Female journalist nearly two decades to get to the bottom of the truth

In April 2020, footage "exposing" the current state of large-scale deforestation in Kon Tum province was broadcast on the News (Vietnam Television). Images of a group of illegal loggers using iron vehicles and tractors to follow trails deep into the forest at night; the loud sound of saws as a series of large trees collapsed, then were "cut into pieces" leaving only stumps with a diameter of nearly 2m... strongly affected viewers.

Few people expected that the person who "slept on thorns and tasted bile" investigating for nearly 3 months in the Kon Tum jungle, along with the crew that recorded these shocking footage, was female journalist Lien Lien.

Footage "exposing" the current situation of large-scale deforestation in Kon Tum province was broadcast on the News bulletin (Vietnam Television).

It is not difficult to imagine the difficulties that beset journalists in their journey to follow the footsteps of illegal loggers. Journalist Lien Lien tells a seemingly romantic story about her and her colleagues’ “Moon-watching Diary”: “The period of making the report was the dry season, which was also the deforestation season. The full moon helped us move more easily, but the risk of being discovered was also greater.

We had to wear dark clothes to avoid being detected. Wandering in the jungle, we could look up to see the moon, but we also had to go through moments of deadlock, losing contact with the people, the identities of the people who supported us were revealed..., and there were even moments of discouragement. Thinking back, I love my job even more, I love the career I chose, so sometimes I was a bit reckless." Perhaps it was fate that brought Lien Lien to the career of investigative reporter because from the beginning she did not think that she would pursue such a specific field.

Journalist Lien Lien talks with reporters from Tin Tuc and Dan Toc newspaper.

Starting in 2006, Lien Lien started working at Vietnam Television, participating in the program “ Economic Policy and Life”, a program that reflects the current situation and shortcomings from a policy perspective. “With my curious nature, I delved into the causes of these social phenomena, answering more complex questions such as ‘What is inappropriate about this policy? Is there any way to fix it?’. From there, I gradually pursued the investigative field,” the female journalist shared.

After nearly 20 years of working in investigative reporting, the “steel rose” of Vietnamese journalism still admits to being “young” compared to many “old trees” in the journalism world. However, with the thorny topics she has done, every hidden corner of the illegal gas filling situation in Binh Duong , infiltrating the black spot of illegal gasoline mixing, the fake university degree trading ring, the price difference of insurance drugs, a series of reports on administrative procedure harassment... are proof of the investigative ability and the relentless passion of the female journalist.

In September 2018, Vietnam Television's News bulletin aired a series of reports on the "protection" situation at Long Bien market after 100 days of reporters covering the area. Immediately after that, reporter Lien Lien and her colleagues received life-threatening messages.

After brave reporters brought the case to light, the police prosecuted five suspects, including the ringleader. Hundreds of traders at Long Bien wholesale market and residents enthusiastically received articles and television reports about protection rackets at a wholesale market in the capital.

Some images in a series of reports on the "protection" situation at Long Bien market.

Regarding the above series of reports, many people wondered why even male reporters often hide their identities while investigating, but Lien Lien was willing to reveal herself.

Sharing this, reporter Lien Lien said: “Each reporter has his own choice. When choosing a specialized field, we know that people's trust is extremely important. The advantage of being an investigative reporter on television is that people know more about me, know that I work in that field, and from there I have an endless source of information and topics. After nearly 20 years of successfully "solving questions", I think I have enough time to prove that being willing to show up is also the right choice."

When she comes out, the reporter has to face threats to her family. Lien Lien confided that in real life, she is a very principled person. Perhaps she "infects" her personality, so her family and relatives hardly participate or interfere in her work. Also in a very natural way, all of Lien Lien's personal information is protected by her family, relatives, and even neighbors in their own way.

Reporter Lien Lien working at Long Bien market.

“There are cases that after being brought to light, people all over the country are concerned, friends text to ask, but my family does not ask a word. Maybe people know that asking will not get an answer. That is probably also a way to keep my work from affecting my family. Almost no information about my relatives is released to the public. The work pressure, the messages, the threats that I encounter, if put on my relatives, it would be a burden that is difficult to accept,” Lien Lien shared.

Unlike Lien Lien, who had lost sleep for many days due to the pressure in her early days as an investigative reporter, now, faced with the threatening "storms", the female reporter calmly accepts the situation, returning to the joys of everyday life such as cooking and flower arranging to maintain balance in life. Her courage and confidence are further cultivated from the joy of her family, relatives and neighbors.

Revealing herself was also the time when journalist Lien Lien and her colleagues had to face complaints and explanations. Lien Lien said that when she first started her career, although she was very meticulous in finding topics, careful in implementing and searching for reference information, her poor ability to withstand pressure often made her and her colleagues "scared" when having to explain to businesses and units.

For reporters, each time they explain is like a time to verify themselves. “Before the report was broadcast, we had verified the information and evidence many times, but when explaining, we once again affirmed what we had done. The confrontations gradually built our confidence and honed our mettle to overcome pressure,” said journalist Lien Lien.

Clip of journalist Lien Lien sharing about the profession of exploiting topics and protecting sources:

“After I was able to confirm that I was right once, twice, and three times, the public’s trust in me grew more and more. Reading and responding to petitions gradually became one of the necessary work processes on the journey to affirm the truth,” the female reporter shared.

Over time, personal concerns are no longer an obstacle. The challenge for reporters is thorny topics with great influence. These are topics that require investigative reporters to be extremely careful, to prepare thoroughly and not to allow mistakes to happen. Because each mistake can affect the honor and career of both individuals and groups.

Reporter Lien Lien (middle) deservedly received the Gold Award at the 38th National Television Festival for her work "Complicated protection racket activities at Long Bien market".

“Every sentence expressed in the report, every frame broadcast is carefully considered for its legality. What my colleagues and I do is built on a foundation of complete and objective evidence, ensuring information security. That is the ethics that every journalist always keeps in mind,” the female journalist shared.

Nearly 2 decades with many valuable films, reports that have a great impact on society, the female journalist continues to be busy with filtering 10-15 new topics every day to carry out. The female journalist's contributions in the specialized topic area will continue with the support of the public.