National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Phu Trong often sat in the middle, surrounded by journalists. “It’s rare to confide in colleagues,” the National Assembly Chairman said, and he “reversely” exploited his colleagues. The press was then required to “speak frankly and truthfully” about what they “saw, heard, thought, and felt in their hearts.”

I really admire that despite his busy schedule, the Chairman of the National Assembly regularly reads newspapers and listens to the radio. The specialized reporters are often given feedback on how to report and how to present the news.

Journalist Do Phu Tho said he will always remember the memory of the Lunar New Year 2009, when he accompanied the National Assembly Chairman to visit and wish the Lang Son Border Guard a Happy New Year. The next day, the author was praised: "Tho's article is good, but why didn't Tho include one detail in the article, which is the recommendation of a Border Guard comrade on the military rear policy?". Hearing National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Phu Trong say that, the author was "startled and confused because he didn't expect the comrade to read the newspaper so carefully and remember every detail in the article so well."

General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong met with key officials of the People's Army Newspaper on October 18, 2020. Photo: People's Army Newspaper

Although a good journalist, comrade Nguyen Phu Trong is always modest in his profession. At the press conference after the closing of the 13th National Party Congress in February 2021, he shared: "Fortunately, I have been working in journalism for 30 years, but working for a magazine, so I have "started to get acquainted" and learned about the thinking and working methods of journalism. Thank you, the 13th Congress was a great success."

The former Deputy Editor-in-Chief of the People's Army Newspaper shared that every time he prepared for an interview with a foreign journalist, Comrade Nguyen Phu Trong often prepared carefully, answered cautiously, and occasionally interjected humorous questions to amuse the interviewer.

"But when interviewing specialized reporters, he always considered us colleagues. Many times he "corrected" our questions," journalist Do Phu Tho recounted.

Comrade Nguyen Phu Trong (right) and journalist Do Phu Tho. Photo: People's Army Newspaper

According to journalist Do Phu Tho, during business trips abroad, when faced with sensitive issues, journalists writing articles and reporting often ask for direct opinions from comrade Nguyen Phu Trong. And whether it is during office hours or late at night, journalists still receive help from the high-ranking leader in reading and editing every detail and wording...

Understanding the mind of journalists

As a professional journalist, General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong understands better than anyone the role of the press in social life. According to the General Secretary, the Vietnamese revolutionary press, founded and led by President Ho Chi Minh, has always accompanied the steadfast struggles of our Party and people for national independence and socialism.

Promoting that tradition, in the period of innovation, journalists continue to be the main force in orienting public opinion, propagating, encouraging and motivating the entire Party, the entire people and the entire army to successfully implement the innovation policy initiated and led by our Party.

Even when he was in a high-ranking position of the Party and State, General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong continued to pay special attention to the press and journalists. The press always looked forward to and was happy when the General Secretary attended important events such as the Congress of the Vietnam Journalists Association, the National Press Awards Ceremony, the Golden Hammer and Sickle Press Awards Ceremony, etc.

General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong takes a photo with reporters on the plane returning home after a visit to the US in July 2015. Photo: Journalist Nguyen The Ky

At these events, the General Secretary always reserved a special warm and friendly feeling for journalists. The General Secretary shared and listened to opinions to remove difficulties and obstacles, creating favorable conditions for the press and journalists to complete their tasks well, contributing and dedicating more to the revolutionary cause.

While appreciating the positive contributions of the national press, General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong also regularly notes and reminds journalists of shortcomings and defects that need to be resolutely corrected and overcome.

As early as August 2010, in his speech directing the 9th Congress of the Vietnam Journalists Association, General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong (then Chairman of the National Assembly) pointed out the situation where some press agencies had deviated from their principles and purposes, indulged in sensationalism and trivial clickbait, leaked false information, revealed national secrets, harmed the common interests of the people and the country, and reported one-sided negative information.

The General Secretary also sternly reminded that a small number of journalists still violated professional ethics, even violated the law, negatively affecting the reputation and honor of the press...

At the 10th Congress (August 2015), the General Secretary continued to make very accurate assessments of the press: "The trend of globalization of media and information is both an opportunity and a great challenge for press activities and press management. The Party and the State have paid deep attention, timely and effective leadership and direction to press activities in general and the Vietnam Journalists Association in particular. The Central Executive Committee, the Politburo, and the Secretariat have issued many directive documents on press work and the activities of the Vietnam Journalists Association."

The issues raised by the General Secretary at the Congresses of the Vietnam Journalists Association are still valid today. That is, the press needs to contribute effectively to the formation of healthy public opinion; build the mettle, intelligence, soul, and spirit of the Vietnamese people in the new era; and contribute to encouraging and creating the strength of solidarity, unity, and consensus of the entire nation.

“The press must truly become a bridge between the Party, the State and the people, a propagandist, guider and encourager of the people to implement the Party and State's guidelines and policies, and at the same time a broad social forum to promote democracy and promote progressive, modern cultural values ​​rich in national identity,” the General Secretary requested.

General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong with Vietnam News Agency journalists attending the 10th National Congress of the Vietnam Journalists Association on the morning of August 9, 2015. Photo: VNA

In particular, the General Secretary said that the press must be a forum for people to participate in national affairs, supervise and criticize society, improve people's intellectual level; and encourage and motivate people to participate in successfully carrying out revolutionary tasks.

It can be affirmed that General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong has led the entire Party, people and army to overcome difficulties and challenges, achieving many very important achievements in many fields, with outstanding marks, making the country's foundation, potential, position and international prestige increasingly higher and more sustainable. But journalists still remember him, first of all, as a great colleague.

The Vu

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/nguoi-dong-nghiep-lon-cua-gioi-bao-chi-post304214.html