A vibrant Spring Press Festival in President Ho Chi Minh's hometown.

(Baonghean) - Sharing in the joyful and enthusiastic atmosphere, and together with the whole province, striving to achieve many outstanding accomplishments to celebrate the great national holidays, welcoming the traditional Tet holiday, and celebrating the glorious 85th anniversary of the Party, today (February 12th), journalists in the homeland of President Ho Chi Minh are once again enthusiastically opening the Spring Press Festival - a cultural and spiritual activity that has become a beautiful annual tradition of the press in the country in general and Nghe An in particular.

A cultural performance program to welcome the guests.

The Spring Press Festival 2015, organized by the Vietnam Journalists Association of Nghe An province in coordination with the Department of Information and Communications and the People's Committee of Yen Thanh district, was held in Yen Thanh district. This event served as a meaningful opening activity for the year 2015, celebrating important national and local events: the 85th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of Vietnam, the 40th anniversary of the liberation of the South, the 125th anniversary of President Ho Chi Minh's birthday, the 70th anniversary of National Day (September 2nd) and the August Revolution, the 90th anniversary of Vietnamese revolutionary journalism, the 85th anniversary of the Nghe-Tinh Soviet, and welcoming the Party congresses at all levels leading up to the 12th National Party Congress.

This year's Spring Press Festival of the Year of the Goat 2015 received enthusiastic support from central and provincial press agencies. This marks the 13th year that the province's Spring Press Festival has been held at the grassroots level. It has truly become a celebration for journalists in President Ho Chi Minh's homeland every time Tet (Lunar New Year) arrives. With over 100 newspaper titles and 1,000 publications, including central newspapers and magazines, industry publications, and nearly 60 provincial and city newspapers nationwide, the Spring Press Exhibition space was truly colorful and impressive. The Spring Newspaper Reading Room was richer and more diverse than in previous years. In addition to displaying images about the development and growth of Nghe An's press agencies, the Spring Press Festival of the Year of the Goat also featured documentary films, news reports, and cultural programs with distinctive characteristics reflecting the land and people of Nghe An. In particular, with nearly 100 journalistic photographs from the "Golden Moments" photo contest of Nghe An Newspaper in 2014, reflecting quite richly the land and people of Nghe An, the precious moments and events that the Party Committee and people have achieved in the past year, through the lenses of journalists and contributors.

Publications displayed at the Nghe An Spring Press Festival 2015

2014 has passed, a year filled with significant events for the country and our homeland. The Party Committee, military, and people of Nghe An province have overcome numerous difficulties and challenges in all fields. Journalists and media outlets in Nghe An have stayed close to the grassroots, fighting tirelessly, and providing timely and accurate information on major political tasks. Today, they have the opportunity to flourish and showcase their achievements in Tet (Lunar New Year) newspapers and on television programs. This comprehensively reflects the accomplishments of the Party Committee and people of the province, as well as the major orientations and socio-economic, national defense, and security goals for 2015.

With the efforts of 400 member journalists from 7 press agencies in Nghe An and reporters from 41 resident offices and representative offices of newspapers in Nghe An, this reliable media force has created a comprehensive picture of the face of Nghe An's press in the context of innovation and integration. Simultaneously, it introduces and promotes the image of Nghe An's land and people to domestic and international friends, aiming to unleash resources and successfully implement the Resolution of the 17th Provincial Party Congress and Resolution 26 of the Politburo on the development of Nghe An until 2020.

Through their operational methods and presentation styles, Nghe An's press agencies have demonstrated initiative, creativity, and actively disseminated information about the province's socio-economic management solutions. These solutions include land management, resource and environmental protection, market management, poverty reduction, and improving people's lives. A highlight of Nghe An's press in 2014 was the extensive, focused, and effective dissemination of information regarding land clearance for National Highway 1A and other transportation projects, contributing to accelerated construction progress. They also continued to promote investment attraction in Nghe An, mobilizing resources for the national program of building new rural areas. Furthermore, they publicized mechanisms, policies, and solutions to overcome difficulties for businesses, creating conditions for stable production, encouraging people to go out to sea, engage in fishing, and protect the sacred sovereignty of the nation's seas and islands. The media has focused on promoting and preserving tangible and intangible cultural heritage in the province, dedicating significant time and weekly coverage to highlighting and affirming the value of Nghe An's folk songs. It has also promoted and encouraged exemplary individuals and new initiatives in various fields, strengthened the social critique function of the press, fostered consensus and enthusiastic competition among all segments of the population, and promoted thrift. The quality and effectiveness of media work have steadily improved, building the prestige and brand of Nghe An's press among listeners and readers nationwide and internationally.

For example, Nghe An Newspaper has built trust among its readers, evidenced by its high print circulation, reaching nearly 15,500 copies per issue, an increase of 1,060 copies per issue; and weekend editions increasing by 3,639 copies per issue. Its online version has innovated and risen to become one of the leading local newspapers nationwide, with over 20,000 daily visits. Besides promptly reporting on current events in the province and the country, Nghe An Newspaper has developed many in-depth thematic articles, creating a widespread social impact and actively contributing to helping the province and localities overcome difficulties in management, administration, and handling issues at the grassroots level. A prime example is the series of articles on land clearance for National Highway 1A, which promptly reflected the obstacles and suggested solutions and directions for Party committees, authorities at all levels, and the people in the project area. The journalistic work received public approval and high praise, making a significant contribution to Nghe An's timely land clearance, and was commended by the Ministry of Transport and the Provincial People's Committee. Nghe An Weekend Newspaper and the ethnic minority and mountainous region special section focused on increasing articles with cultural, artistic, discussion, forum, and entertainment content. The online newspaper, in addition to providing timely news on current events, also increased its coverage of breaking news and commentary on domestic and international current affairs, including hot topics around the world; it included analysis and commentary from leading experts, leaving a lasting impression on readers.

Nghe An Radio and Television Station, a broadcast and television station, has earned the trust of its audience for many years. In 2014, it made comprehensive efforts, conducting numerous propaganda campaigns to serve key tasks such as: studying and implementing the action program for Resolution 26/NQ-BCT of the Politburo; land clearance for the National Highway 1A upgrade project; building new rural areas; and many other attractive new programs. Despite significant challenges, the staff and reporters of the Radio and Television Station strived to excellently fulfill their duties, affirming its role as a major media agency of the province and reinforcing the trust of NTV viewers. 2014 was a year of continued high achievements, including: the B Prize at the National Journalism Awards; 3 Gold prizes, 5 Silver prizes, and 4 Certificates of Merit at the National Radio and Television Festival.

The Nghe An Public Security Newspaper, over its 30-year journey of development and innovation, has continuously matured in all aspects. It consistently uses "President Ho Chi Minh's Six Teachings for the People's Police" and "Nine Regulations on Professional Ethics for Vietnamese Journalists" as a guide for self-cultivation and training. Journalists and members always closely adhere to the political tasks of the sector, unafraid of danger, promptly present in difficult areas and hotspots to quickly and sensitively reflect issues, and encourage and promote exemplary individuals and new factors in the mass movement to protect national security. Particularly in recent years, it has implemented the campaign: Creating and promoting journalistic works on the theme: "Studying and Following the Moral Example of Ho Chi Minh," aiming to widely disseminate the study and emulation of President Ho Chi Minh among cadres, party members, and police officers.

Nghe An Labor Newspaper is a young newspaper, currently with an average circulation of 5,200 copies per issue, serving a wide range of readers. Nghe An Labor Newspaper consistently adheres to its principles and objectives, contributing to the encouragement and motivation of patriotic emulation movements and creative labor emulation among cadres, workers, civil servants, and laborers. Over the past year, it has focused on disseminating new documents, the Trade Union Law, and the amended Labor Code. It has actively highlighted many exemplary individuals in the emulation movements for excellent and creative labor, economic development, building a cultural life, helping each other to alleviate poverty, and many examples of mutual support, compassion, and academic excellence. In particular, the newspaper has highlighted many shining examples in the "Learning and following the moral example of Ho Chi Minh" campaign and the "Propagating the implementation of Central Resolution 4," contributing to the promotion of the fine traditions of the people of Nghe An.

The 4th Military Region Newspaper, the voice of the Party Committee of the Military Region Command, despite having a small number of reporters, has closely followed the directives, resolutions, plans, and guidelines of superiors, as well as national and military events of the 4th Military Region, to disseminate information promptly through both print and television. The newspaper publishes four issues per month, each with 5,000 copies, featuring numerous special pages and sections. Each month, 3 pages of the 4th Military Region Television program are broadcast on Nghe An Television (NTV), and 3 radio programs are broadcast on Nghe An Radio. Many special features and sections promoting major campaigns of the 4th Military Region's armed forces, such as "Promoting the Study and Emulation of Ho Chi Minh's Moral Example" and the campaign "Promoting Tradition, Contributing Talents, and Upholding the Legacy of Uncle Ho's Soldiers," have yielded practical results.

Press agencies such as Nghe An Culture Magazine, Song Lam Magazine, Science and Technology Magazine, and the Journalist Magazine have strived to overcome difficulties, steadily developing and bringing to readers inside and outside the province publications that are rich in the cultural identity of Nghe An. With their unique characteristics, they have contributed to preserving, promoting, honoring, and publicizing the cultural values ​​and people of Nghe An in the process of reform and integration.

The Spring Press Festival is an opportunity for press agencies and journalists to get closer to the public, contributing to creating new momentum for the development of the province's press in the cause of reform for "a prosperous people, a strong nation, democracy, fairness, and civilization." It is also an occasion to celebrate the achievements of press reform in the province in particular and the country in general, a place for journalists to meet and interact with a large number of newspaper readers, radio listeners, and television viewers, creating conditions for the people to enjoy the achievements of press reform after a year of hard work by journalists. Another spring has arrived, the spring of nature, the spring of people's hearts. The great encouragement of the public at the Spring Press Festival of the Year of the Goat will be a source of motivation and encouragement for journalists and press agencies in the homeland of our beloved President Ho Chi Minh, preparing for a new year full of confidence; creating many excellent and practical journalistic works to celebrate the important political events of the homeland and the country in 2015.

Tran Duy Ngoan

Member of the Executive Committee of the Vietnam Journalists Association, Chairman of the Nghe An Journalists Association