Comrade Lò Thị Minh Phượng, Member of the Standing Board and Head of the provincial Party Committee’s Commission for Information, Education and Mass Mobilization, emphasized: “Revolutionary journalism is not just a ‘bridge,’ but a ‘shield’ to protect the ideological foundation of the Party. Journalists must be those who maintain the ‘ideological front’ right at the grassroots level. The role of the press is paramount in orienting public opinion, refuting erroneous viewpoints, and strengthening public trust in the Party’s leadership. Therefore, journalism must be proactive, thorough, strategic, and highly organized.”

Journalism is not merely about providing information; it is a core force in protecting the ideological foundation and an essential part of the national defense and people’s security. Each well-written article that reflects the truth, conveys timely information, and leads public opinion positively, is like a “brick” contributing to the strong fortress protecting public trust. Revolutionary journalists must increase their vigilance, political awareness, and steadfastness, proactively identifying and swiftly countering the plots, distorting narratives, and sabotage attempts of hostile forces.

Today’s pen is still a weapon, but it’s not just about writing well; it must be persuasive, written with sincerity and vision. A timely, humane article is the most effective shield against harmful information.

In recent times, hostile forces have exploited issues related to human rights, religious freedom, ethnicities, and religion to distort the Party’s policies, incite division among the nation’s unity. In this context, journalists in Điện Biên have been steadfast in performing the "gatekeeping" role, proactively spreading official information, contributing to consolidating the people’s trust, and safeguarding the Party’s “ideological front” right from the grassroots.

These are the trips to the remote villages, reflecting the real life of the ethnic minorities, from the ongoing struggles to the daily transformations. These are the written pages that convey the Party and State’s policies that bring warmth and prosperity to the people’s lives. These are the nights full of concern, carrying the people’s aspirations to the local authorities. And these are the sharp, steadfast articles that fiercely counter the distorted views and hostile rhetoric pervading cyberspace and daily life.

Working as a journalist in the highland border region like Điện Biên is a challenging journey, but the journalists here always consider it not just a profession but a mission to truthfully convey the pulse of life, acting as a trusted bridge between the people and the Party. Journalists must be dedicated, close to the people, and understand them to write what is genuine, what the people are thinking and need. Every time they pick up the pen, they remind themselves to write with responsibility, integrity, and love for the profession and homeland.

For young, enthusiastic reporters eager to prove themselves, each article is a practice to hone their professional skills, ideological stance, and journalistic ethics. In the context of traditional journalism facing many challenges, with a flood of fake news and harmful information, especially in cyberspace, having a firm ideological stance and a spirit of innovation has become even more crucial for journalists.

The pressure on journalists today is how to ensure their writings are not only accurate but also impactful in a space flooded with information. Journalists must stay alert, speak out, and maintain their stance. There are times when they must choose between safety and truth, and many journalists are ready to choose truth-truth with responsibility.

Being a journalist today is not just about writing quickly or well; it’s about writing effectively, writing with impact. Reporters and editors must know how to navigate social media, use language that resonates with daily life while still presenting logical, persuasive arguments. Today’s journalists must be quick to sense social movements, agile in responding to policy shifts, and alert to deviations from the standard. But above all, they must maintain trust, integrity, and loyalty to the ideals of revolutionary journalism. This is the ideal of serving the country, serving the people, contributing to the development of the local area, and ensuring the peace of each family.

To maintain the role of journalism on the “ideological front,” journalists must not only have good expertise but also possess strong political will, innovative thinking, and passionate hearts. Write what is right, what is true, build but not avoid the truth, not take the easy route, not beautify or blacken things. Amidst the flood of information, amid the temptation for sensationalism, view-chasing, personal interests, and professional integrity, the pen must be sharpened by political will and revolutionary ethics. This is the “armor” that journalists use to guard the ideological front.