As we go and write

Journey of "5 districts, 10 communes"

My colleague Chu Thi Khanh Ly and I "conceived" the idea for the topic "Creating a sustainable poverty reduction livelihood model” from 2 years before. The assignment was also very memorable, at 3am, we called each other to go up the mountain to start the journey to 10 communes of 5 districts. It took the two female reporters 4 hours to reach Muong Xen town of the farthest district of Nghe An, Ky Son. From the town, it took us another 3 hours to reach the medicinal gardens of bamboo, acacia, and meters, and the plum gardens with high productivity.

After the dangerous roads with potholes, slippery buffalo ditches, cliffs, hills, and muddy forest roads up to our knees, we arrived at the chicken farm in Muong Long. The road was so difficult and bumpy that even the commune officials, who were very familiar with the road, almost fell several times. An agricultural official from Ky Son district said: "You ladies are so brave, even us men are scared when we come here." But for journalists, all those hardships become worth it when we get to "see with our own eyes and hear with our own ears" the actual models at the grassroots level.

On the second day, we continued to follow the district agricultural officer to Na Ngoi commune, where there is a medicinal herb garden under the forest canopy. When we arrived at the Na Ngoi commune headquarters, we were still certain that we would go to a farm or a hill garden where the road was not too arduous or difficult. After chatting, the commune officer said: In our commune, there is a medicinal herb model under the forest canopy, but it is quite far away. My colleagues and I eagerly said, "Please let us go right away," but the commune officer advised us: we must wear boots and raincoats to prevent leeches and it will take about half a day to get there...

Ending the "working tour" in Ky Son district after 3 days of traveling on the roads to the farms of trees and animals, we arrived in Que Phong district - a place famous for its passion fruit farms, lake fish farms, and productive acacia, meter and lung forests. The staff of the Que Phong district Agricultural Service Center enthusiastically welcomed us and when they knew that the journalist wanted to go to Hua Na lake to see the fish cages, this person said briefly: "To get to the fish farm in the hydroelectric reservoir, we will sit on a motorboat that can only carry 2 people".

Despite the warnings, when we arrived, our hearts were still pounding and our legs were shaking as we boarded the tiny boat in the middle of the vast lake. To get to the point where the locals released the cages, we had to sit on the boat for 60 minutes before reaching the first cage. Along the way, passing many fish cages, and stopping and getting off the boat to get information and take photos, we were nervous because we were afraid we would miss the fragile planks that connected the landing point to the fish cages.

All those challenges finally bore fruit, with the reward of the Encouragement Prize of the 2023 National Journalism Award on Agriculture, Farmers, and Rural Areas of Vietnam. When it was time to receive the award, my colleague Khanh Ly told me: The topic of creating livelihoods for the poor has been written many times, it was difficult to write, but in the end it was "very interesting".

And we have the same thought, that is the joy of journalism, the result of writing and traveling is spreading and being recognized.

The challenge of “not choosing easy work”

The flash flood that occurred in Luong Minh commune, Tuong Duong border district (Nghe An) occurred on the night of September 30, 2024. More than a month has passed since Hoai Thu and a group of volunteer reporters were assigned to approach and report on the scene of this incident, but the small stories of the assignment are still frequently mentioned by her colleague.

After receiving news about the flash flood in Luong Minh commune, Hoai Thu reported to the leaders of the professional department, agency and volunteered to go to the scene to report. She said: “Early in the morning, I drove from Vinh city, traveled more than 200 km, and called district officials on the way, connected with the rescue force of Tuong Duong district to update information and arrange to go to the flood center. One person drove, one person sat in the driver's seat, turned on the computer and typed in the initial news about the flash flood and preliminary damage. Also on the way, we finished the "outline" of the work, assigned each other tasks from interviewing, filming, taking pictures and technically processing clips and images.

After 2 days of continuous travel between villages, then to the flooded school in Luong Minh commune and Thach Giam town, without a lunch break, and still typing away at the computer at midnight, we completed 10 news articles reflecting all developments, scenes and activities of local Party committees and authorities mobilizing "4 on-site" to help people in flash flood areas overcome the consequences of natural disasters.

In the series of information about the flash flood situation in Luong Minh commune (Tuong Duong), there were news and articles that, with the support of the Editorial Secretary, were published almost in “real time”. For example, the Military Command of Tuong Duong district installed a large capacity pump to wash away mud and soil in the flooded area. From the beginning to the end of the military force’s work, it took only 2 hours, and the news and articles were published, even though at the center of the flood, it was raining heavily and the internet signal was unstable.

After 2 days of being exposed to the rain and sun, facing the risk of landslides on the way to the flood center, the group of reporters completed their mission and said goodbye to the local staff to return home. While shaking hands firmly, the leader of the People's Committee of Tuong Duong district said, "With Nghe An Newspaper reporters accompanying us, we feel very secure," Hoai Thu recalled.

The district leader added that in the era of information explosion, especially the reflections on social networks about incidents happening at the grassroots level, not everyone reflects promptly and accurately on the essence and nature of the problem. Such sharing and understanding by grassroots leaders is one of the results, and also one of the goals and principles that Nghe An Newspaper reporters set out and persistently implemented during their reporting trips to mountainous, remote and isolated areas.

Working at the forefront

As a young reporter, assigned to the field of natural disaster prevention and control, reporter Quang An always has many memorable stories during his work at hot spots. However, the most unforgettable memory for this young man is the work trip hundreds of nautical miles away from the mainland, in the sacred Truong Sa archipelago of the Fatherland.

At the end of December 2022, Nghe An Newspaper assigned two reporters Quang An and Tien Dong to join the reporting journey to Truong Sa archipelago. This trip was not easy due to bad weather, rough seas, and big waves, so the journey from the mainland to Truong Sa archipelago was longer than expected.

Arriving at Song Tu Tay Island, due to heavy rain and strong winds, the entrance to the port had many large, jagged rocks that could easily be hit, so the large ship could not approach the island and had to wait for calm seas. After 5 days of waiting, to ensure progress, the working group assigned a small boat to approach the large ship to "increase the bo" in batches, bringing reporters and the working group gradually to the island.

According to the instructions of the navy soldiers, in about 30 seconds, depending on the wave, the two hulls will touch each other, this is the "golden moment", lasting only a few seconds, therefore, the members of the working group must choose this exact moment to quickly step across the ship. If they cannot step, they must wait another 30 seconds for the two hulls to touch again.

Reporter Quang An said: At that time, it was my turn to step over the ship's hull, I was very nervous and worried. Then, the moment the two ships touched, I hesitated a bit and then stepped on it. Luckily, there was a large rope between the two ships, while struggling, my hand grabbed the rope. All the soldiers used all their strength to pull me onto the ship, helping me to escape falling into the sea by a hair's breadth.

"Until now, every time I recall that memory, I can't help but shiver. However, that moment helped me understand more about the difficulties, hardships, and challenges that naval officers, soldiers, and those on duty in the Truong Sa archipelago had to overcome, ready to sacrifice to protect the sacred sea and islands of the Fatherland," Quang An shared.