Winners of 2021 National Press Awards honored

Attending the ceremony, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh highlighted the development of Vietnam's revolutionary press over the past 97 years, stressing that it has contributed greatly to the struggle for national liberation and the national construction and defense cause.

The PM congratulated 115 authors and groups of authors who have won prizes in the 16th National Press Awards, stressing that the awards honored and expressed thanks to journalists who had made important contribution to the country's success in 2021, a year with unprecedented difficulties and challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

"The press has built trust and helped consolidate the great solidarity, consensus and support  of the people and businesses for the Party's and State's sound policies on a vaccine strategy and COVID-19 prevention and control program, enabling Vietnam to become one of the few countries leading the world in the vaccination rate," he said.

The Governmental leader also applauded the press for spreading kindness and joint efforts of organizations, individuals and enterprises to ensure social welfare during the time of the pandemic, and encouraging and honoring the work and sacrifice of front-line forces in the fight against the pandemic.

The PM said the tasks of national development put many requirements for the press. First of all, the press should be a sharp weapon to protect the ideological foundation of the Party, and the interests of the country and the nation. Additionally, the press should continue to provide the public with accurate, timely, truthful and transparent information, reflect and seek solutions to current issues, and detect and honor good examples to strengthen the public's trust in the Party's and State's guidelines and policies, he added.

The PM asked the press to focus on covering policies on economic recovery, the three strategic breakthroughs in economic development, digital transformation, environmental protection and social security in the time to come. He called on the press to play a more active role in the fight against corruption, wastefulness and negative phenomena, and at the same time, promote the people's mastery role.

He required agencies, organizations and individuals to proactively provide information to facilitate the work of journalists, and relevant agencies must protect journalists when they work.

Addressing the ceremony, Editor-in-Chief of Nhan Dan (People) Newspaper, Deputy Head of the Party Central Committee's Commission for Information and Education, and Chairman of the Vietnam Journalists' Association Le Quoc Minh highlighted the contribution of reporters, editors and press agencies nationwide in 2021. He also pointed out several shortcomings that negatively affected the public's trust in the press and proposed to accelerate the movement "Building cultural environment in press agencies" which was launched earlier the same day.

This year awards drew the participation of 1,911 entries from 63 journalists associations nationwide. 1,761 works were selected for the qualifying round while 152 ones were selected for the final round. The organizers chose the best works to honor with 10 A, 22 B, 48 C, and 35 consolation prizes.

The People's Army Newspaper won a C prize with the articles by journalists Tran Hoang Hoang, Le Thi Thuy Ha, Le Thi Minh Nha, and Dang Thu Ha.

(Source: VNA)