The letter from the Executive Committee of the Vietnam Writers' Association (VWA) sent to members on January 3 (updated on January 4) provided information on the transfer of poet Luong Ngoc An - Executive Committee member to the position of Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Writers and Life Magazine and the consideration of the Literature Award and admission of members in 2024.
Accordingly, the Executive Committee of the Vietnam Writers' Association said that at the Executive Committee meeting in June 2024, poet Tran Dang Khoa, Vice President of the Vietnam Writers' Association and Editor-in-Chief of the Writers and Life Magazine, proposed adding a Deputy Editor-in-Chief to the Magazine and proposed poet Luong Ngoc An, currently working at the Vietnam Writers' Association, for this position.
The Executive Committee asked poet Luong Ngoc An to explain some personal issues, discussed the magazine's operations, the need to add staff, and issued a decision to transfer poet Luong Ngoc An to work at Writers and Life Magazine as Deputy Editor-in-Chief from November 28, 2024.
However, after reviewing some steps in the process and considering some conditions related to the transfer, the Executive Committee decided to withdraw this Decision and report to the press command agency and the superior press management agency.
Previously, social media was abuzz with the news that a poet had spoken out about being raped by Mr. Luong Ngoc An more than 20 years ago. The incident caused a stir in public opinion, with many writers, poets, artists... declaring their support for the poet, and protesting the decision to transfer Mr. Luong Ngoc An to the position of Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Writers and Life Magazine.
In addition, the Letter of the Executive Committee of the Vietnam Writers Association also mentioned the consideration of the Literary Awards and admission of members in 2024.
Accordingly, the consideration and awarding of annual literary awards to discover and affirm literary values in life is carried out according to the Annual Award Regulations of the Vietnam Writers' Association No. 15/HNV, signed on October 15, 2021. This regulation is applied throughout the term of the 10th Executive Committee (2020-2025).
The 2024 Literature Award will be considered through two preliminary and final rounds according to the Regulations. The works submitted by the Preliminary Council to the Final Council must receive more than half of the votes of the Council members.
The Final Jury has the right to introduce and add to the list of works that the Preliminary Jury did not introduce, but has notified and discussed with the Preliminary Jury in advance. Regarding the subjects of consideration, point 7, Article B, Part II of the Regulations stipulates: Only consider collections of stories, poems, and critical theories, when the percentage of works reaching over 80% has not been printed in another book.
This year, after discussing with the Chairmen of the relevant professional councils, the Final Judging Council added 3 more works (1 novel and 2 poetry collections) for the members of the Final Judging Council to consider.
The 2024 Literature Award was considered in accordance with the Regulations. The award results will be announced in the near future.
