A big New Year thanks from Thanh Nien

On the occasion of New Year, Thanh Nien would like to express heartfelt gratitude to its readers for contributing to its programs to help the poor and talented for the last 21 years.
Thanks to them Thanh Nien raised over VND17 billion (US$1.07 million) last year to help thousands of victims of destructive typhoons which devastated the country’s central and southern areas.

Part of the amount was also used effectively for the newspaper’s Nguyen Thai Binh Scholarship for poor students as well as the Thanh Nien-sponsored Funds for Vietnamese Talents.

Since the newspaper was founded 21 years ago, its readers have contributed over VND50 billion ($3.1 million) to help the needy.

Recently, thousands of people disregarded heavy rains to attend Thanh Nien’s Duyen Dang Viet Nam (Charming Vietnam) music show, which is held every year to raise money for the Nguyen Thai Binh scholarship.

Earlier, thousands others in Da Nang flocked soon after a typhoon devastated the city to see Thanh Nien’s under-21 football championship, a national event that has helped boost many talented footballers.

Thanh Nien pledges never to betray its readers’ trust.

We hope all Vietnamese, no matter where or who they are or what ideology they adopt, give utmost priority to national interest and join hands to help develop our country.

We would also like the government to have a transparent mechanism in exchanging information with the media and a balanced view on the role of the media in society.

In the past, the media has raised questions about many controversial issues like major construction projects and corruption scandals. And in many cases, there have been no answers from the authorities.

There were even instances in which media reports blowing the lid on corruption were condemned as attempting to “befoul” society.

Only the government’s balanced attitude and frank exchange of information with the media can ensure a strong media that can play an effective role in building and protecting our country.

Written by Editor-in-Chief Nguyen Cong Khe