No. 1 newspaper published in 1929
The history book of Lao Dong Newspaper recorded the birth of the newspaper 97 years ago: "On July 28, 1929, at house number 15 Hang Non street - Hanoi, then Thuan My Tao medicine store, an important conference took place that later became a historical event: the Conference to establish the Bac Ky Red General Confederation (TCHĐBK). Attending the conference were 7 delegates chaired by comrade Nguyen Duc Canh (then a member of the Provisional Central Executive Committee of Indochinese Communist Party in charge of labor mobilization, i.e., mobilizing workers). The Conference elected comrade Nguyen Duc Canh as the Provisional Chairman, deciding to publish a newspaper named Lao Dong Newspaper, and a magazine named Red Confederation.
After the conference on July 28, Comrade Nguyen Duc Canh immediately started preparing to be published in Lao Dong Newspaper. The press location was a small house in Thong Phong alley at the beginning of Hang Bot street, now Ton Duc Thang street.
The book also records the words of Mr. Tran Hong Van - who directly worked for Lao Dong Newspaper in the first issues with Nguyen Duc Canh: "Number 1 of Lao Dong Newspaper was published on August 14, 1929, exactly half a month after the conference to establish the Red General Confederation of Labor of Tonkin. The place to do journalism was Ms. Vinh's house, with her younger sister Hong and younger brother Hien. Mr. Hien was handsome, calm, never argued loudly with anyone, and knew how to keep secrets. Ms. Vinh was originally a member of the National People's Party, and Canh gave her new insights, so she followed the communists. Journalism at that time, although simple, was also very cumbersome. Where to hide the paper bought, then the trays, clay, the drying place, the writing place, the presentation place... were easily exposed.
Besides Vinh, there was also a beautiful female comrade named Van. Van's handwriting was beautiful, helping me do the job of printing, which means copying lessons on paper to make prints on clay. Van was fascinated by Canh, every time she met Canh, she was flustered, making Canh scared. We courted her, telling Canh to cooperate, take a place to travel, so that someone could go to the market and cook rice; Van was intelligent, telling her to write short news, she could write immediately. Canh also fell in love, but tried to suppress it, afraid of being exposed, and besides, the professional revolutionary profession, still having to go, still having to go to prison is certain, afraid of making Van suffer.
We told Van to run to buy Ky Lan paper to print beautifully, Van searched but it seemed difficult, so she told Van to just use Dap Cau paper. I ran to buy agar, intending to print agar beautifully, but the quantity was large, there was no connection, and I was also afraid of being exposed. I had to use clay taken from Ngoc Ha pond, bring it back and still have to settle and filter it to make it really smooth before forming a mold for printing.
I planned to print 40 copies each time, but only 25 copies of the letters were already faded. I had to make fonts many times like that. Each font is copied with thick purple ink, applied to the clay surface for 10 minutes before peeling off, then printed in sheets. After printing, transported to Huong Tuyet Pagoda near Bach Mai street, distributed there. Distributors are women who sell baskets and bamboo baskets, running goods on trains.
In 1983, Tran Hong Van (ie Tran Ngoc Hai) visited the Editorial Office of Lao Dong Newspaper at 51 Hang Bo, Hanoi. He sketched for his colleagues to visualize the layout of page 1 of No. 1 of Lao Dong Newspaper dated August 14, 1929 and copied the article on page 1 that he had memorized by heart: "Proletarians of the whole world unite! The entire term of delegates of the first congress of the Northern Labor Confederation".
At that time, no one believed that Lao Dong Newspaper No. 1 would still be kept due to too much time. It was not until 1999, when Mr. Do Van Phu - former Chief of Office of Lao Dong Newspaper - participated in the process of organizing the 70th anniversary of Lao Dong Newspaper's first issue (August 14, 1929 - August 14, 1999), that the journey to find No. 1 was launched.
According to Mr. Phu, he went to the Central Archives Department for help but without results. Then he went to the Department of Records - General Department of Security - Ministry of Public Security, at that time he only received a shake of the head. Even the Revolution Museum did not have it. Fortunately, when he came to the Archives Department under the Party Central Committee Office, with the help of the Department's leaders, he had information about Lao Dong Newspaper No. 1 and Lao Dong Newspaper No. 4. Nothing is happier than. "I held a copy of the A4 newspaper with a feeling full of emotions. Saying goodbye to Mr. Long and countless thanks to him" - Mr. Do Van Phu said.
Could it be that finding the No. 1 newspaper printed on Dap Cau paper from 1929 was also due to the yellow star leading the way?
No. 1 position in protecting workers' rights
Right under the banner of the Lao Dong print newspaper published every day, there is a neat line of words: "No. 1 newspaper protects the rights of workers".
That number 1 position is both a mission, a goal and also the ideal of the newspaper that has 97 years of history and is aiming for 100 years of maturity with the country.
For 97 years, Lao Dong Newspaper has always held the No. 1 position in the Vietnamese Revolutionary Press in protecting the legitimate and lawful rights and interests of workers; is a reliable address for workers and laborers to send their thoughts, feelings, and aspirations.
Dr. Ngo Tri Long - an economic expert, a close collaborator of Lao Dong Newspaper - said: "It can be said that many important policies of the State, especially in the fields of labor, insurance, wages, social security... all have contributions from persistent and sharp reflections from Lao Dong Newspaper. When workers are owed social insurance by businesses, Lao Dong is the first press agency to announce the list, conduct thorough investigations, deep analysis, creating public pressure for functional agencies to get involved. When workers are forced to work overtime, without contracts, and have their rights squeezed, Lao Dong does not hesitate to "name" violating businesses.
In recent years, when personal income tax policies, family deductions, and regional minimum wages have become topical issues, Lao Dong has always been one of the first newspapers to state a clear, responsible viewpoint, standing on the side of salaried workers - the pillar force of the economy but often not given due attention.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bui Hoai Son - Specialized Member of the National Assembly's Committee for Culture and Society - said: "Not only reflecting the issue, Lao Dong Newspaper also offers solutions, connecting the voices of experts, managers, and National Assembly deputies to turn the voices of workers into policy actions.
Meanwhile, journalist Nguyen Duc Loi - Standing Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Journalists Association - assessed: Press agencies are entering a period of strong transformation towards multi-platform, comprehensive digitalization and application of artificial intelligence (AI) in press activities. In that context, Lao Dong Newspaper continues to affirm its role as one of the leading socio-political press agencies in the country, always pioneering in protecting the legitimate and lawful rights and interests of workers; and at the same time is one of the leading units in content innovation, digital transformation and application of new technologies in press activities.
I am very impressed when Lao Dong Newspaper publishes content on a digital platform in 8 languages, belonging to the group of electronic press agencies with the largest number of published languages in Vietnam. This is the result of the efforts of Lao Dong Newspaper in strengthening the presence of the "Lao Dong Newspaper" brand in all means and mass media platforms" - Mr. Loi said.
A small line of text under the canvas both affirms the position of the newspaper and contains the weight of responsibility: From the No. 1 newspaper published in 1929 to today, Lao Dong Newspaper has always been the No. 1 newspaper protecting the rights of workers. People who work for Lao Dong Newspaper today believe that this line of text not only affirms a brand, not only written in ink but also in the sweat, tears, love and hope of millions of workers across the country.
