National Assembly delegates discuss the Press Law (amended):

Proposal to retain large, reputable press brands

Delegate Tran Hoang Ngan ( Ho Chi Minh City Delegation) speaks at the discussion. *Photo: quochoi.vn*

Discussing at the Group on the afternoon of October 23, delegate Tran Hoang Ngan (Ho Chi Minh City Delegation) assessed that in recent times, the Vietnamese revolutionary press has performed its political tasks very well and effectively. The revolutionary press is associated with the cause of national liberation, building and defending the Fatherland; it is a very important means of information - the most important of which is to orient and guide information, and is a forum for the people.

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“When soliciting public opinions in drafting political reports and documents, the press contributes to propaganda; many of the people's contributions are very important information for us to promulgate policies, guidelines, and development strategies. In particular, we identify the press as an important ideological weapon of the Party and the State, and the more weapons, the more modern, the more professional, the better” - delegate Tran Hoang Ngan expressed.

Agreeing with the comprehensive amendment of the Press Law, the delegate of Ho Chi Minh City Delegation supported the National Assembly to soon pass the law and make it effective, along with specific decrees and circulars so that when the National Assembly votes to pass, the law can come into life, because the law has many provisions assigned to the Government for detailed regulations.

Delegate Tran Hoang Ngan proposed clearer regulations on press agencies. Specifically, Clause 6, Article 16 stipulates: "A key multimedia media agency is a press agency with many types of press and affiliated press agencies; has a specific financial mechanism; is established in accordance with the Press System Development and Management Strategy approved by the Prime Minister".

Delegate Tran Hoang Ngan proposed to add regulations on the conditions for establishing key multimedia press agencies because this is a popular type of world press. "Specifically, in the capital Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City and some other provinces, if the conditions are met, key multimedia media agencies can be established. At the same time, it is recommended to maintain large press brands that have prestige with readers" - Delegate Tran Hoang Ngan proposed.

National Assembly delegate Phan Thi Thanh Phuong (Ho Chi Minh City delegation) speaks at the discussion. *Photo: quochoi.vn*

Based on the experience of more than 50 years of press development after the country's reunification, National Assembly delegate Phan Thi Thanh Phuong (Ho Chi Minh City Delegation) said that there should be separate regulations on the model of "main multimedia press agency" or "special press agency".

National Assembly Delegate Phan Thi Thanh Phuong cited many newspapers in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, although under local management, have reached national brand status, have great prestige and influence. Not only doing well in information tasks, many agencies also effectively organize social and charitable activities, creating a deep impression in the community.

Delegate Phan Thi Thanh Phuong emphasized that if only mechanical mergers are carried out without taking into account the brand, history and financial autonomy of these newspapers, it will unintentionally lose valuable values and affect the effectiveness of social information. From there, the delegate proposed to clearly stipulate the criteria for determining special press agencies, including: Having a minimum operating period of 20-30 years; complying with the Party's principles, purposes, laws and political orientations; having financial autonomy; having prestige and social influence domestically or internationally.

The governing body such as the City Party Committee or People's Committee of Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City will be responsible for political orientation, but will allow the press agency to operate independently in terms of profession and finance, under the supervision of the Central press management agency.

According to delegate Phan Thi Thanh Phuong, along with the strong digital transformation process, it is necessary to soon have a legal framework for the model of "press group" or "multimedia key press - media complex". This model allows strategic links between press agencies to share infrastructure, data and content creation resources, in line with modern development trends.

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“Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City have enough capacity and staff to become the press and media centers of the Northern and Southern regions,” said delegate Phan Thi Thanh Phuong. Therefore, the delegate recommended that the National Assembly study a specific mechanism for these two large cities, allowing a pilot model of a multi-media press and media complex.

Contributing ideas to perfect the regulations on the model of press agencies, delegate Hoang Duc Thang (Quang Tri Delegation) suggested that the Drafting Committee consider and supplement separate regulations on the model of the main multimedia media agency, similar to the existing types of press, and at the same time assign the Government to specify in detail the organization and operation of this model.

Delegate Hoang Duc Thang (Quang Tri Delegation) speaks at the discussion. *Photo: quochoi.vn*

According to the delegate, this is a new model, applied for the first time in Vietnam, requiring a clear legal framework to determine the position, functions, tasks, powers, operating mechanisms, resources and management responsibilities. The separate provisions in the Law will create a complete legal basis, while ensuring flexibility when assigning the Government to provide detailed instructions, in accordance with the rapid development of multi-platform communication.

In addition, it is necessary to supplement regulations on reasonable proportions for the content of the fight against negativity, in addition to the principles to ensure information orientation, maintain propaganda goals, avoid commercialization, sensationalism or excessive exploitation of negative issues. This regulation both affirms the role of social supervision of the press and strengthens social responsibility and state management of press activities in the current period.

Create conditions for press agencies to have additional sources of income

Delegate Nguyen Thi Tuyet Nga (Quang Tri delegation) speaks at the discussion. *Photo: quochoi.vn*

Concerned about the regulations on press economics, delegate Nguyen Thi Tuyet Nga (Quang Tri Delegation) said that the draft Law has supplemented and completed a number of regulations to create conditions for press agencies to have more sources of income and remove difficulties in operations, such as: Receiving investment and financial support from the State; expanding the revenue sources of press agencies; regulations on association, cooperation... regulations on advertising.

However, the regulations are still general; there is a lack of specific regulations related to public investment and autonomy mechanism (Clause 3, Article 10). In particular, there should be specific guidance to avoid taking advantage of or commercializing the press, such as regulations on revenue from business activities, services, and connections of press agencies, units under press agencies, revenue from providing public career services assigned, ordered, and bid by competent authorities.

At the same time, it is necessary to study and supplement regulations related to linking with cross-border platforms that can generate large revenues; supplement regulations on the scope of linking to ensure copyright and independence of the press. On that basis, the Government will be assigned to specify this content in detail to ensure feasibility when implementing.

nguyen-thi-viet-nga(1).jpg — Delegate Nguyen Thi Viet Nga (Hai Phong Delegation) speaks at the discussion. Photo: Quochoi.vn

Discussing the autonomy mechanism and the concept of press economy, delegates Nguyen Ngoc Son and Nguyen Thi Viet Nga (Hai Phong Delegation) said that it is necessary to clearly define "press economy" and the support mechanism from the State. In particular, delegate Nguyen Ngoc Son pointed out that the draft law does not mention the concept of "press economy", although Decision 362 of the Prime Minister approving the National Press Development and Management Plan until 2025 has raised this issue. According to the delegate, the law is only acknowledging "economic activities of the press", the lack of a clear legal definition will make the autonomy mechanism "not real".

Delegate Nguyen Thi Viet Nga also said that the concept of "press economy" is still general, and recommended studying the mechanism of "Press Development Fund" (referring to the French model) to support press agencies in performing political tasks, serving remote and isolated areas and supporting digital transformation.

Adding his opinion on this issue, delegate Nguyen Ngoc Son suggested that the Drafting Committee study the support mechanism from the state budget, especially from the "public investment" capital source for press agencies to upgrade their facilities and infrastructure. However, careful review is needed to avoid conflicts with the Law on Public Investment and the Law on Budget.

Delegate Do Tien Sy (Hung Yen Delegation) speaks at the discussion. Photo: Quochoi.vn

Facing the trend of digital transformation, delegate Do Tien Sy (Hung Yen Delegation) suggested that it is necessary to clarify new concepts, or boldly add a fifth type of journalism, "multimedia, multi-platform journalism" to accurately reflect the reality that electronic newspapers today have integrated both audio (podcast) and video (livestream).

Presenting the report on the review of the draft Law on Press (amended), Chairman of the National Assembly's Committee on Culture and Society Nguyen Dac Vinh said that the Committee agreed with the addition of regulations on "key multimedia media agencies".

Chairman of the National Assembly's Committee for Culture and Social Affairs Nguyen Dac Vinh speaks. Photo: Quochoi.vn

However, there are opinions that, in addition to the 6 press agencies identified under Decision 362 of 2019 of the Prime Minister on approving the national press development and management plan until 2025, it is necessary to consider adding key multimedia press agencies in some localities or some units that have built prestige and have a certain position in press activities.

Chairman of the National Assembly's Committee on Culture and Society Nguyen Dac Vinh said that, regarding the content related to "press economics", the review agency supports the regulations to create conditions for press agencies to have more revenue sources, increase financial resources to ensure and improve the quality of operations as in the draft Law.

However, it is recommended to continue researching, supplementing, and clarifying the concept of "press economy" and regulations related to public investment, autonomy mechanism, and regulations on revenue from business activities of press agencies.

Delegate Bui Hoai Son (Hanoi Delegation) said that one of the major trends today is decentralization, delegation of power and streamlining of the apparatus. The draft Law stipulates that the provincial People's Committee is responsible for state management of local press, but it is necessary to clarify the authority and coordination responsibility of the provincial People's Committee in managing representative offices and resident reporters of central press.

Along with that, it is necessary to study and expand the rights of localities in licensing a number of publications, supplements, and columns; at the same time, strengthen the responsibility of inspecting and supervising press activities in the locality. "This will help the press to be closely linked to people's lives, accurately reflect reality, and at the same time reduce the burden on central management agencies," the delegate suggested... In addition, delegate Bui Hoai Son said that the draft law not only creates a legal framework for press activities, but also paves the way for the press to develop as a modern cultural industry...

Source: https://hanoimoi.vn/national-delegates-discussion-on-the-law-of-newspapers-suading-to-supplement-the-legal-frame-for-the-model-of-multi-media-advanced-media-newspapers-in-hanoimoi-va-tp-ho-chi-minh-721092.html