VietNamNet presents the article "Journalist Nguyen Phu Trong’s ethical journalism practices," written by Mr. Quoc Phong, former Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Thanh Nien newspaper. The article was published in VietNamNet on February 10, 2024.

I have a classmate named Vu Lan, who studied Literature, Class 18, at the Faculty of Literature, Hanoi University (now the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi) with me and teacher Nguyen Hung Vi.

When we graduated, the editorial board of the Communist Review specifically requested Vu Lan to work in the Literature and Society section. From then on, journalist Vu Lan worked at the Communist Review alongside journalist Nguyen Phu Trong for about 20 years, until Mr. Trong was transferred to the position of Deputy Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee.

Journalist Vu Lan has many memories with his senior colleague, Nguyen Phu Trong, from the time Mr. Trong was a Level 5 Specialist (earning 86 VND per month) until he became Deputy Head and then Head of the Party Building Committee at the Communist Review.

The two shared a period living in the collective housing of the Communist Review on Nguyen Thuong Hien Street, Hai Ba Trung District, Hanoi. Mr. Trong's family lived in a room on the third floor, while Mr. Vu Lan's family lived on the second floor. Every morning, on the way to work, Mr. Trong would never forget to stop by the hot water seller at the end of the street to buy a thermos of hot water to the office for making tea.

The Party Building Committee and the Literature and Society section were on the same floor. Knowing that Vu Lan was skillful, Nguyen Phu Trong would often close his office door after lunch and ask Vu Lan to cut his hair. This practice saved monthly haircut costs and was convenient because cutting hair shirtless avoided any mess, and after a quick dusting off, Mr. Trong could immediately get back to work in the afternoon. This haircut routine continued regularly until Vu Lan was sent to study in Moscow at the end of 1989.

Discussing journalist Nguyen Phu Trong, one must mention his approach to royalty distribution, which is relevant to everyone in the journalism field.

Mr. Trong was very meticulous and fair. His thoroughness was evident from his time as Editor-in-Chief of the Communist Review to when he became the top leader of the Party and the State.

All articles bearing his name were personally written, carefully proofread, and edited by him. Upon receiving royalties, he would often treat the sub-editors in the Party Building Committee and some close colleagues from the Communist Review to a meal.

Since being assigned to the Hanoi Party Committee as the Standing Deputy Secretary and later the Secretary, and eventually becoming a member of the Party Central Secretariat, Mr. Trong always gave suggestions, provided writing directions to his assistants, and meticulously reviewed and approved the content before publication.

Journalist Vu Lan, being a close associate of Nguyen Phu Trong, provided insights into his royalty distribution practices.

According to this practice, for articles commissioned by newspapers or journals bearing Mr. Trong's name, if the ideas, titles, and materials were provided by newspapers or journals, and Mr. Trong only reviewed and approved the content, the drafting team would receive the entire royalty. If Mr. Trong proposed the ideas and titles, and the secretariat provided materials for journalists and editors to draft, he would review, edit, and approve the content, and the royalty would be split in half. The named author received half, and the drafting team received the other half. For articles or research works written and reviewed entirely by Mr. Trong, the royalties were fully his.

Since moving to the Hanoi Party Committee, Mr. Trong requested that his assistants pool the royalties into a fund to cover condolences, celebrations, and lunch expenses at the committee’s kitchen.

Quang Phong