Talking about journalism with Vice President of Journalists Association Ho Quang Loi

“The profession we are talking about here is journalism. It is a very hard but also glorious profession. Hard in the sense that it is full of challenges. Glorious because we contribute to ensuring the right to information of society and the people,” said Mr. Ho Quang Loi.

I met him, Permanent Vice President of the Vietnam Journalists Association Ho Quang Loi, on a day at the end of the year, at the exact time when his work was still very busy. At that time, he still had to concurrently hold the position of President of the Hanoi Journalists Association and had to shoulder the work of Permanent Vice President of the Vietnam Journalists Association at the Vietnam Journalists Association.

Although there was still a lot of work to do, he arranged to meet me right after finishing his business trip. The interview had to be stopped repeatedly because subordinates came to ask for opinions. Through the conversation, in the atmosphere before the traditional New Year, Mr. Ho Quang Loi opened his heart and shared many thoughts about journalism. Below is the reporter's conversation with him.

Mr. Ho Quang Loi, Permanent Vice President of Vietnam Journalists Association. Photo provided by the character

Sir, first of all, congratulations on your new assignment as the permanent representative of Vietnamese Journalists. So may I ask what pressure do you feel when accepting this assignment?

Mr. Ho Quang Loi: First of all, when I return to the job I used to do, I am very happy and excited. This is in line with my wishes, the wishes of a professional. The wish to interact, to dialogue, to exchange professional knowledge with colleagues across the country. I feel that this is the happiness of a professional. The profession we are talking about here is journalism. A very hard but also glorious profession. Hard in the sense that it is full of challenges. Glorious because we contribute to ensuring the right to information of society and of the people. It is even more honorable because we are carrying out a very important mission - the mission of finding the truth, clarifying the truth, protecting the truth. Protecting justice and righteousness. It is glorious, but to do these things is extremely difficult, full of challenges, hardships, and hardships.

You ask me if there is pressure? In my opinion, no matter what job you do, if you want to achieve what you want and perform your role well, you have to endure pressure. I think that pressure is sometimes necessary. Pressure forces people to move, forces people to think, forces people to find ways to overcome. That creates motivation. For journalism, motivation is the source and promotes creativity.

I have also been through many positions, I almost always feel pressured. No matter what position I have, there is pressure. When I worked at the People's Army Newspaper, from being a reporter to Deputy Editor-in-Chief, I always felt pressured. The general pressure is the need to do good work and the pressure right when I write an article, work on a number of issues. After that, I moved to Hanoi to become Editor-in-Chief, to stabilize and organize the capital's big newspaper, during the time when Hanoi merged. It cannot be said that there was no pressure, but the pressure was very great.

After only two years as editor-in-chief, I was transferred to be the Head of the Hanoi Party Committee's Propaganda Department. While that position should be the Standing Committee of the Party Committee, I had not yet joined the Party Committee. A person who was the Head of the Capital's Propaganda Department but had not yet joined the Party Committee, of course, was under great pressure.

So sir, do you feel the "pressure" of this new assignment is different from the last time?

Mr. Ho Quang Loi: I took up my position here after the 10th Congress of the Vietnam Journalists Association. It has been several months since the end of the congress, but many tasks have just begun. Some tasks have not yet begun. Therefore, it requires urgent action. To ensure that programs, plans, and resolutions are implemented as quickly as possible, contributing to the rapid progress of the country's press life and the activities of our association with a new vitality. All of these are my wishes.

Sir, in your new position as Permanent Vice President of the Vietnam Journalists Association, what is your assessment of the current appearance of the press as well as its contributions?

Mr. Ho Quang Loi: The Vietnamese press plays an extremely important role in the social life of our country. Throughout historical periods, since we waged the war of national liberation until now, we are building the country after the war. It can be said that the press has always been at the forefront and has made significant and worthy contributions to the revolutionary cause of our Party and People. With the spirit of innovation, the press has contributed very positively to the country's innovation.

The Party, the State and the People highly appreciate the contributions of the press and generations of Vietnamese journalists. It is thanks to these great and valuable contributions that our journalism profession is respected by society. The warriors holding pens and true journalists are trusted by the people, and many have been honored.

But besides these great contributions, our press also faces great challenges. It can be said that if we look at it frankly, we see that we still have shortcomings and deficiencies.

What are the challenges of journalism? These challenges arise from the shortcomings and deficiencies of our own journalism team. How can we overcome the tendency and phenomenon of commercialization in journalism, overcome the phenomenon of one-sided journalism, serving the trivial tastes of a segment of readers. The tendency to take advantage of the situation, sensational information to attract readers...

It can be said that if this phenomenon appears more and more and is not prevented, it will become a very dangerous trend. This will erode the noble spiritual value of journalism. That is the spirit of protecting, cultivating and promoting the noble values ​​of the nation.

This trend is becoming increasingly serious in the information age, when information on the internet and social networking sites is rampant and uncontrolled, and journalism is facing serious challenges.

Nowadays, some people have also raised the question of existence or non-existence, how to exist and how to develop, in such a digital information age?

Personally, I always have a deep belief that, in any circumstances, the press still exists with its noble functions and missions. As long as our journalism team clearly recognizes those challenges and has enough courage and intelligence to overcome them, through creative work and a sense of responsibility towards society, towards the people, towards the country.

TSir, in the face of the challenges and shortcomings that exist in the press, the Party and the State have taken decisive steps, such as the Press Planning and the amendment of the Press Law. So what are your expectations for these "steps"?

Mr. Ho Quang Loi: First of all, talking about the Press Law, in my opinion this is a very basic law for us to operate an increasingly advanced and scientific press, to better serve the development of the country. The current Press Law was issued 27 years ago, then 10 years later, a number of articles were amended. When that law was issued, we could not imagine all the profound and great changes in international life. And the dizzying changes in science and technology, especially technology.

From the general context of the world, the general context of the country and the demands of the current press life, we must consider and amend the Press Law accordingly. This will be done with a broad vision, we better ensure the right to information of society. We create conditions for journalists to work more conveniently. In order for the subjects in society, the components of society must respect the legal right to practice of journalists.

Besides, no one is allowed to take advantage of the name of a journalist to do wrong things that go against the purpose, principles and noble humanistic meaning of journalism.

So what about the issue of press planning, sir?

Mr. Ho Quang Loi: Press planning is based on reality. Currently, we have a large number of journalists, and a large number of press agencies. However, it must be said that there are times when we have created too many press agencies. Along with that, the management of press agencies is not strict at times and in some places. Therefore, there are some newspapers that do not live up to their mission and purpose, fall into commercialism, publish newspapers in a snatched, sensational way, and follow trivial tastes, which negatively affects the building of a healthy information society; shaking the noble spiritual values ​​that we are preserving, protecting, and promoting.

However, I imagine that writing and implementing a press plan is not easy. Because it involves organizational structure and people. Here, we are talking about journalists. The force doing special work needs special treatment and attention when we solve this problem. This is not like dissolving or merging a company or a factory.

With such a difficult job, I think we must base on authentic assessments of the current press lineup to see that we should rearrange.

No matter how the reorganization is done, I think it is necessary to base it on very objective and accurate assessments of the quality and effectiveness of each newspaper and each press agency. Special attention should be paid to newspapers that have a solid position in the hearts of readers.

Furthermore, we must continue to create conditions to employ capable journalists with strong political will and professional expertise so as not to waste important human resources.

Even when there is a new plan, the implementation of that plan must have appropriate steps to avoid disruptions and disturbances, to ensure the right of journalists to practice their legitimate profession.

Sir, as the New Year, the traditional Tet holiday, is approaching, do you have any messages or wishes for members of the Vietnam Journalists Association?

Mr. Ho Quang Loi:On the occasion of the New Year, I would like to wish that our press will continue to foster a sense of responsibility towards society and the country, through creative work, expressed daily through quality journalistic works.

Thank you, I wish you a successful and victorious new year!

According to Infonet