Vibrant colors of spring

(Baonghean) - As a beautiful tradition of the press, every year during the Lunar New Year season, journalists in President Ho Chi Minh's homeland enthusiastically hold a Spring Press Festival. This year marks the 12th year that the Nghe An Spring Press Festival has been held at the local press center in Thanh Chuong district, with the theme "Celebrating the glorious Party, celebrating Spring, celebrating the renewal of the country and homeland."

The Spring Press Festival 2014 aims to celebrate the achievements made in all fields of the province in 2013, and the results after three years of implementing the Resolution of the 11th National Party Congress and the 17th Nghe An Provincial Party Congress. This is the second event held in Thanh Chuong after the groundbreaking ceremony for the road to the Ban Ve Hydropower resettlement area, which just took place, marking the beginning of the 2014 plan year and welcoming the Year of the Horse.

The Spring Press Festival 2014 attracted a large number of readers.

Bringing the Spring Newspaper to the grassroots level is a way for press agencies, journalists, and members to be closer to the public. It's also an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of journalistic innovation in Nghe An province in particular, and the entire country in general, in the cause of national renewal, integration, and development. The Spring Newspaper Festival is also a place for journalists to meet and interact with a large number of newspaper readers, radio listeners, television viewers, and online news outlets, allowing the people to enjoy the achievements of journalistic innovation nationwide through the pages of the Spring Newspaper, imbued with the vibrant spirit of spring in their homeland.

2013 was a challenging year in all areas due to the impact of the global and domestic economic recession, and continuous natural disasters, storms, and floods affecting people's lives. Over the past year, the press agencies and journalists of the province, closely adhering to the province's political tasks and always accompanying the people in all aspects of life, have the opportunity to gather today in the revolutionary homeland of Thanh Chuong to share their experiences and showcase their talents. The pen, the written pages, and the television and radio programs have praised and honored the achievements of all strata of the people, contributing to the excellent fulfillment of socio-economic, national defense and security, and Party building targets in 2013 by the Party Committee, the military, and the people of the province. Continuing to implement the Party's resolutions, the State's policies and laws, and promoting the study and emulation of Ho Chi Minh's moral example, we will create momentum for 2014 to have solid solutions and steps to successfully achieve the goals and action programs of the Resolution of the 17th Congress of the Nghe An Provincial Party Committee and Resolution 26 of the Politburo on the direction and tasks for the development of Nghe An province until 2020.

As soldiers on the Party's ideological front, in 2013, 380 journalists and members of the Vietnam Journalists Association in Nghe An province, along with over 500 reporters from provincial and central newspapers and specialized publications with representative offices and bureaus in Nghe An, tirelessly strived to contribute to victories in all fields. Notably, Nghe An Newspaper made strenuous efforts to improve the quality of each article and each page, focusing on many topics with excellent, well-directed articles, high social critique, meeting the requirements of current political information, reflecting the aspirations of the people, and actively fighting against and preventing social evils and vices. Nghe An Daily increased its page count and circulation to nearly 15,000 copies per day, and upgraded the interface of the Nghe An online newspaper, contributing to satisfying the information needs of people both domestically and internationally.

With the motto "Fast, responsive, timely, accurate, and engaging," Nghe An Radio and Television Station has selected seven key areas for its action plan. This includes increasing broadcast time, innovating, and improving the quality of programs that reflect the rich cultural identity of Nghe An, expanding coverage, and serving the listening and viewing needs of the people. Through investment in improving the quality of radio and television programs, the provincial station has consistently collaborated with radio and television stations in districts, cities, and towns throughout the province, especially in remote areas, to meet the information needs of the people. Nghe An's radio and television broadcasts are now available on over 40 cable television channels, VTC Digital Television nationwide and regionally, Vietnam Cable Television, and Ho Chi Minh City Cable Television, contributing to promoting the image of Nghe An's land and people to friends domestically, regionally, and internationally in the process of integration and development. In 2013, the provincial radio and television station organized hundreds of safe and engaging live broadcasts, leaving many positive impressions on viewers.

The Nghe An Public Security Newspaper continues to innovate and improve the quality of each page to celebrate the 68th anniversary of the founding of the People's Public Security Force, enhancing the quality of its staff, increasing the publication frequency to 3 issues per week, ensuring quality and a circulation of 5,000 copies per issue, and providing accurate information. The Editorial Board has proactively opened additional representative offices in several provinces to further assert itself in the face of integration and development requirements, as well as the demands of building a clean and strong People's Public Security Force.

The Nghe An Labor Newspaper has strived to overcome difficulties and establish itself. With continuously improved infrastructure and technical equipment, the Labor Newspaper has increased its circulation to 5,000 copies per issue, affirming its position and voice as the voice of the working class and laborers of the province. In addition, the Military Region 4 Newspaper, Song Lam Magazine, Nghe An Culture Magazine, and the Journalist Magazine have persevered through many difficulties over the past year, actively innovating and leaving many positive impressions on readers of all backgrounds, as well as within the armed forces of the entire military region.

The consistent rise of press agencies in the province is the basis for affirming that all journalists, members, and reporters clearly demonstrate responsibility, uphold political integrity, professional competence, and dedication to the profession of journalism in the homeland of President Ho Chi Minh. Permanent bureaus such as the Vietnam News Agency's Nghe An branch, Nhan Dan Newspaper, Quan Doi Nhan Dan Newspaper, Lao Dong Newspaper, Tien Phong Newspaper, Nong Nghiep Viet Nam Newspaper, Tuoi Tre Ho Chi Minh City Newspaper, Gia Dinh Xa Hoi Newspaper, Giao Duc - Thoi Dai Newspaper, Phap Luat Doi Song Newspaper, The Thao Newspaper, Nguoi Ha Noi Newspaper, Nguoi Lam Bao Magazine, Que Huong Magazine… have, together with the Provincial Journalists Association, always upheld responsibility and professional ethics, working diligently to produce many good works serving the cause of building and developing the economy and society of Nghe An, creating diversity and richness of information for readers nationwide.

The 2014 Nghe An Spring Newspaper Fair brought together nearly 100 newspaper titles with over 1,000 publications from central and sectoral newspapers, as well as newspapers and magazines sent by nearly 50 provinces and cities nationwide for exchange and introduction, contributing to making the exhibition booths and reading rooms for the Spring Newspaper Fair richer, more diverse, and more attractive. The 2014 Spring Newspaper Fair also saw the participation of district radio and television stations.

A new spring has arrived for every home and every person, the spring of nature and the spring of people's hearts. The Nghe An Spring Press Festival 2014, in the year of the Horse, not only brings to readers in Thanh Chuong - a land rich in revolutionary traditions and the site of the festival - but also provides the people in the region with much new information, further strengthening the connection between the press and the public. Welcoming the new year of the Horse with many good expectations, journalists in Nghe An province sincerely thank the leaders of the Provincial Party Committee, the Provincial People's Council, the Provincial People's Committee, the Provincial Fatherland Front Committee, the provincial departments, agencies, and organizations, the districts, cities, towns, agencies, units, businesses, the provincial armed forces, and all strata of people inside and outside the province for their special attention and admiration for the press, creating a favorable environment for journalists, members, and press agencies to successfully fulfill their duties.

Entering the new year of the Horse - 2014, drawing from the pages of the Spring Newspaper and the vibrant atmosphere of the festival, journalists in Nghe An continue to draw profound lessons from their work. The press will discover and publicize positive elements in social life, and combat negativity. Journalists will clearly identify negative manifestations and dark aspects of professional ethics that are creeping into a small segment of journalists and members, resolutely fighting against them, promptly rectifying shortcomings, and fulfilling the trust, love, and admiration of the public for revolutionary journalism, for the glorious profession of journalism, and for genuine journalists.

Text and photos:Tran Duy Ngoan

(Member of the Executive Committee of the Vietnam Journalists Association)

Vietnam - Chairman of the Nghe An Journalists Association