Press photo titled Một Nỗi Đau Chung-Một Khát Vọng Chung (A Common Pain - A Common Desire) by journalist Văn Sơn won the Golden Moment press photo contest in 2009.

HÀ NỘI — A series of photography and art activities have been held in Hà Nội to celebrate the 98th anniversary of Vietnamese Revolutionary Press Day (June 21).

The 6th edition of the Khoảnh Khắc Vàng (Golden Moment) press photo contest has been officially launched in Hà Nội by the Vietnam News Agency, aiming to honour outstanding photojournalists for their work.

Eligible entries must capture unique and impactful scenes through the camera lens in various topics like politics, economics, culture, society, science, technology and sports.

The entry period begins on June 21 and lasts until August 15. The photo entries must have been taken between January 1, 2022, and August 15, 2023.

The winner will receive a special award of VNĐ30 million (US$1,300). In addition, two gold prizes, four silver prizes, six bronze prizes, and two encouragement prizes, evenly divided between the two categories of single photos and photo series, will also be awarded.

As part of this year’s contest, an exhibition displaying a series of outstanding press photos is being held at the headquarters of the Vietnam News Agency on No. 5 Lý Thường Kiệt Street. The series includes the works of seven veteran journalists who won the State Prize and Hồ Chí Minh Prize for Literature and Arts last year.

Some winning works from previous contests are currently exhibited at the headquarters of the Vietnam News Agency on No. 5 Lý Thường Kiệt Street. — VNA/VNS Photo Minh Anh

Journalist Vũ Việt Trang, general director of the Vietnam News Agency, emphasised the importance of the Golden Moment award, particularly when the agency has a rich tradition in photojournalism.

She added that the contest has received thousands of high-quality press photos over the course of five seasons, many of which have made a profound impact and resonated with viewers.

"This demonstrates the dynamic and ever-evolving nature of the press industry, which is keeping pace with the country's development and integration," she noted.

Initiated by the Vietnam News Agency in 2008, the photo contest aims to enhance the quality of press photos. After a few hiatuses, the sixth edition of the contest has returned to the photography community this year.

The organiser has stated its intention to hold the Golden Moment contest on an annual or at least a biennial basis in order to ensure the award's broad reach and impact.

Those who are interested in press photography can visit the official website of the contest khoanhkhacvang.vn. The organiser has posted a series of award-winning works from the first to the fifth editions, along with the story behind each photo and the rules for this year’s edition.

Journalism in Việt Nam before 1945

Also celebrating the 98th anniversary of the Vietnam Revolutionary Press Day, the National Archives Centre 1 under State Records and Archives Department has organised an online exhibition called ‘Journalism in Việt Nam before 1945’ complete with 3D animation.

The exhibition introduces roughly 100 newspapers, documents, and images regarding the policies of the government, press, and journalistic activities from the colonial period up to the Revolution in 1945. The exhibits are selected from the stacks of documents being preserved at the National Archives Centre I as well as collections from libraries and research institutions in Việt Nam and from abroad.

The event recognises the contributions made by the National Museum of History and newspaper collector Nguyễn Phi Dũng who provided papers published in Việt Nam during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

“I am honoured to have contributed a small part in the exhibition,” Dũng said.

Báo Cứu Quốc (National Salvation Newspaper) published a Special Issue for the New Year in January 1943. — Photo courtesy of collector Nguyễn Phi Dũng.

The exhibition includes two parts.

Part one's theme centres around Milestones of Việt Nam’s Newspapers and introduces a number of important tipping points in the history of Vietnamese journalism: from the French invasion of Cochinchina to before 1945. It displays the promulgation and implementation of typical legal documents as well as highlights key news articles of each period.

Part two, Publication and Circulation, displays documents and images related to printing newspapers, printing houses, depositories, sales, and advertising.

Nam Kỳ (Cochinchina) became the cradle of modern Vietnamese journalism, including papers published in Cochinchina in the 1860s. It was not until the 1880s that the first newspapers appeared in Bắc Kỳ (Tonkin). From then until 1945, hundreds of newspapers in French, Chinese, and Quốc Ngữ (the Vietnamese alphabet) were published in all three areas.

The introduction of newspapers into Việt Nam led to the development of many industries associated with this field such as paper production, printing, distribution, and advertising.

Indochine hebdomadaire illustré (Illustrated Indochina Weekly). — Photo courtersy of National Archives Centre 1

At first, the press mainly published legal documents of the colonial government. Over time, the content and genres of newspapers became more diverse. Besides the daily newspapers that provided the latest information on the ongoing situation at home and abroad, there also emerged weekly, semi-weekly, monthly, and semi-monthly newspapers. There were also research journals for scholars and specialised journals for children and women.

The ‘Journalism in Việt Nam before 1945’ exhibition opens today on the website and Facebook page of the NAC1, https://archives.org.vn/baochi.

Press illustration exhibition

More than a thousand excellent illustrations by 55 artists from the press and publishing sector across the country are also being showcased at an exhibition being held in the centre of Hà Nội.

The exhibition with the theme "Art of Illustration for Publishing Press in Việt Nam 2023" is being held by the Việt Nam Fine Arts Association to celebrate the 98th anniversary of Vietnamese Revolutionary Press Day.

It brings together artists from three regions of North, Centre and South of the country to connect and network with the editorial boards of newspapers, and publications with illustrations to exchange and share experiences in journalism, according to painter Lê Tiến Vượng, an organising board representative.

The event will gather outstanding authors, including professionals and amateurs, who love the art of journalism. Many attendees have their works appearing regularly in newspapers and books published nationwide.

Each of them brings a different style and expression of visual language.

The exhibition opens at Exhibition Hall 16 Ngô Quyền Street, Hà Nội and runs until June 25. — VNS