"To get a press card for the first time, you must take a professional course and not "give birth" to a child license"

(Dan Tri) - Although National Assembly delegates were concerned, Minister Nguyen Van Hung said that the regulation that journalists who are granted a card for the first time must take a professional training course "does not cause difficulties and does not "give birth" to sub-licenses".

Giving comments on the draft revised Press Law during the discussion session at the National Assembly on the afternoon of November 24, delegate Ha Sy Dong ( Quang Tri ) expressed his views regarding regulations on conditions for granting press licenses and conditions for granting press cards.

According to Mr. Dong, the current regulations are relatively strict, but there is a risk of creating more layers of procedures, especially for local press. He suggested shifting the assessment to the level of compliance with the law, quality of content and effectiveness in serving political and social tasks, instead of focusing on technical conditions.

In particular, delegates from Quang Tri province proposed removing the mandatory requirement to attend a professional training course before being granted a press card for the first time.

National Assembly Delegate Ha Sy Dong (Photo: Hong Phong).

“Practice shows that violations of professional ethics do not stem from a lack of training classes. If this regulation is maintained, the law will unintentionally create more sub-licenses, increase costs, increase procedures and go against the spirit of administrative reform,” Mr. Dong stated his opinion.

The law needs to focus on clearly defining the responsibilities of press agencies in recruitment, training, periodic assessment and card issuance, according to the delegate, which is the fundamental solution to improve the quality of the team and prevent violations.

Expressing his views on regulations on information provision and the responsibility of State agencies to speak, delegate Ha Sy Dong pointed out the reality of slow speech and avoidance of providing information, causing public opinion to be misled on social networks.

He proposed adding specific sanctions for State agencies that are slow to provide information, especially in cases related to social security, natural disasters, epidemics, the environment, and large projects. Delegate Dong emphasized that early information transparency is an important solution to limit fake news and strengthen people's trust.

Explaining at the end of the discussion session on the content of concern to National Assembly delegates, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyen Van Hung also clarified the regulations on granting press cards.

The Minister stated that there are currently 21,000 journalists with press cards, of which nearly 6,600 are university graduates majoring in journalism, accounting for more than 31%. The remaining more than 14,400 people with degrees in other majors, accounting for nearly 69%, are active and have press cards.

Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyen Van Hung (Photo: Hong Phong).

Explaining the regulation requiring first-time press card holders to undergo professional training, Mr. Hung said the Ministry of Culture has widely consulted relevant agencies, especially closely coordinating with the Vietnam Journalists Association to review procedures and decide whether or not such a regulation should be made.

And then, this regulation was unified with two purposes, according to Minister Nguyen Van Hung.

The first purpose of issuing the first card to new journalists is to protect reputation, profession, and maintain ethical standards to avoid violations that reporters may commit.

The second is to create conditions for reporters to have a professional background and enough courage to work in today's complex environment, if they are trained and updated with knowledge.

Mr. Hung likened this to a law graduate who wants to practice as a lawyer or notary public must also attend a professional training course.

The Minister believes that this regulation does not create more difficulties, nor does it "give birth" to sub-licenses. Mr. Hung added that on average, 200-300 new press cards will be issued each year.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/thoi-su/cap-the-nha-bao-lan-dau-phai-qua-lop-nghiep-vu-khong-de-giay-phep-con-20251124181445885.htm