A push towards major journalism awards

Editor-in-Chief of Hai Duong Newspaper Nguyen Quy Trong and journalist Nguyen Trong Tuan were honored to take a souvenir photo with Politburo member, Permanent Secretary of the Secretariat Vo Van Thuong (now President) on the sidelines of the 2022 Golden Hammer and Sickle Award Ceremony (documentary photo)

Sweet fruit

Never before has Hai Duong Newspaper received so much joy as in the past two years, when authors continuously won major journalism awards.

Among nearly 1,900 entries to the 2022 National Press Awards, Hai Duong Newspaper was honored to have 2 entries in the final round (a total of 157 entries nationwide were in the final round), including a series of articles in the news, reflection, and print newspaper interview category "Closing land policy loopholes" by journalist Pham Sy Thang and an article in the reportage, investigative reportage, press notes, and electronic newspaper notes category "Bank Land - Aspiration for billions or risk of losing everything?" by journalist Nam Khanh. Of which, the series of articles "Closing land policy loopholes" won the consolation prize.

Previously, at the 2021 National Press Awards, Hai Duong journalists also received joy when the electronic newspaper work "Hai Duong digital transformation in agriculture: Overcoming challenges, accelerating to reach further" by the group of authors Ha Kien, Nguyen Mo, Thanh Chung was awarded a consolation prize.

Not only has the work won the National Press Award consecutively, Hai Duong Newspaper's journalists have also reaped "sweet fruits" at other prestigious press awards. The most typical is the series of works "The story of the last village in Hai Duong with a party cell" including 4 news and articles in the electronic newspaper category by journalist Nguyen Trong Tuan, which received the C prize of the 7th National Press Award on Party building (Golden Hammer and Sickle Award) in 2022 held earlier this year. Since the Golden Hammer and Sickle Award was established, this is the first time Hai Duong Newspaper has had a work winning the C prize, before that there was only a series of articles winning the consolation prize in the first season in 2016.

Journalist Nguyen Trong Tuan said that the above award gives him more motivation to explore and strive to produce higher quality works. Through the implementation of the above series of works, he realized that to win awards at major press awards, there is no need for any big or grand issues. Sometimes, you just need to be diligent in finding normal but new information, in line with current events, with the Party's resolution and pursue the issues you reflect to the end. "I am continuing to invest in a series of articles related to the prevention of corruption and negativity. This is not an easy topic to implement, but I will try my best to have good works to participate in the National Press Awards and the Central ministries and branches".

Although not the highest awards, continuously reaping the above "sweet fruits" is something to be very proud of for a local Party newspaper.

Motivation to try harder

It is no coincidence that Hai Duong Newspaper has continuously achieved the above encouraging achievements. In addition to the efforts, constant thinking and creativity of the writers, we must mention the motivations that the Editorial Board of Hai Duong Newspaper has created to gradually improve the quality of journalistic works, first to better serve the needs of readers, and then to have the opportunity to "compete" in major press awards where fierce competition always exists.

Journalist Nguyen Thi Thanh Mai, Head of the Editorial Secretary Office, Secretary of the Hai Duong Newspaper Journalists Association, said that from 2021 to now, the association has increased the organization of training conferences and seminars to exchange journalism skills. If before, the association only organized 2 meetings per year, now it has doubled. The content of the training sessions, seminars, and professional exchanges are focused on professional topics, of which at least 2 seminars have been organized on how to have works submitted to national journalism awards and those of central ministries and branches, helping reporters have more ideas, topics and ways of expression so that their articles have a chance to "win prizes". "The association also actively consults, takes advantage of the direction, suggestions, and help of the Editorial Board to invite experienced journalists, influential people to talk, train, and suggest more topics that can win prizes for reporters", journalist Thanh Mai informed.

The organization of awarding quality works has been maintained by the Editorial Board of Hai Duong Newspaper for many years. In recent years, the Editorial Board has increased the value of awards for good quality works. This has contributed to motivating and encouraging Hai Duong Newspaper writers to enthusiastically explore and discover good, high-quality topics.

The Editorial Board of Hai Duong Newspaper has awarded cash equivalent to the value of the national press award to the authors who won this award; and “hot” rewards to authors who won prestigious press awards. The royalties for these works are also considered higher.

In recent times, the Editorial Board of Hai Duong Newspaper has also increased professional exchanges and learned experiences from other newspapers, especially advanced newspapers.

The consecutive awards create new motivation for Hai Duong Newspaper on its journey to serve readers.

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