Expressing affection for the Party and the People through high-quality Party-building journalistic works (*)

Standing Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee Nguyen Van Thong spoke at the 2022 Spring Press Festival and the 2021 Nghe An Golden Hammer and Sickle Press Awards Ceremony. Photo: Duc Anh

Dear delegates!

Dear brothers and sisters working in journalism in Nghe An province!

Today, in the atmosphere of the whole country looking forward to the 92nd Anniversary of the Founding of the Communist Party of Vietnam, celebrating the Spring of Nham Dan 2022, it is also the time when the entire Party, the entire people, and the entire army are making efforts and determination to prevent the COVID-19 pandemic, while successfully implementing the goals and tasks of socio-economic development - QPAN; taking better care of people's lives as the Lunar New Year is approaching. At this important moment, I am pleased to attend the Spring Press Festival - a festival of journalists in Uncle Ho's homeland and the Award Ceremony of the "Golden Hammer and Sickle - Nghe An 2021" Press Award, jointly organized by the Provincial Party Committee's Propaganda Department, Nghe An Journalists Association, Department of Information and Communications, and Hoang Mai town. First of all, on behalf of the Provincial Party Standing Committee and the Steering Committee of the "Golden Hammer and Sickle - Nghe An 2021" Press Award, I would like to send my respectful greetings and best wishes to all delegates, distinguished guests, comrades, journalists, and members of the Journalists Association.

Dear ladies and gentlemen!

2021 has come to an end, the negative impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic have been severe, severely affecting all aspects of economic and social life. In the context that we have to carry out the "dual goal", fighting the epidemic while maintaining and developing the economy...", moving to a new normal state of "adaptation and flexibility", with the determination and efforts of the entire political system, the people and the business community, the socio-economic situation in 2021 of Nghe An province still achieved important results, with many bright spots. GRDP increased by 6.2%, the province's budget revenue reached over 18,936 billion VND, total export turnover reached 2.4 billion USD, up 52%, the agriculture, forestry and fishery sector increased by 5.59%... Foreign affairs and investment attraction achieved many positive results; Cultural and social activities were flexibly adjusted to adapt to the COVID-19 epidemic situation. People's health care, especially disease prevention and control, was focused on and directed resolutely and effectively; administrative reform had many positive changes...

This is also the first year that our province implements the Resolution of the 19th Provincial Party Congress and the 13th National Party Congress, and the year the Golden Hammer and Sickle Award - Nghe An enters its fifth year - a journey that is not long but has increasingly large and comprehensive influence on Party building work.

Reporters working while welcoming citizens returning from abroad via Vinh Airport. Photo: Thanh Cuong

Looking back at 2021 with countless unprecedented difficulties and challenges, there were times when production and business activities had to be temporarily suspended, but this was also the time when journalists devoted themselves, demonstrating a spirit of creative work and high responsibility to the organization, to society, and to the people.

This has been demonstrated through the 2021 Nghe An Golden Hammer and Sickle Journalism Award. "Fire tests gold, hardship tests strength", in the midst of difficulties and challenges, the spirit and noble mission of dedication of the team of journalists in the province have been clearly demonstrated, contributing worthily to the revolutionary journalism cause of the Party and the people. That shows the dedication to the profession, the responsibility to society of journalists, with the spirit of dedication and sacrifice, contributing to brightening the fighting spirit of journalism, the spirit of doing the job properly and courageously to affirm the positive value of revolutionary journalism - a journalism that serves the people and the country.

There have been many journalists who are not afraid of danger, rushing to the front lines to fight the epidemic, taking the lead at "hot spots", working amidst the epidemic to convey the fastest, most accurate and truthful information about all aspects of social life, epidemic prevention work, especially propaganda about Party building work.

Thanks to that, the work of strengthening Party rectification, building and consolidating the political system, implementing Directive 05 on promoting the study and following of Ho Chi Minh's ideology, morality and lifestyle; the work of fighting corruption, waste, negativity, protecting the Party's ideological foundation, building new rural areas and sustainable poverty reduction..., has been strongly spread on mass media, contributing to orienting and creating public opinion strength, thereby affirming the Party's leadership role in the fight against the pandemic and socio-economic development.

The annual Golden Hammer and Sickle Journalism Award is of special importance, requiring the creative role of professional and non-professional writers in researching, discovering topics and dedicating themselves to this field. Each article, reportage, program published or broadcast on Party building work will help each Party committee and organization to better perform its leadership role, guiding cadres and Party members to always maintain the spirit of a communist, truly be a shining example in life as well as in work, for the purity and strength of the Party.

Comrade Le Quoc Minh - Member of the Party Central Committee, Deputy Head of the Central Propaganda Department, President of the Vietnam Journalists Association, Editor-in-Chief of Nhan Dan Newspaper took a souvenir photo with the leaders of the Provincial Party Committee's Propaganda Department, leaders of Nghe An Newspaper and the group of reporters who won the C prize - National Press Award on Party building. Photo: PV

This year's season has gathered 126 participating works, the Jury selected 42 excellent works to present to the Steering Committee for honor and award, and at the same time selected to participate in the 6th National Golden Hammer and Sickle Award, 2021. The joy and honor for Nghe An in the 2021 National Golden Hammer and Sickle Award is that there were 3 works in the final round, of which 1 won a C prize and 1 Encouragement prize for the National Golden Hammer and Sickle Award.

On behalf of the provincial leaders, I would like to congratulate the authors whose works were awarded the 2021 Nghe An Golden Hammer and Sickle Journalism Award today and the national Golden Hammer and Sickle Award, as well as the collectives and individuals who have made outstanding achievements for the season. The provincial leaders appreciate the contributions of you and many reporters, editors, and those who directly or indirectly contribute to the field of information and propaganda on Party building work.

Today's honor is a recognition of the spirit of dedication, courage to overcome pressure and difficulties to create the Golden Hammer and Sickle works. The results of the contest have partly reflected the enthusiasm, intelligence and efforts of the authors, and more importantly, demonstrated their love for the Party, for the nation, responsibility for the homeland and country, joining hands and unanimity to bring the Resolution of the 19th Provincial Party Committee into life, contributing to the successful implementation of the Resolution of the 13th National Party Congress.

Comrade Nguyen Van Thong reads Nghe An newspaper at the 2022 Spring Press Festival. Photo: Duc Anh

Dear all!

The 2021 Nghe An Golden Hammer and Sickle Journalism Award has attracted many high-quality works with valuable content, attractive forms of expression, and high social influence. We need to promote, learn from experiences and lessons to have orientations for the following seasons in terms of themes and genres, in the direction of closely following the political tasks and focus of the province in each year and each development stage. In the coming time, I suggest that the Steering Committee continue to have new and creative ways to make the Nghe An Golden Hammer and Sickle Journalism Award go deeper and deeper, become more attractive, and attract the active participation of a large number of professional and non-professional writers, so that there will be more and more valuable works, affirming the prestige and stature of the Nghe An Golden Hammer and Sickle Journalism Award.

With that spirit, I also hope that in 2022, journalists, reporters, and collaborators will continue to actively penetrate into real life, to constantly explore, create, and express their feelings for the Party, the people, and the homeland through specific, practical actions, through "high-quality Party-building journalism works".

And I would also like to reiterate one very important thing: the mission of revolutionary journalism is not only to simply reflect and communicate, but also to make a worthy contribution to the task of building, promoting and developing new good values ​​of our society in the direction of socialism.

On this occasion, I also request that Party committees, authorities, the Fatherland Front, and organizations at all levels continue to closely coordinate, assist, and create favorable conditions for press agencies and journalists in propaganda work on Party building.

Once again, I wish all delegates, comrades, and all journalists good health, happiness, and success in work and life.

Thank you very much!

(*) Title by Nghe An Newspaper