Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung attended the 2012 National Press Awards ceremony on June 21 to recognise the country's most outstanding, journalistic works of last year on the occasion of the 88th Vietnamese Revolutionary Journalism Day.
The awards consisted of five first prizes, 28 second prizes, 45 third prizes and 39 encouragement prizes for the best among 1,450 entries reporting on a wide range of topics.
In the opening speech, Chairman of the Vietnam Journalists' Association Thuan Huu said the prize winning works reflected Vietnam 's socio-economic and cultural development, as well as its national politics and security.
They also highlighted exemplary role models who have helped reduce poverty in remote areas, promote national construction and defence, overcome natural disasters and fight corruption, he said.
One of the top prizes went to the investigative reportage by a group of journalists from Cong An Nhan dan (People's Public Security) newspaper on the situation of State-owned enterprises.
Addressing the ceremony, Dung spoke highly of the crucial role played by the media in building an open and democratic environment, hailing the media as an important channel through which the public could have their say.
He also praised the press as a valuable tool for helping the Government to do its job.
Dung urged journalists to keep up their good work, particularly in the fight against corruption and social ills.
This was the seventh national press awards ceremony and the first time there was a category to recognise excellence in online journalism.
Vietnam Revolutionary Journalism Day commemorates the occasion 88 years ago when late President Ho Chi Minh founded the nation's first newspaper, Thanh Nien (Young People). -VNA
