The story of the 'one-like person'
There's too much data to begin with him, but perhaps I should choose the "one-like" story to better understand the portrait of a journalist – one who, with all his passion, has brought to life in journalism works that are authentic, vivid, and also reflect the harshness and challenges, just as he himself always acknowledges.
Dao TuanSeptember 18, 2025
There's too much data to begin with him, but perhaps I should choose the "one-like" story to better understand the portrait of a journalist – one who, with all his passion, has brought to life in journalism works that are authentic, vivid, and also reflect the harshness and challenges, just as he himself always acknowledges.
Around 2012-2013, when social media, specifically Facebook, hadn't yet developed strongly, many people were hesitant, even wary, of this platform. At that time, although we journalists were always dynamic and flexible in approaching and applying new trends, many still considered Facebook to be a "pointless" waste of time. He felt the same way! Whenever he saw someone scrolling on their phone, he always thought it was pointless (and admittedly, it was sometimes pointless).
However, things changed. Recognizing the new trend in journalism in the context of digital platforms and technology gradually dominating social life, the leadership of Nghe An Newspaper at the time, while focusing on strongly developing the digital infrastructure of journalism and innovating the online newspaper, required staff, reporters, and editors to create personal pages on Facebook. The goal was to "sell," introduce, and promote their "intellectual creations" on digital social platforms, primarily Facebook.
Unable to maintain his composure any longer, he was forced to change. One day, he—in a very natural way—showed me his brand-new smartphone:"Let's create a Facebook account for ourselves. Let's start playing around!"So, the nickname Nhat Lan Ngo originated from that time. By now, everyone probably knows who he is. Yes! It's none other than journalist Ngo Nhat Lan.
From the time Nhat Lan first started using Facebook until he mastered it and used it as a tool for his work, things progressed quite quickly. He diligently shares his works, his intellectual creations, and those of his colleagues. Those who regularly follow him online will see that almost all the journalistic works and products he shares carry meaningful messages; they address thorny issues raised by life and public opinion. Sometimes, his statuses on his "wall" only get a few dozen likes. When we teased him about it, he just smiled lightly."I only need a like if it comes from an individual who is responsible for solving the problem raised in the article.""
For journalists, especially those specializing in feature stories and investigative journalism like journalist Ngo Nhat Lan, a single "like" from a responsible individual on their work can be considered half the battle won.
In terms of age, I am the youngest of journalist Nhật Lân, but above all, we are colleagues. He and I have traveled together on many long and arduous investigative and reporting trips. During those times, I noticed in him an unwavering determination, steadfastness, and courage. This is what shaped him into the person he is, a journalist who dares to venture, dares to venture, and dares to sacrifice for life. I still remember the day we spent countless hours trekking through forests and wading through streams to Huồi Máy, Cắm Muộn commune, Quế Phong (formerly) to report on illegal gold mining. In the early days, before the arrival of law enforcement, we had to face hundreds of cold eyes in the deep forests and mountains, always feeling like we were being watched invisibly. Or the four-day and four-night trek through the Pù Mát wilderness in the bone-chilling cold to determine the location of the deforested area and the quantity of trees felled.
I also remember the image: on the slope through Buoc Mu village, Na Ngoi commune (formerly Ky Son district), journalist Ngo Nhat Lan, his face haggard and turning purple, despite the ice and snow clinging to his hair and eyelids, tremblingly opened his notebook to jot down notes for his investigative report. That journey, in December, required us to cut through the forest, traveling through the night for nearly five hours from Buoc Mu village through the communes of Muong Ai, Muong Tip, Bac Ly, and Ta Ca to reach Muong Xen. That assignment left Nhat Lan with many worries and anxieties. These worries weren't due to the hardship, nor because the incident wasn't published in the newspaper, but because he felt helpless and disappointed!
In the journalistic circles of Nghe An province, there aren't many reporters and journalists who are as dedicated to pursuing events and the truth to the very end as Nhat Lan. He always appears before those he meets as "a block of thought"—always pensive, unable to break free from his burning thoughts. It's rare to see this man relaxed; even when he seems at ease, I still sense he's grappling with some kind of inner turmoil. Or perhaps it's simply due to his serious, even austere, personality.
Speaking of this, I'm reminded of the series of articles related to resolving the rights of contract workers at the Quy Hop Radio and Television Station (Quy Hop Culture, Sports and Information Center). He wrote dozens of articles, contacted many responsible organizations and individuals to resolve the issues. And when everything was thoroughly resolved, he remained the same – silently leaving and never mentioning it again.
We are journalists, but I've always believed that only Nhat Lan truly immersed himself in that space in every sense of the word. He was always calm yet strong, steadfast yet prickly, whenever he faced a reality that life presented to journalism. I remember four years ago, public opinion in the province was stirred up when the Nghe An Newspaper published an article:Heartbreaking stories of forest rangers in Nghe An submitting resignation letters.This article, and many subsequent ones, addressed the situation where hundreds of forest protection officers in the former Thanh Chuong district resigned due to unstable incomes insufficient to cover living expenses. Fortunately, one of journalist Nhat Lan's articles reached the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Le Minh Hoan (currently Vice Chairman of the National Assembly), thereby resolving the bottlenecks in forest protection work and ensuring that forest protection officers received attention regarding their benefits and policies.
That's the situation in the forest, but what about at sea? Journalist Nhat Lan once wrote a series of articles about "67 ships" (ships built with support under Government Decree No. 67) when he noticed the difficulties fishermen faced in accessing the policy. Recently, the public surely hasn't forgotten the incident where 10 workers on two fisheries patrol vessels in Nghe An lost their jobs in early 2024 because they were not eligible under Decree 111/2022/ND-CP replacing Decree 68/2000, and due to obstacles in implementing legal regulations.
Among the 10 workers on the two ships that were stranded for months, some had dedicated over 20 years to the fisheries inspection sector. This force is also responsible for protecting aquatic resources, meeting the demands of fishing grounds and complying with domestic and international regulations on exploitation and fishing. Journalist Nhat Lan, with his investigative reports, features, news, photos, and video clips published in Nghe An Newspaper, continued to demonstrate his sense of responsibility and his relentless pursuit of the issue. Provincial leaders and the Department of Agriculture directed efforts to resolve the difficulties.Two fisheries patrol vessels and 10 workers have been brought back into operation.And Nhat Lan's greatest joy was having made the voyage with the fisheries patrol team on their first trip out to sea after many months of being docked ashore.
It's difficult to list all the contributions journalist Ngo Nhat Lan has made to the journalistic landscape. His works, such as: "The Mud Bomb Bag on Lan Toong Mountain"; "Gold Thieves on Phu Phen Mountain"; "The Heartbreaking Story of the Sa Mu Tree"; "The Ban Mong Water Reservoir Project"; "Acacia Extraction Road or Illegal Quartz Ore Mining Road?"; "A Decade of Abandoning Boarding Schools in Highland Districts"; "The Journey to Discover the Truth About the Hoang Thien Long Heresy"; "Eliminating 'Politicalism' in Clean Water Production and Business"; "Reforestation: A Difficult Problem Requiring a Solution!"; "Preventing Threats from Across the Border";... are just a few brushstrokes in the vast landscape of reportage and investigative journalism that journalist Ngo Nhat Lan has created with his passion for reality. I also cannot list all the awards he has received over the years. All we know is that the places he visited, the regions he traveled through, left behind a legacy of his deep affection for life and humanity.
And there's something not everyone knows about Nhat Lan. He's originally a painter. Therefore, his personality traits are shaped by the aesthetic sensibilities of someone who works in the field of painting. However, I also see in him the rationality and profound knowledge of a portrait painter or sculptor. Perhaps this is what makes him so sharp and confident in the journalistic world? I believe that whether with a brush or a pen, his work is unmistakable: authentic, warm, and full of life!
With the theme: "Unity, creativity, innovation, and emulation in building a rapidly and sustainably developing Nghe An," the Nghe An Provincial Emulation Congress 2025 took place over two days, September 25th and 26th. The Congress aimed to commend and honor exemplary collectives and individuals, outstanding heroes and emulation fighters in all fields of social life. Approximately 450 delegates were expected to attend the Congress. Journalist Ngo Nhat Lan was one of the exemplary individuals honored at the Congress.
