'Young journalists, if you don't love it, change your career now!'

Journalist Nguyen Thu Trang

On the occasion of Revolutionary Press Day June 21, the reporter interviewed journalist Thu Trang about her career.

Readers know you through a series of investigative reports such as: The truth about adopting orphans at Bo De Pagoda (Long Bien, Hanoi); Brokers for teachers in Soc Son (Hanoi) and most recently, a series of articles "Infiltrating the "bandit" brick kilns in Hanoi". Compared to 10 or 20 years ago, do you think reporters today have more favorable conditions to work? Are you "envious" of young people who have just entered the profession and have more advantages than in the past?

Journalist Thu Trang:I am not jealous, everything has two sides. I think each time has its own easy and difficult aspects. Journalists are very good at being creative and turning difficulties into reality. But with modern media conditions like today, the more convenient it is, the easier it is for journalists to get lost in the “maze”. That is, going into the forest but not seeing the trees!

Reportage and investigative reporting are always difficult topics because they require effort and dedication from journalists and reporters, and there are always many pitfalls. Why did you commit yourself to it?

Journalist Thu Trang:I often ask myself, “Why do I work as a journalist? Why do I always have to work on difficult topics, have to try my best to do my job while others are always more luxurious and leisurely?” I keep asking myself this question but I have never been able to give myself a convincing answer. Even I myself do not understand it, so maybe it is just… fate.

It is known that there are many reporters and journalists who, for “personal gain”, are willing to “sell themselves” to bend the pen. The evidence is that recently, the investigation agency has prosecuted and temporarily detained several journalists for “blackmailing” businesses. What is your comment on this?

Journalist Thu Trang:In fact, those who work in the way of "selling themselves" are very pitiful. I always think that somewhere deep in their souls they do not want their profession to become distorted like that, do they? They all started their career as journalism students with full of ambitions and dreams. They also always wanted to become a good person, a good journalist, a pride of their family, relatives, colleagues... But, food and clothing are no joke for poets and they fell, that's all.

During your role-playing investigation, have you encountered any dangerous situations? How did you deal with them?

Journalist Thu Trang:Just kidding! The dangers of investigative work are often that even having to travel too much, on different routes, by different means of transport… is already too much of a risk (with hundreds of traffic accidents and dozens of unfortunate lives every day)? I haven’t even mentioned having to transform into a character, infiltrate deep into criminal networks to write articles.

There was a time when I was threatened and had to flee to another country (laughs) and most recently, my whole family was threatened. They even advised me to buy enough coffins for each family member, one for each person. Thank God, everything is over. And you asked: "How do you deal with that dangerous threat?" I really can't remember clearly. I only know that at those times, fear often numbs the nerves or something, so I don't see anything too terrible. But after something happens, I calm down and... feel shocked, scared... very scared.

Journalists are also human beings, with the need to eat, live, and support themselves and their families. I believe that, in the process of conducting investigative articles, there have been many times when you have been “bargained to buy silence”. How can you overcome this temptation?

Journalist Thu Trang:Maybe it was lucky for me? Because I have never been faced with a situation where I had to stop a topic or write something different from the truth, and then immediately receive a large sum of money, which would make me have to think again, struggle further, or use some reason, some belief to hold on to, instead of accepting that large gift. If I had to think, weigh the pros and cons... I never had to use more than 1% of a second to refuse.

What does journalism give you? What is the thing that worries you the most right now (the legal corridor to protect journalists or simply the royalties?) If you had one piece of advice, what would you say to investigative reporters, especially those who are new to the profession?.

Journalist Thu Trang:Journalism has given me so many things that I cannot tell you all. Taking this question as an opportunity, I would like to say thank you to journalism. What do I wish for? The ideas in your question are also the common concerns of journalists. That is a better legal framework, better treatment, better royalties... But here I would like to emphasize one small thing; "I hope everyone will understand more, sympathize more, share more with journalists, especially female journalists... they are very lonely".

A piece of advice for young people who write investigative articles? Just one word: “LOVE”. If you truly love your job, you will know what to do. If you love your job enough, the flame of that love will burn brightly. If you don’t love it, change your job immediately!

Thank you!

According to Infonet