From urgent practical requirements...
Graduated from Hanoi University of Culture (1992), in 1993, I was asked by Vietnam Health Insurance to help organize communication work when the Industry was just established by the Government. My first work, my probationary period, was to organize the publication of the Health Insurance Activity Newsletter, on the occasion of Vietnam Doctors' Day, February 27, 1993.
Right after the field trip to 4 northern mountainous provinces (Bac Kan, Cao Bang, Lang Son, Ha Bac - now Bac Ninh, Bac Giang), I wrote news, articles, edited, designed layouts, then signed a contract with Nhan Dan Printing House, printed 400 copies, and distributed within the Industry. With the initial success of the pilot Newsletter, I was trusted by the Industry leaders, assigned the task of preparing documents and procedures to request permission from the Ministry of Culture and Information (now the Ministry of Information and Communications) to publish the Vietnam Health Insurance Information Sheet, widely distributed to the whole society.
After a period of actively preparing the necessary work, in October 1993, the Vietnam Health Insurance Information Sheet was published and the reward for me was the Decision to assign the task of Editorial Secretary. Later, the Information Sheet was upgraded to a Magazine, I continued to be assigned the task of Editorial Secretary; at the same time, I held the position of Head of the Information and Communication Department of Vietnam Health Insurance. In 2003, implementing the Decision of the Prime Minister, Vietnam Health Insurance was transferred to Vietnam Social Insurance. Accordingly, the Health Insurance Magazine merged into the Social Insurance Magazine. After 06 months holding the position of Deputy Head of the Propaganda Department of Vietnam Social Insurance, I was appointed Deputy Editor-in-Chief in charge, then Acting Editor-in-Chief, to Editor-in-Chief of Social Insurance Magazine.
When I was studying at the Hanoi University of Culture, I mainly wrote scripts for dramatization programs, competitions, cultural and artistic performances, and occasionally wrote news and articles for newspapers. But entering professional journalism, especially in the field of specialized magazines, also encountered many difficulties. At that time, professional books and documents on journalism were very rare. I took a risk and went to the Office of the Vietnam Journalists Association to buy documents for my own research. Fortunately for me, in 1992, the Professional Department of the Vietnam Journalists Association had just published the book“The Profession and Work of a Journalist”, I bought 01 copy. And this book has become an essential handbook, showing me the way, helping me "break out" a lot in the early days of my career. The basic theoretical issues, along with elementary knowledge about reporters, editors, positions, roles, responsibilities of Editor-in-Chief, Editorial Secretary and professional journalism issues in the book have given me more understanding and confidence in carrying out assigned tasks.
The work was getting more and more, both organizing information and propaganda work and directly organizing the publication of the Health Insurance Magazine. At that time, the agency had to recruit a number of new staff to meet the task. Among the recruited staff, there were a number of university graduates majoring in journalism. As a pioneer, a pioneer and having the ability to manage and operate, I was assigned to be in charge of all information and propaganda work and directly took on the role of Editorial Secretary. The work was always completed well, I was always trusted by my superiors, however, capacity, experience, dedication, enthusiasm and responsibility were not enough. The important thing was professionalism in the profession, which was an important affirmation. In the highest position of an editorial office without proper training, it is difficult to lead and direct subordinates to carry out work, especially in the current period, working is not only based on habit or subjective experience, but professionalism must be demonstrated in each job position and is considered the most important factor for assignment, task assignment and evaluation. That reality has urged me to study journalism early, improve my qualifications, and meet the requirements of the job.
Journalist Duong Van Thang
…To unexpected changes and results
At first, the Faculty of Journalism (the name of the Faculty at that time) only had two systems: regular and part-time (also known as part-time study), there was no regular second degree and no training code for Masters and PhD. I really wanted to study systematically, but regular study meant studying with students during office hours, which was impossible for working staff. After consideration, in 1999, I decided to take a short-term part-time Journalism course of 03 years.
I studied the short-term part-time class for more than 01 year, then the school enrolled students for the regular second degree class. I and more than a dozen other students who met the requirements were transferred to study. We had exam scores for more than a dozen basic knowledge subjects, so we were exempted from studying. Because we already had a regular bachelor's degree, the basic subjects we had studied in the first degree were exempted from studying and had their scores transferred. However, I did not skip any subjects, I still attended all of them. Many classmates and even some lecturers thought that because I was the class monitor, very responsible, exemplary, I attended all of them to monitor and manage the class. But in fact, that was just one reason. More importantly, I really wanted to listen to lectures to seek, supplement knowledge, and improve my professional and technical qualifications. Lectures on literature, language, especially the theoretical basis of journalism and communication were really useful for my daily work. The extremely useful knowledge about literature taught by famous lecturers has expanded and improved me, helping me to grow and progress rapidly in my journalism and writing career.
I still remember, that day, Professor of Language Nguyen Thien Giap saw me listening to his lectures several times, he was surprised, he said: "You have studied, why bother going to class?" I told him: "I still want to listen to supplement my knowledge, Teacher!". Teachers: Dinh Huong, Duong Xuan Son... were probably also very impressed with this especially serious student, always sitting at the front desk and almost never missing a class. Courses"Theoretical basis of journalism and media"is the subject that I am most interested in. I study, research and apply this subject very effectively in all jobs, conditions and circumstances. As a person with practical experience, lacking basic theoretical knowledge, now being able to access it, like "drought meets rain", has helped me broaden my understanding and vision, quickly meeting the requirements of assigned tasks.
The 2000-2003 course ended, and I received a Bachelor of Journalism with a second-class honors degree. When I brought the red diploma back to report to my agency, I received words of encouragement, congratulations, and shared joy, and my "admiration and respect" were further confirmed. The Bachelor of Journalism degree is a necessary condition to help me meet the qualifications and conditions to be appointed as Editor-in-Chief of the Social Insurance Magazine from July 2003 to present.
Faced with increasingly high task requirements, not stopping at two bachelor's degrees, I continued to study for a master's degree in journalism at the school in 2007-2009. Graduating with a Master's degree in Journalism with excellent results, I was transferred to a doctoral program. Actively completing graduate topics, defending my thesis at the basic level, in May 2013 I successfully defended my PhD thesis in Journalism, topic "Research on the effectiveness of journalism in communication activities on social security in Vietnam during the period of international integration", receiving a PhD degree in Journalism in November 2013, ahead of schedule.
Over 16 years of continuous study and training, through all levels of training from Bachelor, Master to Doctorate, I was also awarded a Certificate of Merit by the University for my achievements in studying the regular Bachelor of Journalism (2003), a Certificate of Merit for high achievements in graduate studies and the title of Outstanding Young Face (2009). During my time as a graduate student, due to my excellent completion of the topics and many scientific articles published in specialized journals, I was awarded the Pony Chung Scholarship, Korea (2011) by Hanoi National University.
Practical application success and some confidences
I was appointed as Editor-in-Chief of Social Insurance Magazine at the age of 38, which is not too young but also not too old for the position of Editor-in-Chief of a magazine of a large industry. In the editorial office at that time, the key staff were all 10 to 20 years older than me, this was a difficulty, a challenge, a huge barrier, but thanks to the systematic professional training and solid expertise, it helped me overcome and achieve significant successes.
From a reorganized Magazine, after more than 10 years, while working, constantly studying, cultivating and improving my expertise and skills, I have built and perfected the editorial apparatus; flexibly and creatively applied the journalism knowledge acquired from the learning process at the School, strongly innovated the content of reflection and the form of expression; consolidated and developed the team of collaborators; increased the publication period from 01 issue/month to 02 issues/month, increasing the average number of publications from 10,000 copies/issue to 25,000 copies/issue, especially some issues increased to over 55,000 copies, such as issue 01, August 2015. At the same time, the Social Insurance Magazine was organized electronically on the internet since 2009. The Magazine was granted an international standard code ISSN for both the printed and electronic Magazines; was selected by the State Council of Professors to be included in the list of journals that are considered for scientific work when considering recognition of standards for the title of professor and associate professor. The unit is annually awarded a Certificate of Merit and the title of Excellent Labor Collective by the Vietnam Social Security, and was awarded the Industry Emulation Flag in 2013; the Prime Minister awarded a Certificate of Merit in 2008; the Government awarded the Flag for leading the emulation movement in 2011; the President awarded the Third Class Labor Medal in 2012...
Personally, from the knowledge acquired through journalism courses, I have practiced writing and published hundreds of articles in different genres on national media, which have been recognized by readers; including many theoretical research articles, over 20 editorials, dozens of treatises, investigative reports, commentaries, journalistic reports, etc.
Also from the knowledge of literature and language supplemented and improved during the time studying the regular Diploma 2 class and receiving extremely useful lectures from Professor Ha Minh Duc, I have effectively practiced in literary composition. In just 05 years, from 2010 to now, I have edited and published 06 books, 03 poetry collections, over 50 couplets, 01 play, wrote song lyrics about the Industry that are widely used in society...
16 years of accompanying the Faculty's continuous development and growth is also the time when I have the most practical experience. The unit's achievements have the decisive role of the leader and cannot be ignored without the contribution of the editorial board. Contributing to that great success is the quality of the staff, over 50% of the team of leaders, key staff, reporters and editors of our editorial board are trained from the Faculty of Journalism & Communication of the School.
As a former student of the Faculty of Journalism and Communication, with a process of continuous and systematic training and learning from bachelor to doctorate level, experiencing over 20 years of practical activities, understanding the thoughts and aspirations of learners and professionals; although my current job is quite busy, with the trust and confidence of the Faculty's leaders, I accepted the invitation to become a part-time lecturer of the faculty. As a person in the profession, and the one who directly uses human resources in the field of journalism and communication, with a desire to impart accumulated knowledge, to share the experiences and working skills drawn from practical activities to generations of students and postgraduates studying at the Faculty of Journalism and Communication of the School; help future generations of journalists acquire knowledge and apply it to practice quickly, conveniently and effectively, worthy of being soldiers on the ideological and cultural front, using pen and paper as sharp weapons, contributing to the cause of building and defending the Fatherland.
From the acquired knowledge, with the initial results of work and lessons learned through practical experience; whether standing in the position of a Teacher, or performing the duties of Editor-in-Chief of a press agency, I am more deeply imbued with the teachings of the ancients about the boundless ocean of learning and the morality of drinking water, remembering its source; always remembering the merits of those who have worked day and night to cultivate and sow the fruit.../.
Dr. Duong Van Thang
Former Graduate Student of Course 9
Former PhD student, course 4 (2009-2013)
Editor-in-Chief of Social Insurance Magazine
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