Old days of journalism

Mr. Huynh Thuc Khang with the newspaper "Tieng Dan". Photo archive

A committed generation

I still remember the third grade (currently 10th grade) in the 1966-1967 school year, we published a student newspaper with 100 copies. At that time, this was a "huge" number and we boldly met the Governor of Quang Nam Province to... ask for permission to publish the newspaper.

The provincial governor let us meet his private secretary and was given enough paper to mimeograph 100 newspapers, and allowed to use the camera; we had to take care of the hard paper for the cover. Although it was hard work because we had to figure it out at the same time, the newspaper was finally completed and... disaster struck.

In my so-called editorial article, titled “The problem of school ethics today”, there are two original lines as follows: “If the top is not righteous, the bottom will be in chaos, how true that is” and “Meanwhile, life teaches us more than books”.

Two professors who taught English and History analyzed the article and concluded: “Disrupting the school and inciting students to join the Viet Cong in the jungle.” The school’s disciplinary council met. Fortunately, thanks to the generosity of Principal Hoang Trung, Mr. Thong, Mr. Danh…, the “pardon” vote was 5/8…

Recalling personal memories is just a small "illustration" in the broader context of school activities in many cities in Southern Vietnam during a special historical period of the country.

In the 60s and 70s of the 20th century, it was noteworthy that the student newspaper movement appeared right from the seventh and sixth grades (currently 6th and 7th grades), collecting good essays in class, self-written and self-presented. But when entering high school, the student newspapers at that time could be called newspapers, with many genres such as commentary, research, composition... As for the news section, it was low in capacity, only briefly recording some activities in school.

When the urban struggle movement rose in the late 60s and 70s, the news section had many reflections on strikes, hunger strikes, street demonstrations... It can be said that one of the starting points of student newspapers was the birth of literary groups and writing groups at the high school level in the southern cities. In those years, a whole student journalism movement was formed through hundreds of newspapers such as: Tiếng goi hoc sinh, Dat nuoc, Thai hoa, Hoa hop, Dat moi, Tiếng goi sinh vien...

This is a phenomenon that has not existed before and will not exist again. Many research works in the past decades have affirmed that the struggle movement of the people of all classes in the southern cities has contributed significantly to the overall victory in the national defense of the whole nation. In that movement, the role and effect of the youth press, students and pupils is very important.

Voice of patriotism

Particularly in Quang Nam and Da Nang , many young “amateur” journalists at that time later became professional journalists. These include: Cung Van, Hoang Thoai Chau, Vu Duc Sao Bien, Tu Huy, Huynh Ba Thanh, Vo Nhu Lanh, Tran Pha Nhac, Tran Ngoc Chau, Huynh Son Phuoc…

This fact is perhaps understandable, when placed in the context of the continuation of the patriotic tradition, which, in this land where "it has not rained but has soaked in", can recall the first names.

That was Luong Khac Ninh (1862 - 1945) from Dien Ban, editor of the newspaper Nong co min dam (1901 - 1921). That was Phan Khoi (1887 - 1959) from Dien Ban, who wrote for the purpose of renewing literature, founded the weekly newspaper Song Huong (1936 - 1937); the one who initiated the new poetry movement with "Love of the Old" and was a journalist who raised fundamental issues in contributing to changing the spiritual life of the nation.

That was Le Dinh Tham (1897 - 1969), the founder of Vien Am (1933), the first newspaper of the Central Vietnam Buddhist Association. That was Huynh Thuc Khang (1876 - 1947), a native of Tien Phuoc, the founder of Tieng Dan (1927 - 1943), the newspaper that "shouted the voice of the people" amidst the censorship of the French colonialists...

The successors include Phan Thanh, Phan Boi, Luu Quy Ky, Phan Thao... and especially the large team of Quang Nam journalists who have matured from 1975 to present...

Recalling the time of student journalism, then mentioning the names of journalists whose hometowns are on this land, what is the purpose? Simply to say that, nothing other than the love of country - love of people, the spirit of fighting for peace - independence, associated with the pride in the tradition of the land and people of Quang Nam has created the truth and historical value. And to preserve, to leave as a necessary luggage for the next generations today and tomorrow.

Source: https://baoquangnam.vn/thuo-lam-bao-ngay-xua-3157002.html