Those who need to commit and receive hardship

Please remember the journalists who were stoned, beheaded, smeared, executed… on the path to finding the truth and bringing the truth to people in this world.

Every year, on June 21, journalists across the country rejoice at the wishes of the community and their families on Vietnam Press Day. The press is awaited every day by society, from the government to the people, from cities to remote islands and plateaus. Journalists are favored and cared for, and respected by society and their loved ones.

The press is spiritual food, like food and drink that are indispensable to the body. However, recently, there are people who want to stay away from journalists. When they see journalists coming, they are shy and cautious, saying: "It's okay to come for fun, but not to work", saying: "Don't get involved with journalists, if you get involved, you'll die with them, if you don't lose money, you'll lose your love, it's very tiring".

What to do to be worthy?

For many countries, the press is considered the fourth power. If the other three powers abuse their power and cause injustice, the people have journalists to share, comfort and help them find justice. In Vietnam, according to the Law, journalists are also allowed to do journalism in that spirit, which means reflecting objective truth, fighting injustice, discovering and preventing improper behavior of anyone, bringing joy about justice and other spiritual joys to the people regardless of their social status...

Based on the ideals they pursue, a journalist is not only a person with high knowledge and professionalism, but also a person with a clear concept of social ethics, conscience responsibility and self-respect. In short, journalists are the first to awaken, so at the same time they are the most shameful people in society.

If a journalist has knowledge, he will bring useful information to the community. If he is highly professional, he will bring to the community a positive perception of improving the world. If he is ashamed, he cannot be bribed, no matter how much money is offered for information to appear under his pen, which will cause harm/unfair benefit to the community, a unit, a person or an individual.

People, or in other words, readers today are no longer in the age of information shortage but may even be... overfed. There is nothing more distrustful than when people receive fake information or information that is repeated too much to promote a certain issue. The consequences of lack of information are obvious to everyone, but the consequences of too much information are similar.

Society suddenly has too many imitators and not enough innovators. And, not to mention, the abundance of information about stabbing, robbing, killing, raping, prostitution, stripping, transgendering… will make many people worry that society is unsafe and unethical. Please, editorial offices, do not set the criteria: Having many likes to evaluate the success of an article/journalist. In a common way, it is just: “Drinkers like snacks”, and snacks for drinkers are not always at the level of nutritional value.

American journalist James Foley was executed by ISIS after venturing into Syria.

What mechanism allows journalistic talent to be demonstrated?

We have a Press Law. Our Press Law is not much different from the Press Law of many other civilized countries. Journalists also rely on the provisions of the Law to practice their profession. However, under the Law there are many other regulations of the Ministry and localities, so to approach a truth and reflect it objectively and fairly, journalists have to shed a lot of sweat and tears.

When journalists have to sweat and work hard to produce a journalistic product, sometimes even paying the price for it not being published, while their income is not much, they will of course consider another easier path, even though their self-esteem may be hurt. If an article is about the truth, and they have to investigate it themselves, analyze it themselves, make conclusions themselves and take responsibility for them, then just imagine: How many steps will a journalist have to overcome to complete it? Not only will there be difficulties to overcome, but sometimes they will also have to pay with their lives and honor.

Therefore, please forgive all journalists in our country, we are still on a difficult path to the future. We are living in an environment with many risks for those who live and die for the truth, for the facts, for the beauty... Only when journalists can write what they think based on their qualifications, professionalism and ethics, then journalists will fulfill their responsibilities and reach the expectations of all classes of people. Believe it or not, right or wrong, readers will compare for themselves, and see whether that journalist is valuable for the next reading or not, not a "stone throwing" from all sides.

On the occasion of Vietnam Revolutionary Journalists' Day, understood in the best sense of the two words REVOLUTION, which is bringing the new and civilized to negate/replace the old and backward, let us remember the journalists who were stoned, beheaded, defamed, executed... on the path to finding the truth and bringing the truth to people in this world.

There was James Foley, an American who knew Syria was a dangerous place for journalists, but he went there anyway to fulfill his mission and responsibility in the way his conscience dictated, just like the firefighters who rushed into the fire at the Twin Towers in New York. There was Kenji Goto, a Japanese who was not a war journalist but wanted to write stories about trauma, children and poverty whether the destination was tsunami-ravaged northeastern Japan or conflict-ridden Sierra Leone.

There is Evany José Matzkez, a South African who specializes in investigative writing about corruption, protection of the police and politicians. And there are 12 French journalists from Cherlie Heblo magazine, who consider humor and caricature as part of life, perhaps just with humor and caricature, the bad will be reduced, the good will be increased without guns and bullets.

Not only that, there are many other names ahead, and there will be many more names in the future because life is always like that, evil is hard to self-destruct, besides the forms and subjects for the struggle to reduce evil, there are always journalists, pioneers... who need to commit and accept hardships on their side.

Journalists, including me, let's work together, and the community, please join us in reading the newspaper with goodwill, and if possible, please give sincere comments. Who is a journalist - me, you, and us. Happy Vietnamese Journalists' Day.

(According to TuanVietNamnet)