Winning the first National Press Award

Author - Journalist Phan Huu Minh (left) during a reporting trip to the facility.

It was not until 2005 that readers and listeners learned about a very special war diary written by an experienced military officer from Thai Nguyen - martyr Vu Xuan, Political Commissar of Battalion 2311, Artillery Group 6, Southern Liberation Army...

The diary was edited by writer Nguyen Tien Hai, published by the People's Army Publishing House after the diaries of Nguyen Van Thac and Dang Thuy Tram, but because it was the diary of a political officer, it was attractive because of the ideology, politics and ambition of the youth during a heroic period of the nation's history - the period of fighting and defeating the Americans. The diary and its author from the beginning touched and moved the emotions of many readers.

With the diary in hand, we immediately thought of organizing propaganda, hoping to spread it as far as possible. I decided to choose reporters who were creative, had lively and emotional language to form a group. The articles were published one after another: Vu Xuan - Bringing faith to battle.

The highlight of this article is the saying in the diary: “The diary of a communist party member must be about cultivating the morality and qualities of a revolutionary.” Or the sentence: “I just want the saying to resonate in the ears of the next generation: “Do not tarnish the blood of those who came before”…

The article "The Good Son of Thai Nguyen" was touched by the son of Thai Nguyen before going to war with his passionate love and first love. He wrote: The more hardship and suffering, the more I miss faraway Thai Nguyen, the more I miss my loved ones.

The articles "Devotion to the Whole Body", "Thai Nguyen in Xuan's Heart"... were all highlighted by the editors... That is why, when the 2007 National Press Awards Preliminary Council commented on the series of 5 articles submitted to the competition, they emphasized: When the Party journalists of Thai Nguyen province - the hometown of martyr Vu Xuan - organized propaganda in a concentrated, systematic and scientific manner on print and electronic Thai Nguyen Newspaper, Vu Xuan's Diary became a new phenomenon in the propaganda of war diaries. Writer Minh Chuyen said: If possible, Thai Nguyen Newspaper should recount the 11-year fighting journey of martyr Vu Xuan and his generation, that would be great!...

Receiving the National Press Award, we coordinated with departments, branches and martyrs' families to organize major activities, established the Vu Xuan Scholarship Fund, and donated all the prize money to the Fund.

And, we tell the story through an 8-episode documentary, closely following the 11-year journey of marching and fighting that the diary recorded, and at the same time recounting the years of hardship, great sacrifice and great heroism of our nation's resistance war against the US to save the country. Vietnam Television and local stations have broadcast this film many times under the name Journey according to Vu Xuan's Diary.

The film consists of 8 episodes, recounting the heroic journeys of marching, fighting and sacrificing of Vu Xuan and his comrades through each episode, captivating and appealing to viewers: Episode 1 - Homeland; Episode 2 - The Frontline Calls; Episode 3 - Land of Fire; Episode 4 - West of Truong Son; Episode 5 - On the Land of Angkor; Episode 6 - Mekong River, where he fell; Episode 7 - The Love of Those Who Stay; Episode 8 - Homeland, Deep Love and Heavy Meaning... The diary, articles and the film have created a very strong effect in social life for many years.

He and his generation set out with a noble purpose. Vu Xuan wrote in his diary: "Handing over the entire country of Vietnam to future generations is our responsibility, the responsibility of this generation of young people living and fighting against the Americans..." Until the day of his sacrifice (May 13, 1974), for 11 long years, Vu Xuan marched barefoot three times, fighting in Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia.

In the life of a journalist, to have an excellent work is certainly not easy. Reviewing a memory, a slice of the whole journey is also a necessary thing to do. From 2008 to 2015, I was appointed as a member of the preliminary jury; from 2016, a member of the final jury of the National Press Award, so I have further strengthened my thinking, which is: Without investing intelligence and effort, including a bright mind, a pure heart and courage with the characters and topics... it is impossible to have an excellent work. A scientific, correct and accurate organizational mind is needed.

Source: https://baothainguyen.vn/xa-hoi/202506/gianh-giai-bao-chi-quoc-giadau-tien-ky-uc-tu-hao-0ed1fc7/