Remembering journalist Nguyen Thanh Phong - A sharp writer, full of affection

(Baonghean.vn) - Thanh Phong (also known by the pen name Nhi Thanh) is one of the 7 journalistsThe first person to take on the task of building the provincial Party newspaper since the newspaper's inception (October 1961).In fact, Thanh Phong worked for the newspaper "Truyen Thanh" - the propaganda agency of Nghe An Administrative Committee since 1957.

As a child of the South who had gathered in the North since 1954, Thanh Phong lived and studied in love, care, and shared the pain of the division of the two regions of Nghe An people. Thanh Phong wrote for newspapers when he was a student in the South, participating in land reclamation and economic development in Phu Quy area. He was selected to attend the first class of the People's University (now Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics).

His first journalism class included many successful journalists and writers, including journalist and writer martyr Duong Thi Xuan Quy, journalist Le Ai My, and journalist and poet Nguyen My (war correspondent of Zone 5, sacrificed in Quang Nam - author of the famous poem "The Red Separation").

After graduating, he worked at the Information Department of Nghe An Administrative Committee with journalists Duy Lieu, Ngo Xuan Luoc, Pham Huy Chuyen, and not long after that, he became the key editors and reporters of Nghe An Newspaper, with Nguyen Kim Ban as editor-in-chief and Nguyen Huong as editor-in-chief.

Thanh Phong was a key writer for Nghe An Newspaper from 1961 to 1975, when he left Nghe An Newspaper to take on the responsibility of a resident reporter for Nhan Dan Newspaper in Uncle Ho's hometown. During the time when journalist Hong Vinh was Editor-in-Chief of Nhan Dan Newspaper, Thanh Phong was appointed Head of the Party Building Department, with the rank of department head and senior editor of a major newspaper with political, economic and social influence nationwide and in Southeast Asia.

In his role as Head of the Party Building Department of Nhan Dan Newspaper, Thanh Phong almost always accompanied General Secretary Le Kha Phieu's working delegation, both domestically and internationally, writing many reports and quick notes with a content of political and diplomatic information that not every journalist could express.

The great editors-in-chief such as Hoang Tung, Huu Tho, Ha Dang, Hong Vinh, Dinh The Huynh all recognized the persistent, resilient, sharp, and sensitive work of journalist Thanh Phong. As for General Secretary Le Kha Phieu, even when he retired, he would drag Thanh Phong along with him to any locality or sector at the invitation.

During the working trip to Nghe An in 1993 of General Secretary Le Kha Phieu (journalist Thanh Phong, back row, first on the right). Photo: An Duyet

In 1969, from Nghe An Traffic Department to Nghe An Newspaper, I became a soldier in the military reporter team. I followed journalist Thanh Phong to the 222nd Air Defense Group protecting Ba Ra Do Luong, to the 280th Regiment stationed at the key areas of Ben Thuy Ferry, Vinh Power Plant, and Ben Thuy Port.

I learned from Mr. Phong the war journalism style in exploiting documents, recording events and tightly organizing articles. He reminded me when taking documents to pay attention to exploiting details because details will be the element that makes up the soul of the journalistic work! He wrote very quickly notes and reports at the battlefield and factory. At that time, Ms. Thanh Tieu, his virtuous and capable wife, often typed his articles. Ms. Thanh Tieu followed him closely, taking care of him with every cigarette and egg from the chickens raised at the Thai Son commune evacuation area. Part of his success was Ms. Tieu's dedication, sharing and care.

How can we forget, he and I were assigned to Vinh Town to write a victory report on September 8, 1971, when the army and people of Vinh Town shot down 8 enemy jet planes. From Quang Son, we cycled along Highway 15A, passed Truong Bon, Pha Muou to return to Vinh before 6pm to attend the victory rally.

Journalist Thanh Phong works at Truong Bon National Historical Site.

Too hungry, passing Nam Dan, I only had time to eat a few banh chung without filling and then hurriedly cycled in the silence, the space was acrid from the smell of bombs, the villages on both sides of the road were ruined and burned black. Mr. Nguyen Sy Hoa, Vice Chairman of the province, discussed the details of the resounding victory with journalist Thanh Phong at the rally area. I still remember the location near the current Provincial Party Committee office, next to the 233rd Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment battlefield. The next morning, he said he had to go to the 5th Battalion battlefield at Yen Ngua cape, Quyet mountain to meet the 37mm gunners who won the battle on September 8, protecting dozens of ferries crossing the Lam River.

After the night rain, from Quyet mountain, looking out over the Vinh - Ben Thuy area, he saw only white bomb craters on top of bomb craters, no shade of trees, not a single intact roof. He sighed, regretting that he did not have a camera to record that tragic, devastated scene.

I worked with him from 1969 until he became a resident reporter later. He was hot-tempered, straightforward but sincere, especially towards female journalist Thuy Lien and journalist Duong Xuan Huong. The Industrial Group had only 3 people but he was like the eldest brother in the family, always sharing and teaching the younger generation thoroughly. From him, I learned the virtue of being passionate about his job to the point of forgetting fame and wealth. At Nghe An Newspaper, I saw him fight frankly but never jealous, quarrel, or compare interests and fame. His "highest" position was Party Committee member, Head of the Industrial Reporter Group in the post-war period. In 1978, he traveled all the way to Quynh Tam commune on his Thong Nhat bicycle to investigate my background and prepare to admit me to the Party. My wife in Yen - Quynh Forestry caught a small chicken and tried to butcher it to invite him, he laughed heartily and said: "The chicken is still young, why butcher it, it's a sin, it's fine to eat anything".

He also helped Duong Xuan Huong apply for her eldest daughter to work abroad in Czechoslovakia, created conditions for Le Ba Muoi, a reporter from Nghe An Newspaper, to transfer to Nhan Dan Newspaper, and then asked Phan Huy from Nghe An TTX branch to transfer to Nhan Dan Newspaper. I have never seen anyone blame him for "betraying his teacher and friends". He was just hot-tempered and too straightforward, which affected himself. Of course, he did not care about narrow-minded and dishonest comments.

Journalist Thanh Phong talks with Nghe An Newspaper staff.

He passed away on a historic Autumn day, announced so suddenly by his colleagues at Nghe An Newspaper, I restrained myself to write a few good, unforgettable memories of him.

May you rest in peace as you lived and worked for Nghe An Newspaper, for the growth of your colleagues, without any interest in fame, position or position. I cry for you. Farewell, the eldest brother of the Industrial Group, Nghe An Newspaper, through the years of hardship, deprivation but full of love.

Vinh, 5pm September 9, 2015

Van Hien