SGGP Newspaper wins two top prizes at 2025 HCMC Press Awards

Sai Gon Giai Phong (SGGP) Newspaper proudly took home seven awards, including two First Prizes in the categories of Party-Building for the series “Waste – The Internal Enemy” and Political Commentary for “50 Years of National Reunification.”

This year’s competition received 285 entries from 18 media organizations across HCMC, spanning six major categories: Party-Building; Collective Works; Reportage – Investigative – Journalistic Features – Documentaries; Political Commentary (including editorials, analysis, and opinion pieces); Interviews – Live Reports – On-the-Spot Coverage; and News & Photojournalism.

A notable innovation in this year’s awards was the separate Party-Building category, which drew enthusiastic participation and yielded high-quality, diverse, and in-depth entries. Many journalists also turned the lens inward, highlighting the contributions of their peers and media institutions in building and advancing Vietnam’s revolutionary press.

From the initial pool, the preliminary jury selected 181 standout entries for the final round. The final jury then carefully reviewed and evaluated the submissions, ultimately awarding 72 prizes: six First Prizes, 16 Second Prizes, 23 Third Prizes, and 27 Consolation Prizes.

According to the HCMC Journalists Association, the submitted works broadly captured key issues facing the city—mobilizing creativity, responsibility, intellectual and emotional investment from the Party, government, and citizens. The winning works addressed urgent urban development challenges, proposed solutions to bottlenecks, and highlighted positive contributions toward building and defending HCMC. Increasingly, entries have demonstrated higher journalistic standards and greater social impact, with professional formats aligned with the digital age and a vision toward a “professional, humanistic, and modern” media landscape.

In terms of quality, entries were relatively well-balanced. Many stood out for their originality, engaging formats, and rapid public resonance. They closely followed the competition’s themes, offering realistic portrayals of the city's political, economic, cultural, and social dynamics. A number of works effectively conveyed the implementation of Party Congress resolutions, promoting solidarity and social consensus while championing HCMC as a smart, dynamic, compassionate city. Many pieces also featured inspiring stories of exemplary citizens, model families, and cultural achievements. Notably, several entries delved into the communication of key Party resolutions such as Resolution No.35-NQ/TW and Resolution No.31-NQ/TW.

This year’s edition carried particular weight as it marked the lead-up to the centennial of Vietnam’s Revolutionary Press. Media outlets prepared meticulously, adhering strictly to competition guidelines to deliver numerous high-quality, innovative submissions. These entries reflected clarity in writing and firm editorial perspectives. Many made a strong impression with their guiding narratives and persuasive public influence, aligning with the award’s theme: “Resolution No.98 – Driving Force for HCMC’s Innovation and Creativity.”