Shining a personality, a talent
As one of the pioneering revolutionary leaders of the Party, a staunch communist, comrade Nguyen Duc Canh (1908-1932) was also a great journalist of the Vietnamese Revolutionary Press.
Devoting youth to the independence and freedom of the nation
Born on February 2, 1908 in Diem Dien village, Ho Doi canton, Thai Thuy district, Thai Binh province, Nguyen Duc Canh was one of the first leaders of the Party, a bright example in the Vietnamese workers and laborers movement, a true communist who devoted his youth to fighting and sacrificing for the independence and freedom of the nation.
After finishing elementary school in Thai Binh town, Nguyen Duc Canh went to Thanh Chung school, Nam Dinh. Here, he had the opportunity to understand more about the current social situation and had sympathy and closeness to those who were unjustly oppressed. Nguyen Duc Canh befriended patriotic youths such as Nguyen Danh Doi, Dang Xuan Khu (Truong Chinh), Nguyen Van Nang, Dang Xuan Thieu.
In 1925, due to participating in the movement demanding the release of Phan Boi Chau, he was expelled from school while studying for a common citadel degree. During this time, Nguyen Duc Canh had 2 years before entering the arduous revolutionary path and that was also the time he experienced tasks such as working as a photo secretary at Hung Ky photo studio, teacher at Cong Ich Private School on Bach Mai street, and typist at Mac Dinh Tu printing house.
In 1927, when he was still a calligrapher at Le Van Tan printing house, Nguyen Duc Canh came and joined the "Nam Dong Thu Xa" group, an organization that later developed into the Vietnam Nationalist Party organization. In September 1927, he and Ly Hong Nhat went to Guangzhou (China), met the General Department of "Youth" to perform the tasks assigned by the Nationalist Party. Arriving in Guangzhou, Nguyen Duc Canh and Ly Hong Nhat did not meet comrade Nguyen Ai Quoc but still managed to attend the political class of the General Department of the Vietnamese Revolutionary Youth League trained by Ho Tung Mau.
Through studying, both resolutely separated from the Kuomintang organization, voluntarily joined the Vietnam Revolutionary Youth Association, and switched from the Kuomintang stance to the Communist stance. This was a decisive turning point in Nguyen Duc Canh's revolutionary life.
On July 28, 1929, implementing the Resolution of the Provisional Central Executive Committee on mass mobilization work, Nguyen Duc Canh convened the Congress of workers of Bac Ky provinces at 15 Hang Non (Hanoi). The Congress set out new tasks for the workers' movement and established the Red General Confederation of Bac Ky, appointing comrade Nguyen Duc Canh as the Provisional Chairman.
An excellent revolutionary leader, a great journalist
Clearly recognizing the importance of journalism in revolutionary mobilization, Nguyen Duc Canh soon used journalism as a sharp fighting weapon, actively directing the promotion of propaganda and mobilization of workers to unite in the class struggle. He actively contributed to the establishment of the Communist Party of Vietnam; and was also the founder and first Editor-in-Chief of Lao Dong Newspaper.
In difficult and deprived circumstances, having to cope with the lurking of secret agents, Lao Dong Newspaper - the mouthpiece of the Red General Confederation of Labor of Tonkin - was urgently prepared and promptly released its first issue. With the help of a Party base, Lao Dong's first issue was launched on August 14, 1929, printed in clay, on Dap Cau paper, one side was rough, one side was smooth.
In this issue, Lao Dong newspaper published an appeal to workers and laborers of factories, enterprises, mines, and plantations to participate in organizing Trade Unions, unite to fight against capitalists - imperialists. The banner of the newspaper under the bold words Lao Dong is the line: "Proletarian class and oppressed nations around the world unite". On the front page, there is also an article about the First Congress of the Red General Confederation of Labor of Tonkin. The article is rudimentary but the enthusiastic narration clearly shows the image of "Brother B" - that is, comrade Nguyen Duc Canh chairing the congress.
Not only was he the founder, when in charge of Lao Dong Newspaper, Nguyen Duc Canh also directly wrote many articles denouncing the crimes of imperialism, calling on the masses to rise up and fight. Lao Dong Newspaper No. 4 (dated November 1, 1929), he had an article deeply analyzing the current situation: "Currently, imperialism is trying to exploit class proletarians, tormenting poor farmers, they are repairing guns, increasing the army, about to take thousands and tens of thousands of brothers to die for them in the battlefield to enrich a capitalist group...".
Through this article, he also clearly pointed out to the masses that only the "Communist Party is extremely sacrificial to lead the proletarian class and poor farmers and everyone to struggle to make revolutions to overthrow imperialism in Indochina". It is the voices of the press, the propaganda and mobilization of the "proletarianization" soldiers that contribute to igniting the fighting fire of the working people of the provinces of Hanoi, Hung Yen, Hai Duong, Hai Phong, Quang Yen, Hon Gai, Cam Pha, Thai Binh, Nam Dinh.
Standing Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Journalists Association Nguyen Duc Loi said that Nguyen Duc Canh soon came to journalism and used journalism as an effective revolutionary tool. Journalism helped him participate in mobilizing the masses, propagating revolutionary guidelines... Practical activities have created his name, an outstanding revolutionary leader, a great journalist of the Vietnamese Revolutionary Journalism.
With the contributions of journalist Nguyen Duc Canh to the Revolutionary Vietnamese Press, to revolutionary propaganda and mobilization work among all classes of people, the struggle against colonialism and counter-revolutionary forces as well as the great values of the journalistic heritage he left behind, Vice President of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor Ngo Duy Hieu pointed out 5 lessons from revolutionary, great journalist Nguyen Duc Canh for today's generation.
The first is the lesson on innovating thinking and broadening vision, valuing journalism in the revolutionary cause.
The second is the spirit of dedication to a great career.
Third, constantly innovate, especially in the context of digital transformation and green transformation.
Fourth, attach importance to communication work, especially press work for workers.
Fifth, continue to pay attention to building a team, leaders, especially leaders in press work.
Mr. Ngo Duy Hieu acknowledged that in difficult circumstances, the revolution was submerged in a sea of blood, comrade Nguyen Duc Canh's ideology was to make the press an important channel to bring information to the people, especially workers and laborers. Looking back to now, although the time working in journalism was short, he left behind a massive legacy, worthy of being a role model for journalists today.
According to Journalist Tran Thi Kim Hoa (Vietnam Press Museum), in the history spaces of journalism in the period 1925-1945 displayed at the museum, there is a highlight of journalistic weapons, especially in the class struggle of revolutionary leaders - journalists of our country. One of them is journalist Nguyen Duc Canh - leader of the Northern Red Trade Union, the first Secretary of the Hai Phong City Party Committee, who directly wrote articles, was in charge of newspapers and magazines of the Trade Union and was the first Editor-in-Chief of Lao Dong Newspaper and Red Trade Union Magazine when he was only 21 years old.
His presence in the exhibition area of Vietnamese Journalism 1925-1945 continues to shine a personality, a talent - a example of righteousness that has lived, fought and sacrificed for the people, for the country, including the cause of Vietnamese Revolutionary Journalism" - journalist Tran Thi Kim Hoa said.
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