Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism: "Do not let private individuals take advantage of press products for personal gain"

Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyen Van Hung said that in the near future, there will be a Decree guiding regulations to clarify the responsibilities of leaders and agencies... so that "private individuals are not allowed to take advantage of press products to enrich themselves and make profits, while press agencies, which are the content producers, are not allowed to benefit."

Proposal to retain and maintain reputable press agencies

On the afternoon of November 24, the National Assembly discussed the draft Law on Press (amended) in the hall. Delegate Pham Van Hoa ( Dong Thap delegation) said that with the provisions in the draft, many large press agencies, although completely autonomous, will likely have to merge with each other.

"Newspapers such as Lao Dong Newspaper, Tuoi Tre Newspaper, Thanh Nien Newspaper, Phu Nu Newspaper... are very prestigious and well-known newspapers in the country, even in the world . These newspapers are completely financially autonomous, even paying the state budget, but will have to merge, while newspapers that receive state budget funding will not merge," the delegate raised the issue, and at the same time suggested research and attention so that large, prestigious newspapers, trusted by millions of readers, will be maintained and retained.

Delegate Pham Van Hoa (Dong Thap delegation) spoke

Regarding the types of press, Mr. Pham Van Hoa said that, along with the types of print, radio, television, and electronic newspapers, the rapid development of information and communication technology is posing challenges in the operations of press agencies. Therefore, there needs to be more open regulations to be more suitable and flexible, in line with the new development trend of technology.

At the end of the discussion, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyen Van Hung stated that one of the issues that many National Assembly delegates mentioned was the main multimedia media agency. Minister Nguyen Van Hung said that according to regulations, Vietnam currently has 6 main press agencies.

"As delegates raised the issue of how to continue developing local press agencies, the drafting agency will discuss further with relevant agencies and develop a strategy for press development, then report to competent authorities and include it in the Government's decree to solve this fundamental problem," said Minister Nguyen Van Hung.

Regarding the issue of artificial intelligence, Mr. Nguyen Van Hung said that artificial intelligence is a tool to support the journalism process. Therefore, Article 39 of the draft law specifically states that press agencies and authors of press works using artificial intelligence to support journalism activities must comply with regulations on intellectual property and professional ethics. Press agencies are responsible for regulating the use of artificial intelligence in their agencies.

People who are granted a press card for the first time must take a professional course.

Regarding the rights and obligations of reporters, those who are directly working in the field of journalism, the Head of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism said that according to current statistics, there are 21,000 journalists currently being granted cards, of which 6,562 journalists graduated from university majoring in journalism (accounting for 31.25%), the remaining 14,438 are those who graduated from other majors (accounting for 68.75%).

Therefore, the draft Law stipulates that a professional training course must be included for those who are granted a press card for the first time in order to protect professional reputation, maintain ethical standards to avoid violations that reporters may commit; at the same time, create conditions for reporters to have a professional background and have the courage to work in today's complex environment.

On the afternoon of November 24, the National Assembly discussed in the hall the draft Law on Press (amended).

Minister Nguyen Van Hung cited that in Vietnam, law graduates who want to practice as lawyers or notaries must also attend a similar professional training course.

"This does not cause any more difficulties and at this rate, on average, about 200 - 300 new press cards will be issued each year," the Minister emphasized, saying that this is to ensure rights and not to "create sub-licenses".

Referring to the press economy, Mr. Nguyen Van Hung said that the draft Law on Press (amended) does not have any phrase about "press economy" but in the near future there will be a decree guiding regulations to clarify the responsibilities of leaders and agencies... so that "private individuals are not allowed to take advantage of press products to get rich and profit, while press agencies, which are content producers, are not allowed to benefit".

Source: https://phunuvietnam.vn/bo-truong-van-hoa-the-thao-va-du-lich-khong-de-tu-nhan-loi-dung-san-pham-bao-chi-truc-loi-20251124195623919.htm