Journalists Before History: Responsibility and Choice

(DTO) There are events that may pass with time, yet never fade from a nation’s memory. The Liberation of the South and Reunification of the Country on April 30, 1975, is such an event.

Each time we recall it, it is not only an act of remembrance, but also a reflection of how we choose to view history with respect, with responsibility, and with thoughts for today and the generations to come. 

For us journalists, writing about April 30 is not merely revisiting a historical milestone. It is confronting our own professional responsibility toward the nation’s collective memory. 

History is not a set of documents lying still on a page. History consists of stories that must be retold, but more importantly, in a way that resonates with readers today. 

When facing topics about a heroic past, we journalists always stand before a choice. Writing just to fulfill a task is not difficult, but writing so that history comes alive in the hearts of today’s readers is the true challenge. 

It is easy to restate what is already known, but writing to spark new reflections requires courage and commitment. Sometimes, a single detail like a witness’s gaze, a familiar place name, a memory thought to be distant can revive an entire chapter of history when told with empathy. Conversely, if we limit ourselves to listing events, no matter how complete, history will still feel remote. 

As Dong Thap moves into a new development stage, its geography expands, and the depth of its history grows richer with layers of memories, lands, and people. 

This places greater demands on journalism: not only to reflect, but to connect, connecting individual stories into a shared flow, connecting the past with the present, and more importantly, connecting memory with aspirations for development. 

I still remember the heartfelt advice of Vo Hong Nhan, affectionately known as Bac Tam Hong Nhan, former Deputy Head of the Central Commission for Ideology and Culture (now the Central Commission for Propaganda and Mass Mobilization), former Secretary of the Dong Thap Provincial Party Committee during a New Year visit after the province’s reunification. He said: “Now that we are merged, you journalists must connect that historical space in the present.” 

A simple message, yet one that implies a profound responsibility. Historically, Dong Thap and Tien Giang were deeply connected, both part of the Dong Thap Muoi region, both key bases of Zone 8, sharing strategic routes and the gentle flow of the Tien River. 

Journalists today must not only write “accurately,” but more importantly, write “meaningfully,” addressing what society needs, what the public cares about, and what holds long-term value. 

If history is only repeated, it gradually becomes mere memory. But if retold with the breath of the present, history continues to live in the awareness of young people, in the pride of the community, and in the developmental momentum of each locality. 

This is also the story we sought to tell through the documentary series “United by the Tien River,” produced in the early days of preparing for the merger of the two provinces. 

The greatest challenge for journalism today is ensuring that the stories of yesterday do not become distant, but instead become a natural part of modern life. 

We must help young readers not only “know” history, but also “feel” it, so they may live more responsibly and strive harder to honor the sacrifices of past generations. 

And on that journey, Dong Thap Newspaper and Radio, Television is not only a storyteller, but a contributor to the ongoing narrative of this land. 

When these stories are told with responsibility, history will never remain only in the past. It will always be a living part of today. 

By NGOC HANH
Translated by ANH DUC