Proposal to ban general information websites and social networks from self-producing and publishing news articles like newspapers

Mr. Phan Xuan Thuy - Deputy Head of the Central Propaganda and Mass Mobilization Commission delivered the opening speech at the workshop - Photo: DANH KHANG

The information was given by Mr. Luu Dinh Phuc - Director of the Press Department (Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism) - at the workshop "Improving the law for press development in the digital age" organized by the Press Department and VietTimes Electronic Magazine on May 16 in Hanoi.

Speaking at the opening of the workshop, Mr. Phan Xuan Thuy - Deputy Head of the Central Propaganda and Mass Mobilization Commission said that amending and supplementing the Press Law is extremely necessary to perfect legal regulations to institutionalize the Party's guidelines and policies on the press; overcoming limitations and inadequacies in current legal regulations on the press.

At the workshop, delegates focused on discussing the press association model, linking the development of social resources and perfecting the law for press competition...

Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Le Hai Binh chaired the discussion at the workshop - Photo: DANH KHANG

Proposing a model of a multimedia press and communication complex

Director of the Press Department Luu Dinh Phuc said that this revised draft of the Press Law adds many important regulations.

Such as amending and supplementing the concept system, aiming to clearly distinguish between types of journalism, overcoming the situation of "newspaperization" of magazines, one of the prominent issues in recent times.

The draft does not stipulate that a general electronic information page is a journalistic information product. Journalistic information products are only special issues and newsletters.

Accordingly, the draft law proposes to add two prohibited acts, including: (1) General electronic information pages and social networks that self-produce and publish news and articles like press agencies; (2) Providing information that harms foreign relations and negatively affects the position and image of the country.

A notable new point of this revised draft of the Press Law is the addition of a model of a multimedia press and media complex.

Accordingly, press groups are allowed to have many affiliated agencies, operate under financial mechanisms like enterprises, and are established or contribute capital to enterprises.

In addition, the draft also sets out strict principles for press activities in cyberspace.

The Vietnam Journalists Association will be given the authority to monitor, conclude and recommend handling of violations of professional ethics by journalists.

Regarding the regulations on granting and changing press cards, the amended law includes a provision that people working at scientific journals will not be granted press cards.

Consider exempting corporate income tax for the press

Dr. Le Hai - Head of the Electronic Communist Magazine - Communist Magazine - presented a discussion on the topic "Developing a press complex model, experience from China".

From the practice of forming and developing foreign media groups, Dr. Le Hai believes that forming press and media groups that operate similarly to foreign media groups is an objective internal development need of Vietnamese press. Organizing media groups in Vietnam today is extremely necessary.

He said the establishment of the media group is a factor contributing to completing the shortcomings and weaknesses of our country's media industry, such as institutions, conditions, press environment, press agency organization model, and planning strategy.

Mr. Hai pointed out that most Vietnamese press agencies have not yet approached modern organizational models, maintaining old organizational models with ineffective management methods.

Dr. Le Hai - Head of the Electronic Communist Magazine affirmed that the model of press and media complex is very necessary for the current context of Vietnamese press - Photo: BTC

Mr. Nguyen Kim Khiem - General Director of Hanoi Radio and Television Station - proposed to detail the concept of media complex, clarify the operating mechanism, legal status, and financial model of affiliated units.

He also recommended organizing an in-depth workshop to evaluate the model from a judicial and financial perspective, helping to legalize it effectively and feasibly.

The issue of press economics also received attention and comments from delegates.

Mr. Le Quoc Vinh - Chairman of Le Group - said that there should be regulations and a basis for press agencies to develop freedom of business and freedom of association in the future.

He proposed to include in the draft law how to create conditions for press agencies to proactively develop the press ecosystem, exploit their own data resources, and create their own development resources.

Editor-in-Chief of Tien Phong Newspaper Phung Cong Suong said that the revised Press Law this time needs to remove bottlenecks, especially in press economics, organizational models, operating mechanisms and autonomy of press agencies...

Mr. Nguyen Van Ba - Editor-in-Chief of Vietnamnet newspaper - proposed to consider exempting corporate income tax for the press, similar to health and education, instead of the current tax rate of 15 - 20%.

Source: https://baohatinh.vn/de-xuat-cam-trang-thong-tin-dien-tu-tong-hop-mang-xa-hoi-tu-san-xuat-phat-tin-bai-nhu-bao-chi-post287965.html