Memento of the first Editor-in-Chief of Quang Tri Newspaper

Mr. Tran Trong Ton, the first Editor-in-Chief of Quang Tri Newspaper, is no longer with us, but his old camera, small tape recorder and press cards remain, continuing the story of a vibrant time of journalism.

20 km daily by bike

Quang Tri Newspaper was born after Quang Tri province was re-established on July 1, 1989. Mr. Tran Trong Ton, from Cam Lo village, Cam Thanh commune (now Cam Lo town, Cam Lo district), was appointed as the first Editor-in-Chief on September 11, 1989. Before that, he was a Standing Member of the Binh Tri Thien Journalists Association and was assigned the task of "summoning" Quang Tri Newspaper from Binh Tri Thien province.

Quang Tri Newspaper in the early days, Mr. Tran Trong Ton is standing 5th from the right.

PHOTO: TL

The first issue of Quang Tri Newspaper was published on July 27, 1989, with the editorial "Salute to the heroic motherland" written by him. The words were full of enthusiasm but still full of emotion and humility. The entire editorial office at that time only had a few people, many nights had to arrange the pages, print the rough copy and then edit it by hand...

During the early difficult years, Mr. Ton often went to work by bicycle, traveling about 20 km each day between Cam Lo and Dong Ha. It was not until 1992 that he was able to buy an old Honda motorbike to go to work. Journalist Hoang Nam Bang, former Head of the Culture and Society Department of Quang Tri Newspaper, recalled: "Mr. Ton lived a simple life, getting along well with his colleagues in the agency. As a leader, he never spoke harshly or scolded anyone, but was very determined in the fight against negativity."

In the early days, the Quang Tri Newspaper office worked in a level 4 house on Tran Hung Dao Street. Many officers and reporters were young, single, or lived far away, making it difficult to travel, so they often ate together. Mr. Ton lived in Cam Lo District and traveled quite far, so at noon he also ate with his colleagues, eating whatever was available.

Mr. Tran Trong Ton (left cover), first Editor-in-Chief of Quang Tri Newspaper

PHOTO: TL

In the early years of re-establishment, the province had a policy of granting land for housing to leaders of departments, agencies and branches moving from Binh Tri Thien province (old) to Dong Ha. The newspaper was granted 2 plots of land, Mr. Ton was a cadre transferred from Binh Tri Thien province, the head of the agency with the number one priority, but he refused to accept it and gave the plot of land on the front of Le Loi street to a caretaker with 3 small children.

Quang Tri Newspaper in the 1990s was one of the local newspapers with a strong voice in the movement to fight against negativity, corruption and waste. Many articles by reporters created a big echo, helping provincial leaders, sectors and localities overcome limitations and shortcomings. The person who supported and accompanied reporters on the long journey to boldly go on that thorny path was Editor-in-Chief Tran Trong Ton.

According to journalist Dao Tam Thanh, a veteran journalist of Quang Tri Newspaper, Mr. Ton always supports reporters in writing articles to prevent and fight corruption, negativity, and criticize bad things. In fighting against negativity through the press, journalists and leaders of press agencies suffer a lot of trouble, but with a pure heart, not for profit, and determination to contribute to building a healthy society, Mr. Ton always supports and is very steadfast.

Tearful souvenir

On April 9, within the framework of activities towards the 50th anniversary of the country's reunification (April 30, 1975 - April 30, 2025) and 100 years of Vietnamese Revolutionary Press (June 21, 1925 - June 21, 2025), Mr. Tran Trong Ton's family donated many valuable journalism relics to the Vietnam Press Museum.

Among the donated items are a Canon Master camera and a Sony M-405 recorder. Both items are worn out and have accompanied Mr. Ton on hundreds of business trips. Six more cards, including a journalist card and a membership card of the Vietnam Journalists Association through the years, mark a journey of honest work and dedication.

Memorabilia associated with Mr. Tran Trong Ton's journalistic career

PHOTO: TL

Mr. Tran Anh Tuan, son of journalist Tran Trong Ton, currently Chairman of Cam Lo District People's Committee, said that when his father was still alive, he intended to donate some artifacts to the Vietnam Press Museum. Those artifacts may not have material value today, but in the past they had both material and spiritual value.

"When the province was first divided, life was difficult, so whatever he could get was good. My father bought a camera and a recorder for work. At that time, these were very valuable! Even though he was a newspaper leader, he loved his job very much. He used his own money to buy them, and whatever was allocated, he gave it to his colleagues first," said Mr. Tuan.

At that time, all three of Mr. Tuan's siblings went to college, so all the family income was spent on their children. "In addition to the shabby house, my parents also had two old bicycles. One was used by my father to go to work, and the other was used by my mother to go to Dong Ha market to buy fish sauce and salt to sell at Cam Lo market," Mr. Tuan recalled.

Ms. Tran Kim Hoa, former Director of the Vietnam Press Museum (now consultant of the Vietnam Press Museum), said that when going to Quang Tri to carry out the thematic exhibition "Vietnam's revolutionary press: A century of fighting and pride of Quang Tri press", the working group of the Vietnam Press Museum was very regretful because they could not meet Mr. Ton, because he was a historical witness in the renovation period of Quang Tri press. "But fortunately, through the Quang Tri Journalists Association, Mr. Ton's family agreed to donate some documentary artifacts to the Vietnam Press Museum. Those documentary artifacts not only remind us of a person's life as a journalist in the early years of renovation, but also show part of the story of journalism during the renovation period of Quang Tri's press in general. That was an important period of revolutionary journalism in peacetime. For the museum, it is fortunate to have more valuable documents, so that later, when there is an opportunity, we can continue to research and promote to the public how Quang Tri people used to work in journalism," said Ms. Hoa.

Mr. Tran Trong Ton was born in 1934, in Cam Lo village, Cam Thanh commune (old), now Cam Lo town, Cam Lo district, Quang Tri. When Binh Tri Thien province was divided, Mr. Tran Trong Ton was the Standing member of the Binh Tri Thien Journalists Association and was assigned the task of Convenor of Quang Tri Newspaper. On September 11, 1989, he was appointed by the Standing Committee of Quang Tri Provincial Party Committee to the position of Editor-in-Chief of Quang Tri Newspaper. On November 23, 1989, the Ministry of Information issued publishing license No. 831/BTT allowing the publication of Quang Tri Newspaper. He was Editor-in-Chief of Quang Tri Newspaper until 1996 when he retired. He passed away in early March 2025.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/ky-vat-cua-tong-bien-tap-bao-quang-tri-dau-tien-185250616214432415.htm