The first steps into journalism
Every time I look back at the first collaborator card, I remember the 19-year-old student shyly entering the editorial office of Lao Dong Newspaper with eyes both excited and worried. At that time, I was just a first-year student and luckily had the opportunity to work at the Multimedia Communication Center of Lao Dong Newspaper. That was also the place marking the first steps on the journey to becoming a journalist.
My youth was associated with the corridors of the editorial office, the first meetings, the times I hugged the camera to the scene and even sleepless nights to complete the news. Looking back, I realized that I had grown up day by day under the roof of Lao Dong Newspaper.
My luckiest thing is that I have never had to walk alone. Here, I meet teachers, reporters who are always ready to guide me from the smallest things. They guide me from how to ask a question to make the character more open, how to exploit information, edit articles, film, edit videos, field reporting to the demeanor of a reporter. Every time I have my article edited, every time I am advised, I feel like I have taken another step on the path of my career.
In the early days, I was assigned to implement topics that seemed very small but left a deep impression. My first work was about the livelihoods of visually impaired people. That was the first time I really understood what "finding stories" was like. Before meeting the character, I was confused about what to ask, where to exploit the story, which photo to take or how to film the frames. Perhaps without the companionship of the guided reporter that day, I would not have been confident enough to complete the first article. She patiently showed me how to observe, how to ask questions to open the character's heart and most importantly, how to listen.
That was also the first time I understood that journalism is not simply reporting. Behind each article is a person, a fate, a story that needs to be told with sincerity. Journalists not only record events but also contribute to spreading kindness, so that the voices of workers, of disadvantaged people are known to more people.
If the first article taught me how to listen, the times I worked on the scene taught me to be calm. The memory that I remember most is the first time I worked at the scene of a chain traffic accident that happened at about 9 pm in Hanoi. At that time, I had only worked at Lao Dong Newspaper for more than 2 weeks. Information about the incident was sent very urgently. The head of the board requested reporters near the scene to quickly be present to update the situation. Although I did not have much experience, I still boldly accepted the task. Before leaving, the brothers and sisters in the board continuously called to guide me on what to record, who to interview, which angle to take photos and what to note when working.
When I arrived, the scene in front of my eyes made me speechless. Damaged vehicles lying scattered on the road, the sound of ambulances continuously rang out, medical and police forces urgently took the victims to the emergency room. I and a reporter quickly divided up to record the scene, interview witnesses and functional forces. When the article was completed, the clock had struck midnight.
That day, I returned in a state of exhaustion but also felt that I had just matured a little. I began to understand that reporters do not have the concept of office hours. Breaking news can come at any time. Journalists must be ready to set off in the middle of the night, in storms, between fires or accidents to be present in the place where life is taking place, bringing the fastest and most accurate information to readers.
Being able to learn the profession right from when I was still in university is lucky for me. The lessons on journalism skills in class are no longer dry when I can apply them to reality every day. What I don't understand, I boldly ask reporters, editors and department leaders. The experiences shared from practice help me understand the profession much faster than just learning through books.
Each field trip is a growth
Over time, the topics I was in charge of also gradually became more difficult. From people's stories, I started to follow the real estate sector with many investigative and reflective articles that required role-playing and closely following the scene.
The first time I played the role was at a land auction in the suburbs of Hanoi. At that time, the market continuously saw auctions with winning prices far exceeding the real value. Playing the role of someone who needs to buy land, I spent almost the whole day following the auction diễn biến. There were sessions that lasted until late at night, even early the next morning. After recording, I discovered the situation of brokers inflating prices, advertising and selling auctioned land plots with differences of up to billions of VND to create a virtual price level. Immediately after the auction ended, I immediately sent an article to the editorial office to promptly warn people about the tricks of profiteering in the market.
Not only once, I have also played the role of a home buyer many times to reflect on the situation of brokers advertising "diplomatic quotas" for social housing, inadequacies in land management or administrative procedures that still cause difficulties for people.
Each trip brings me new lessons. There are days of joy when the article contributes to removing obstacles for people. There are days of concern when witnessing difficult circumstances or hidden corners of society.
But after all, those trips helped the 19-year-old student of the past become more mature. Up to now, when I have graduated from university and become a reporter, I understand that journalism is not just a race against time or writing news quickly. More importantly, being present where life is going, recording the truth with caution, objectivity and compassion. And for me, Lao Dong Newspaper is not only a place to start my career but also a place to fully preserve the most beautiful youthful years of a young reporter.
