Having worked at Phú Yên Newspaper for nearly 30 years, I, together with my colleagues, have witnessed many proud milestones in the agency’s journey. We have stood united and strived tirelessly for the growth and development of our newsroom.
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| Generations of Phú Yên Newspaper staff gathering to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Vietnamese Revolutionary Press Day (June 21, 1925 – June 21, 2025) and the 79th anniversary of Phú Yên Newspaper’s founding (August 19, 1946 - August 19, 2025). |
1. In October 1998, after graduating from university and parting ways with my role as Secretary of the Ward Youth Union, I brought my job application to Phú Yên Newspaper. Accompanying me was Mr. Lê Phú Hải, a man I deeply respect who was then working at the Phú Yên Children’s Home. It was Mr. Le Phu Hai who advised me to pursue journalism, while I had originally intended to apply to the Provincial Youth Union. The author of "Hành phương Nam" and "Gửi lại cho em" had once studied in the same class as journalist Phạm Ngọc Phi, who would later be appointed Editor-in-Chief of Phú Yên Newspaper following the retirement of writer-journalist Tô Phương.
Journalist Phạm Ngọc Phi - with a stern expression - received the two of us in his office, listened as I shared my aspirations, then directed me to meet journalist Nguyễn Văn Minh, the Deputy Editor-in-Chief in charge of administrative affairs. Journalist Nguyễn Văn Minh warmly accepted my application, asked a few questions, and said that for the time being, I could begin a trial period. However, he made it clear: the newsroom only needed capable reporters - the staff was already full. Therefore, during this trial period, if I found another suitable job elsewhere, I shouldn't let the opportunity slip away. Hearing that, I felt my chances of officially joining the newspaper were very slim.
Trial Period. I was assigned to the Society and Culture Newsroom, with journalist Hoàng Chương serving as the head of the department. In terms of seniority, after Mr. Hoàng Chương, the room included journalist-artist Lê Văn Hiếu - now Head of the Readers, Social Affairs, and Archives Department, journalist Phong Lan (now retired), and journalist Thu Thủy - currently Head of the Reporting Department. I was the youngest member. Before joining the press, journalist Hoàng Chương had spent many years teaching in Đồng Xuân. Both Ms. Thu Thủy and I called him "teacher". He was, in every sense, my very first mentor at Phú Yên Newspaper.
I followed Ms. Thu Thủy on reporting assignments, taking my first steps to get acquainted with journalism. Standing at the threshold of a new horizon, my heart was full of excitement. Every topic seemed fascinating to me, especially those related to social life. I eagerly wrote and was deeply passionate about writing. I read the works of those who came before me, observing how my senior colleagues explored their topics and “told stories” on the pages of the newspaper. Each person had their own unique way of storytelling.
At that time, the young female reporters working at Phú Yên Newspaper included Ms. Thu Thủy and Ms. Minh Nguyệt from the Economic Reporting Department - who is now the Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Phú Yên Newspaper. As the youngest member in the office, I received much care and attention from the senior sisters.
Back then, reporters wrote their news articles on low-quality paper A4 sheets of paper and then submitted them to the department head for editing. Next, the handwritten manuscripts were passed on to the editorial secretary for processing, after which the technicians would type up each draft. In general, many steps are very “manual”...
At the end of my probation period, I was overjoyed to be officially accepted to work at Phú Yên Newspaper. At that time, the newspaper was published three issues per week, including two large-format news editions similar to Nhân Dân newspaper, and the Sunday Phú Yên edition, sized 30x42cm, which later became the Phú Yên Weekend edition. The editorial secretary was journalist Huỳnh Hiếu - a talented and passionate writer deeply dedicated to the profession, who later became Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Phú Yên Newspaper. Mr. Huỳnh Hiếu was also in charge of the Phú Yên End-of-Month edition (launched in July 1994, featuring 36 pages including four color cover pages, sized 19x27cm) and also the “father” of the Spring special edition - a publication rich in literary and artistic qualities, eagerly awaited and enjoyed by artists and writers both inside and outside the province whenever spring arrives and Tet comes around.
2. Over nearly 30 years working at Phú Yên Newspaper, my colleagues and I have witnessed proud milestones of the agency. In August 2001, Phú Yên Newspaper added an extra current affairs edition, increasing its publication frequency to 4 issues per week. On April 1, 2005, marking the 30th anniversary of the liberation of Phú Yên province, Phú Yên Newspaper carried out a major overhaul in both content and format, changing the paper size to 30x42 cm for all publications, with a scale of 12 pages. According to Master’s degree holder Phan Toàn Thắng, Chief of the Office of the Vietnam Journalists Association, this was a revolution in form and content, signaling a significant maturity of Phú Yên Newspaper in the new era. These changes were not merely technical printing matters but reflected the editorial team's innovative vision responding to the demands of the times.
In 2006, Phú Yên Newspaper launched its integrated electronic news portal (Phu Yen Online), bringing the voice of the Party Committee, government, and people of Phú Yên to readers across the country and the Vietnamese diaspora abroad.
After several rounds of modernization, on September 5, 2010, Phú Yên Newspaper launched its daily edition.
Many years later, when recalling this event, journalist Phạm Ngọc Phi still feels a special emotion. He shared: To publish a daily newspaper, you need the facilities, manpower, and other necessary conditions. At that time, Phú Yên Newspaper was short of staff; the budget was extremely limited, and the remuneration was very low. Publishing a daily edition was an effort of the entire newsroom - it was truly a sacrifice. Despite the low income, many colleagues put aside their family matters and devoted themselves wholeheartedly to the newspaper.
In 2021, PhuYen Online was upgraded to an electronic newspaper, marking a significant transformation into the digital era. During her tenure as Editor-in-Chief of Phú Yên Newspaper - following the retirement of journalist Phạm Thanh Phong - journalist Đào Phạm Hoàng Quyên actively promoted digital media and strengthened connections with central press agencies.
In recent years, the digital transformation efforts have continued to receive focused direction from journalist Nguyễn Khánh Minh, serving as Editor-in-Chief of Phú Yên Newspaper. The newspaper has implemented a converged newsroom system and redesigned the interface of PhuYen Online, earning high praise from readers. Under the Editorial Board’s guidance, specialized departments have invested in producing digital journalism products.
At the recent scientific seminar titled “Journalism Accompanying the Party Committee and People of Phú Yên Province in the Cause of Nation Building and Defense,” organized by the Phú Yên Newspaper Association, Master’s degree holder Phan Toàn Thắng emphasized that the journey from traditional print newspapers to multi-platform digital media is not only a technological “transformation” but also affirms the integration vision of journalists in the new era.
3. Within the warm and affectionate home called Phú Yên Newspaper, I, along with the young reporters who came to work here after me, gradually matured step by step. After leaving the Social Affairs Reporters’ Department, I spent over 10 years working in the Editorial Secretary Department (now known as the Editorial Office Secretary Department), gaining valuable experience from skilled journalists such as Mr. Huỳnh Hiếu - who later served as Head of the Representative Office of Tuổi Trẻ Newspaper in the South Central and Central Highlands regions; Mr. Tấn Lộc - currently Head of the Representative Office of Pháp Luật TP Hồ Chí Minh Newspaper in Khánh Hòa; and colleague Quốc Khương, also known as journalist Duy Thanh, who is now Head of the Representative Office of Tuổi Trẻ Newspaper in the South Central and Central Highlands regions...
I will never forget the times I trekked to remote villages to report, the toughest being the journey on foot through the forest for several hours and crossing a raging stream to reach the Núi Chúa – Mũi Thuyền area in Lạc Đạo village (Sơn Thành Tây commune, Tây Hòa district) after a devastating flash flood. I also can’t forget those late-night shifts when the power went out, and the agency’s generator couldn’t handle the load, forcing the entire team to wait until electricity was restored before continuing their work. Many nights, we left the office at 9 or 10 p.m., while the Editorial Secretary Quốc Khương often didn’t get home to Hòa Hiệp Trung (Đông Hòa) until nearly midnight. I won’t forget the “occupational hazards” experienced during my behind-the-scenes work in the newsroom. Nor can I forget the memories from working at the Phú Yên Online Department, back when journalist Đào Phạm Hoàng Quyên was the Head of Department - now the Editor-in-Chief of Phú Yên Newspaper after its merger with the Phú Yên Radio and Television Station.
And returning to the Reporters’ Department felt like coming back to my own little home. I cannot forget the times I went to lockdown zones, or entered medical quarantine areas to cover COVID-19 patients at the peak of the pandemic in 2021; nor can I forget the deeply emotional reporting trip to the southwestern islands of our country, as well as the moments shared with colleagues participating in cultural, artistic, and sports activities that strengthened our collegial bonds.
Reporters of Phú Yên Newspaper are always present on the front lines - from flood-affected and remote areas to major political events of the province. Each meticulously crafted and heartfelt journalistic work stands as a testament to their dedication and responsibility as writers, committed to the development of our beloved homeland. Following in the footsteps of previous generations, I, along with my colleagues at Phú Yên Newspaper, contribute our efforts to serve our homeland.
