Hanoi marks Revolutionary Journalism Day

National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Phu Trong sent best wishes to journalists on the occasion the press received the Gold Star Order, the State’s highest decoration, at a grand ceremony to mark the 85th Revolutionary Journalism Day in Hanoi on June 21.
National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Phu Trong sent best wishes to journalists on the occasion the press received the Gold Star Order, the State’s highest decoration, at a grand ceremony to mark the 85th Revolutionary Journalism Day in Hanoi on June 21.

The winners of the 2009 National Press Awards were also honoured on the occasion.

The NA leader highlighted journalists’ great contributions, under the leadership of the Party and President Ho Chi Minh, to the revolutionary struggles to gain power in 1945 and against the French colonialists and the US aggressors to build socialism in the north, liberate the south and reunify the country.

Entering the renewal process, the press has made further contributions to disseminating information and mobilising people to implement the national renovation, thus creating an open democratic atmosphere in all fields ranging from politics, economics and culture to foreign relations, he said.

The country’s press has grown up together with the national renewal process, he said, adding that never before has Vietnam had many forms of press as well as modern means of communication and a strong line-up of journalists.

He went on to say that the Gold Star Order, is a recognition of contributions of the journalists.

However, there still exists shortcomings in press activities, the NA Chairman said, citing the signs of “commercialisation” in providing information, which has affected the prestige of the press.

Chairman Trong also pointed out works that the press should focus on in order to create a strong unanimity and determination of the whole society.

He urged journalists to follow the late President Ho’s teachings that highlighted the truth, educational and combat factors in journalism,

“Uncle Ho has more than once praised journalism as a vanguard force in the ideological and cultural battlefield while journalists are revolutionaries and pens and papers are their sharp weapons,” he said.

He pointed out that information is the media’s main function and journalists’ duty is to meet demand for information by people of all walks of life.

The legislative leader emphasised on the truth and accuracy of information along with the need to ensure fast and diverse contents.

“Information should be comprehensive, not be one-sided nor blown up (situation),” Trong said.

He called on journalists not to embellish or paint a gloomy picture of an event.

“Information should include analysis and comments and be clearly oriented,” he added.

“In other words, information should reflect the truth and information should consider social effects in the interest of common cause,” said the top law maker.

“It demands journalists to master a high professional quality and ethic values, fulfilling social duties of a journalist and obligations of a citizen.”

He called on journalists to take this opportunity to recall the glorious tradition of the Vietnamese journalism.

Trong concluded by expressing belief in the sector’s further renovation in an effort to become people’s forum and contribute to the Party and nation’s common cause.

On this occasion, the national press prize-2009 has been awarded to 130 works.

At the awards ceremony, the winners expressed their honour to receive prizes and talked about their difficulties in their work to report on hot social issues, such as the fight against negative phenomena and shortcomings in development planning as well as good people and good deeds./.

See more