Vietnam Journalists Association: Glory 70 years of walking side by side with the nation

On 21st April, journalists were extremely touched, proudly celebrated the great historical event of journalism: 70th anniversary of Vietnam Journalists Association (21 April 1950-21 April 2020). 70 years walked side by side with the nation, Vietnamese Journalists Society has been constantly growing, affirming its role and position in the press in particular and society in general.

Journalists in Binh Duong are increasingly mature both ethically, professionally, and have firm political stuff. In photo: Journalists of Binh Duong Newspaper do articles about the Covid-19.

A glorious historical mission

On 21 June 1925 in Guangzhou (China), Nguyen Ai Quoc created The Youth Newspaper to propagate Marxism-Lenin, the struggle for national liberation, and became the father of Vietnamese revolutionary press. When the Revolution August 1945 succeeded, Democratic Republic of Vietnam was established. On 27 Dec 1945, Vietnam Press Association was established to gather journalists. On 19 Dec 1946, the nationwide resistance battle exploded, Uncle Ho and the Government retreated into Viet Bac Base to direct the long-term resistance war against the French colonialism.

Joining with the resistance team, Vietnam Press Association was renamed Vietnam Resistance Press Association. The Viet Bac war zone became the base and also the main operation area for journalists. At this time, there were the following newspapers: Truth, National Salvation, Independence, Women, Labor, Pioneer, Vietnam News Agency, Voice of Vietnam, People's Army; All districts and provinces also had their own newspapers or newsletters. In the South, a newspaper and radio network has been established in many localities under the direction of the Southern Party Committee.

The journalists followed missions of the resistance war to the soldiers and civilian fire on battlefields; production of rice, corn and potatoes in rear regions; cultural supplementary classes, popular education in villages served the front line to fight against the French colonialism... All were fully and vividly reported on newspapers to serve the people, army, agencies, branches and localities on all roads. On 4th April 1949, in Viet Bac, under the direction of Viet Minh General Secretary, Vietnam Resistance Press Association opened a journalist school named Huynh Thuc Khang. The first and only course had 42 learners; this was the first journalism training base in the war against the French and in the history of our country.

In the beginning of 1950, there was a demand for heightening Vietnam's position in the international arena, so that the world could understand and support our resistance against French colonialists, and at the same time, enhancing the mission of the press; thus a national unified association of journalists was an urgent requirement. On 21st April 1950 at Nha La 8 hall in Roang Khoa hamlet, Diem Mac commune, Dinh Hoa district, Thai Nguyen province, representatives of the Party's newspapers, fronts, branches, unions and Radio Voice of Vietnam Nam met; Mr. Xuan Thuy was assigned to chair the conference by Mr. Ho and the Party. The conference highly agreed to change the mission of Vietnam Resistance Press Association, established Vietnam Journalists Association, announced its charter, operation program, and elected an Executive Committee. The association charter stated its purpose was to: Building people's democracy with their own profession, defending the rights of journalists, and enhancing the position of journalists. In July 1950, at the Third Congress of International Organization, journalists met in Hensiki - the capital of Finland - decided to recognize Vietnam Journalists Association as an official member with over 300 members. At the second congress held in 1959, the association was renamed Vietnam Journalists Association. After the country's reunification, on 7th July 1976, Southern Association of Patriotic and Democratic Journalists merged with Vietnam Journalists Association and took a common name as Vietnam Journalists Association.

To walk side by side with the country

Vietnam Journalists Association was born at a time when the resistance war against the French colonialists in our nation was in an extremely difficult and fierce period, and then came the long-lasting anti-American resistance war. During 30 years of fighting together with the people, Vietnam Journalists Association became a "common home" of journalists; they used their pen and paper to contribute to the struggle for the national independence. From that "common home", reporters and journalists spread throughout all battlefields. Documentary footage, images and articles continuously depicted in the most honest and vivid way the struggle of our army, people and crimes of the enemy. There were hardships, sweat and even blood of many journalists dropped down...

Today, as a socio-political-professional organization, Vietnam Journalists Association is the representative of those who work in information, propaganda, performs functions and tasks of protecting rights, legitimate interests of journalists in their operations; fostering press professionalism and professional ethics for members. The Association also supervises journalists' compliance with laws and regulations on professional ethics; takes part in developing and organizing the implementation of mechanisms and policies on information and press; carries out external activities according to laws.

Over 70 years, Vietnam Journalists Association currently has 25,038 members currently living in 294 units, including: 63 Journalists Association in provinces and cities; 19 inter-branch associations; 212 chapters directly under the Central Government. By press products, a team of journalists all over the country has contributed to the struggle on the ideological front, contributing to the construction and protection of socialist Vietnam. The press agencies and journalists always perform well their functions and tasks; are firm in political orientation, principles, objectives and subjects of service, uphold the revolutionary spirit, be absolute loyalty to the Fatherland, the Party, and the people. The press agencies and journalists focus on propagating and bringing the Party's resolutions into practice; at the same time, promote the role of the core force, take the initiative in fighting against hostile forces; fight to protect the sacred sovereignty of the country; proactively reject the contents that are defamatory, fabrication, slander, causing internal divisions, causing disorganization in the Party and in society. The press agencies and journalists have disseminated the good side, the positive side, the example of good people, good deeds, advanced examples, expanded patriotic emulation movements associated with learning and following Ho Chi Minh's ideology, morality and lifestyle, oriented people towards the values of truth, goodness and beauty.

70 years - a glorious journey of Vietnam Journalist Association and a team of journalists affirmed the growth, maturity, and steadily going up with the country and people. These traditions will become the power for every journalist today to be confident in his journalism career.

Reported by Dam Thanh - Translated by Ngoc Huynh