National External Information Service Awards dominated by COVID-19 works

Journalistic works and productions related to the COVID-19 pandemic dominated the list of winners at this year’s National External Information Awards, held late Tuesday in Hà Nội.

The National External Information Awards 2019 attracted nearly 1,300 entries in 17 languages in various categories including print news in Vietnamese, e-newspaper in Vietnamese, print newspapers in foreign languages, e-newspapers in foreign languages, radio, television, photos and books.

The fourth edition of the annual awards, organised by the Steering Committee on External Information, the Party Central Committee’s Commission for Publicity and Information and Vietnam Television (VTV), aims to recognise and honour outstanding authors, press works, and books in the external information sector.

National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyễn Thị Kim Ngân, on behalf of the Vietnamese Government, congratulated the winners and sent her regards to all those working in the external information sector, against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic severely affecting all aspects of socio-economic activities on a global scale.

Chairwoman Ngân said the press had successfully communicated to the world the efforts and the achievements Việt Nam had made in the fight against the pandemic.

“The entrants have been getting more diverse year after year, with this year seeing the highest number of works from foreigners,” the top legislator continued.

This year, the organisers awarded 18 first prizes, 33 second prizes, 44 third prizes, and 80 consolation prizes, coming to a total of 175 winning submissions.

Two new categories – short video clips and innovative initiatives that help bring the images of Việt Nam to the wider international community – were added this year in an attempt to catch up with the changing times and media landscape.

The handwashing dance video "Ghen Cô Vy" ("Jealous Coronavirus"), which became a worldwide sensation and inspired countless imitations in many countries and languages, nabbed the first prize in the video clip category.

Meanwhile, the social media campaign "Việt Nam We Thank You – Việt Nam cố lên!" by Wayne Worrell, an English teacher in Hà Nội, together with his friends living in Việt Nam, which comprised photos urging resilience and thanking frontline workers and doctors for their sacrifices for public safety during the pandemic, won the initiative award.

“I want to thank the Vietnamese Government for their approach to COVID-19,” Wayne Worrel said, pointing to the fact that Việt Nam had gone nearly 99 days without local transmission before Đà Nẵng’s outbreak but still conveyed his confidence in the response by the authorities and Vietnamese people.

He expressed admiration for the preparedness of Việt Nam in both facilities and operations throughout the country – “more so than any other country around the world” – in dealing with the pandemic.

“I am thankful to be in Việt Nam,” he said.

In 2019, Việt Nam has achieved many important and comprehensive achievements in socio-economic development, national defence and security, enhancing foreign relations and comprehensive cooperation with neighbouring countries.

Việt Nam has also made positive and internationally-recognised contributions in multilateral diplomatic mechanisms and activities such as participating in UN peacekeeping operations, sending its second field hospital to the UN peacekeeping mission in South Sudan, successfully hosting the second US-DPRK Summit and being elected a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for the 2020-21 term, as well as taking over ASEAN Chairmanship for 2020.

The winning entries reflected these achievements of Việt Nam in many languages and platforms, contributing to promoting the political, diplomatic, economic, cultural and social achievements of the country and promoting Việt Nam as a dynamic, proactive country actively integrating into the international community where it is a responsible member.

The Vietnam News Agency won 40 prizes, including seven first prizes, seven second prizes, seven third prizes and 22 consolation prizes.

The Việt Nam News newspaper won two first prizes for reports and articles covering the DPRK-Summit in Hà Nội and the COVID-19 pandemic in Việt Nam, one third prize for works on Việt Nam’s women and one consolation prize for its videos on the COVID-19 situation in Việt Nam./.