Creating consensus, contributing to resolving grievances at the grassroots level

(Baonghean) - With the mission of "being the voice of the Party, government and people of Nghe An", over the years, Nghe An Newspaper has actively participated in handling many hot and sensitive issues. Creating consensus, removing difficulties, solving pressing problems at the grassroots level, contributing to orienting public opinion, stabilizing social order - security - politics in the area...

Untangling and Orientation

Commenting on Nghe An Newspaper, journalist Nguyen Duy Huong - Head of the Party Building Department of Nhan Dan Television assessed: "Not only does it do a good job of "filtering the bad, bringing out the clear", "embracing the good, eliminating the bad", Nghe An Newspaper also does a good job of advising local Party committees and authorities to "cool down" hot spots, resolve and solve pressing problems in people's lives, and suggest directions for socio-economic development of the province...".

Reporters of Nghe An Newspaper working in My Ly commune (Ky Son). Photo: Nhat Lan

Looking back at the issues that Nghe An Newspaper has participated in solving in the past, it can be seen that the above comment is not "exaggerated" at all. In fact, many sensitive issues that directly affect people's lives and the socio-economic development of localities that have been reported by the newspaper have created positive public opinion, helping authorities promptly handle them, strengthening people's trust in the Party Committee and the government. A typical example is the Ban Mong Reservoir Project cluster in Yen Hop Commune (Quy Hop), which has been stalled for 4 years due to problems in compensation and support for site clearance.

Realizing the risk of slow progress affecting the large-scale irrigation project of strategic significance to the socio-economic development of Western Nghe An, the Editorial Board of Nghe An Newspaper sent a group of reporters to investigate the reality, collect information, thereby clearly analyzing the causes and responsibilities of authorities at all levels, contractors, construction units and people in a sympathetic and reasonable manner. In the process of presenting the work, the reporters made connections and comparisons with the sacrifices for the common good of the resettled people of Ban Ve Hydropower Plant, Hua Na Hydropower Plant... to influence the thoughts, feelings, and arouse the civic responsibility of some households affected by the Ban Mong Reservoir Project.

Nghe An Newspaper takes action to resolve the problems in site clearance for the Ban Mong reservoir project.

At the same time, it suggested solutions for the project to be completed soon, solving the problem of water shortage for production and daily life for the people, bringing new vitality and new hope to the Western region which often experiences drought. With the active participation of Nghe An Newspaper, the efforts of local authorities and related parties, the problem was finally solved. People who reacted strongly, even had extreme actions to prevent construction, agreed, supported, happily signed the compensation support documents and the project was resumed on June 5, 2015...

Or around the land acquisition for the expansion of the export garment factory in the Yen Thanh Town Industrial Cluster Construction Project (Phase 2). Although the compensation and support policies and the settlement of petitions for households in Hamlet 4, Yen Thanh Town have been implemented by the authorities at all levels in accordance with the law and in accordance with the actual situation, there are still 8 households that refuse to hand over the land. Nghe An Newspaper has stepped in, analyzed the problem thoroughly so that the households, especially the officials and party members, can share for the common benefit of the district, the province and their own children. Finally, the households agreed to hand over the land, the authorities at all levels did not have to carry out coercive solutions, protect the construction.

Embrace the beauty, eliminate the ugliness

In addition to information from the grassroots, Nghe An Newspaper also participates in resolving and solving problems arising from citizen petitions and hotline information. Even very small problems such as unstable lighting, incorrect street signs, fallen trees, uncovered manholes, etc., after being published in the newspaper, have been received and resolved by the authorities and localities. Many recommendations and reflections from readers and citizens are conveyed through the columns: "Readers write" or "Readers' opinions", "Voice of the grassroots", "Hotline"... Although the capacity is only a few hundred words, they have received attention from all levels, sectors and localities to resolve and respond to the handling of the issues raised in the newspaper. There are incidents that, after being investigated and verified by reporters, are gently expressed in the form of "After the bamboo hedge of the village", "Legal stories", "Events - forums", "Today's issues"... creating a high effect, contributing to stabilizing the situation at the grassroots and making those involved think. That is the joy and also the motivation for party journalists to promote their responsibility as a bridge between functional agencies, grassroots authorities and the people.

Reporter talks with village officials, Xuan Tuong commune, Thanh Chuong.

For complicated and long-term issues, the editorial office assigns reporters to stay close to the base, closely monitor developments, proactively collect information and documents, grasp news to promptly handle issues on the basis of respecting the truth, demonstrating a high level of critical thinking and fighting spirit, but still upholding the orientation of public opinion and stabilizing the situation at the base. The wrongs, shortcomings, and shortcomings of individuals and groups are pointed out frankly, going to the bottom of the truth under a humane and highly constructive perspective, for the sake of general stability. Such as the series of articles "Sad stories that don't want to be told in Cat Van (Thanh Chuong)", "Agent Orange brokers in Nghi Loc are painful", "Thousands of red books fly away following ghost projects"...

In addition, the newspaper also shows a resolute attitude of fighting to the end against behaviors and actions that go against the interests of the country and the people. Many major topics create a profound social effect, actively contributing to helping the province and localities overcome difficulties, improve the quality and effectiveness of management and operation of socio-economic development, creating stability in the area such as: "Around the case of law violations in Nghi Phuong" National Press Award A, "Clearing the National Highway 1A", First Prize for Provincial Press; "Around the search for martyrs' graves by spirit possession method", "Journey to find the truth of Hoang Thien Long heresy", "From green pastures to a glass of clean milk"...

One of the milestones that the party newspaper in Uncle Ho's homeland achieved in 2015 was the establishment and effective operation of the Free Legal Aid Office, jointly organized by Nghe An Newspaper and Trong Hai Law Office & Associates. The purpose is to help people resolve difficulties and obstacles related to the law, prevent and limit disputes, violations of the law, complaints and denunciations that are prolonged, contributing to stabilizing the situation at the grassroots level. In fact, there are cases where although the local authorities have paid attention to resolving the issue, the people still do not agree, continue to file complaints in large numbers, and after being consulted and explained by lawyers, the people have withdrawn their complaints and happily left. In the first 10 months of 2014, the Legal Aid Office organized 45 legal aid sessions for 134 citizens.

Currently, in addition to experienced journalists with courage and fighting spirit in their profession, Nghe An Newspaper has been and is continuing to train and promote a team of young journalists with basic knowledge and multimedia working ability, highly meeting the model of a typical convergent newsroom... From there, it is the foundation to help the newsroom perform well its role as a "conductor" to orient public opinion, contributing to solving pressing problems at the grassroots level, promoting the socio-economic development of the province.

Khanh Ly