The fighting pen, the dedication of journalists in preventing corruption and negativity

This is one of the meaningful events to celebrate the 93rd anniversary of the founding of the Vietnam National United Front - Traditional Day of the Vietnam Fatherland Front (November 18, 1930 - November 18, 2023).

Since its official launch in 2017, the National Press Award "Press with the work of fighting against corruption and waste" now known as "National Press Award for fighting against corruption and negativity" has received the attention and active participation of reporters from press agencies and people, contributing significantly to the results of the fight against corruption and negativity of the Party and State.

Attempts to attack evil head-on

Vice Chairman of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Nguyen Huu Dung shared that one of the great meanings that the National Press Award for Anti-Corruption and Negativity has achieved is that the organization of the Award always receives great attention, support and encouragement from the leaders of the Party and State. This is demonstrated through the attendance, awarding and directing speeches of the leaders of the Party, State, Government and National Assembly at each Closing and Awarding Ceremony.

Mr. Nguyen Huu Dung said that after 3 seasons, the coordination in organizing work between the Standing Committee of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front, the Vietnam Journalists Association and Vietnam Television has become increasingly close, methodical, scientific, and effective from the stage of propaganda, receiving entries to organizing the award ceremony, leaving a good impression in the hearts of the people, readers, press agencies, journalists and reporters nationwide.

The Award has received the attention and active participation of reporters from press agencies. Over the seasons, the number of press agencies and participating works has increased. If the first Award had 1,005 works submitted by nearly 100 central and local press agencies, by the third time, the number of works submitted to the Award had increased to 1,181 works by journalists and reporters from more than 115 press agencies nationwide. The quality of the Award has been increasingly improved.

Many experts commented that the National Press Award for Anti-Corruption and Negativity has ignited the fighting spirit and dedication of journalists. That spirit is nurtured and cultivated during their career, and every time the Award is presented, journalists always feel proud of their non-stop journey, "no forbidden zones" in the fight against corruption and negativity.

Journalist Do Doan Hoang (Dan Viet Newspaper) is the author who won the A Prize of the third National Journalism Award for preventing and combating corruption and negativity with the series of articles: "Behind the massacre of the largest ancient ironwood forest in Vietnam". For someone who has been pursuing journalism for many years like him, the Award is a great source of encouragement and motivation for himself and his colleagues in their efforts to directly attack evil, bravely face the wrong and go to the end of the truth.

According to Journalist Do Doan Hoang, the measure of a journalist's character is the reporter, what the newspaper has done for society, not writing to show off words or polished writing style on social networks, but above all, the usefulness of the article, the series of articles in life.

“The value of the award to the community and journalists is very important. Besides, it also shows the courage of the Editorial Board in conducting investigative stories,” affirmed Journalist Do Doan Hoang.

Take "building to defend", take "positive to eliminate negative"

The third National Press Award on Anti-Corruption and Negativity, 2020 - 2021, attracted more than 100 central and local press agencies to participate with 1,181 entries, of which 45 press works in 4 categories won awards. Of which, for the first time, a work won the Special Prize, honored to be awarded by the Central Steering Committee on Anti-Corruption and Negativity.

In the context of the Covid-19 outbreak, the results achieved through the third season are considered very valuable, demonstrating the interest, enthusiasm and professional responsibility of journalists in the fight against corruption and negativity. Each entry, especially the winning entries, is the crystallization of the courageous spirit, hard work, creativity, seriousness, sweat and effort of journalists.

Speaking at the third Award Ceremony, Secretary of the Party Central Committee, Chairman of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Do Van Chien affirmed that the Award has increasingly attracted the attention of society and the active participation of press agencies and journalists. Many journalists do not fear difficulties, hardships, and dangers; overcome all temptations, traps, and daily worries about "bread and butter" to devote themselves to closely following the cases, helping the authorities clarify and strictly handle many organizations and individuals with corrupt and negative behaviors; receiving the people's sympathy, support, and high appreciation.

Recognizing and praising the Standing Committee of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front, the Vietnam Journalists Association, and Vietnam Television for successfully coordinating to organize the awards over three seasons, Mr. Do Van Chien emphasized that preventing and combating corruption and negativity is a difficult and sensitive task because corrupt and negativity behaviors and tricks are increasingly sophisticated and complicated, requiring the work of preventing and combating corruption and negativity to be resolute, with higher political determination; the synchronous and stronger participation of the entire political system, in which press agencies and journalists are one of the shock and pioneering forces.

Based on that reality, Chairman of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Do Van Chien said that it is necessary to continue to thoroughly grasp the motto of "building to fight" and "actively eliminating negativity". Along with promptly detecting and resolutely fighting against acts of corruption and negativity, it is necessary to further strengthen the work of propaganda and dissemination of the Party's guidelines and policies and the State's laws on preventing and combating corruption and negativity. At the same time, through press activities, it is necessary to pay attention to detecting current regulations that are still inadequate and have loopholes that can easily give rise to acts of corruption and negativity in order to propose to competent authorities to amend and supplement them in order to more effectively prevent acts of corruption and negativity from the root, from the very beginning.

Mr. Do Van Chien suggested that the Organizing Committee of the Award should closely coordinate with the authorities, take appropriate measures, and protect journalists and those fighting against corruption and negativity when requested so that journalists can work with peace of mind, create valuable works, and firmly believe in "justice triumphs over evil".

With the implementation and organization of the fourth National Press Award for preventing and combating corruption and negativity, the Organizing Committee believes and hopes that the Award will attract more and more journalists to participate, becoming a special thematic press award. From there, there will be more valuable press works, making an important contribution together with the entire Party, people and army to prevent, restrain and repel corruption and negativity, consolidate and strengthen people's trust in the Party and State; mobilize the strength of great national unity, strive to successfully implement the Resolution of the 13th National Party Congress, build a prosperous and happy country.