Draft Law on Press (amended): Removing obstacles for the press to develop healthily and sustainably

Examining the draft Law on Press (amended) at the third plenary session, the Committee on Culture and Society agreed with the necessity of amending the Law on Press to continue institutionalizing the Party's policies and guidelines on building a professional, humane and modern press and media; however, it is necessary to continue researching and perfecting the draft Law, creating conditions for press agencies to promote their strengths and expand sustainable sources of revenue.

Depending on advertising, the press finds it difficult to do good propaganda work.

Press economics is a matter of concern when drafting the revised Press Law. Accordingly, the draft Law has supplemented and completed a number of provisions 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 (Article 10), expanding the sources of income of press agencies (Article 21), regulations on association and cooperation (Articles 24 and 25), regulations on advertising (Article 38)...

The Committee for Culture and Society agrees that the Vietnamese press is revolutionary press, therefore it needs investment and support from the State, especially for the task of policy communication, propaganda, and policy dissemination according to orders; in fact, many dynamic press agencies promote their strengths in connection with communication activities, such as participating in organizing events, publishing business publications, making supplements under contracts with organizations/individuals, or doing business in television services...

Chairman of the Committee for Culture and Social Affairs Nguyen Dac Vinh speaks at the meeting. Photo: Lam Hien

However, the draft Law lacks the concept of “press economy” to have a comprehensive and synchronous policy system on this issue; some regulations are not specific, have not really created big changes in “press economy”, have not resolved the problems and difficulties facing press agencies, and lack specific regulations related to public investment and autonomy mechanism (Clause 3, Article 10).

Some regulations need specific guidance to avoid taking advantage of or commercializing the press, such as regulations on revenue from business activities, services, and associations of press agencies and units under press agencies (point c, clause 2, Article 21), regulations on press agencies using public assets for association in accordance with legal regulations on management and use of public assets (clause 3, Article 24)...

Emphasizing that production and business activities associated with media are part of the cultural industry, Chairman of the Committee for Culture and Society Nguyen Dac Vinh said that it is necessary to encourage and orient press agencies to operate in the right and healthy fields, avoiding the trend of commercialization that causes negative impacts. "Try to build policies to create conditions for press agencies to legitimately and legally participate in business according to their strengths, and have revenue according to their capabilities for sustainable development."

Vice Chairman of the Committee Ta Van Ha also said that if the press depends on advertising and business, it will certainly be pressured and dominated, making it difficult to perform well its role of propaganda and guiding public opinion...

Aiming for three core values: humanity, professionalism and modernity

The draft Law on Press (amended) adds provisions on “key multimedia media agencies”. This shows that state management thinking has taken steps to approach the trend of integrating media and press on modern technology platforms, in the context of digital transformation and increasing information competition.

According to the draft Law, “a key multimedia media agency is a press agency with many types of press and affiliated press agencies; it is entitled to a special financial mechanism according to the Government's regulations”. The Committee on Culture and Society recommends that the drafting agency supplement the provisions on the principles of criteria for determining key multimedia media agencies and the special financial mechanism in the draft Law or specify the provisions in the implementation guidance document attached to the draft Law dossier submitted for the National Assembly's comments.

Creating development space for the press. Source: HNM

In addition, in addition to the 6 key multimedia media agencies specified in Decision 362/QD-TTg dated April 3, 2019 of the Prime Minister approving the national press development and management plan until 2025 (including Vietnam Television, Voice of Vietnam, Vietnam News Agency , Nhan Dan Newspaper, People's Army Newspaper and People's Police Newspaper), it is necessary to consider adding key multimedia press agencies in some localities or units that have built up prestige and brand. At the same time, consider changing the phrase "key multimedia media agency" to "key multimedia press - media agency".

There are also opinions that, in order to truly create conditions for press activities to develop, especially in the face of the strong development of the internet, social networks, and the application of information technology in information and communication activities, it is necessary to research and build a "main multimedia press and communication group".

Regarding this issue, Permanent Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Le Hai Binh said that although the drafting agency had planned this content and carefully studied international models (especially China's), after reviewing and consulting with the Government Standing Committee and the National Assembly Standing Committee, the current plan is to implement Decision 362/QD-TTg. Accordingly, the draft Law only mentions the model of "Key multimedia communication agency". Deputy Minister Le Hai Binh said that the group model will continue to be monitored, experience will be drawn and will be proposed to the competent authority when it is "ripe".

Deputy Minister Le Hai Binh also affirmed that the Draft Law on Press (amended) was designed with the goal of creating a development space for the press, aiming at three core values: humanity, professionalism, and modernity; the new provisions not only focus on removing obstacles for the press economy, creating conditions for journalists to be able to make a living from their honest profession, avoiding acts of harassment, but also update regulations on press activities in cyberspace, to help the mainstream press affirm its position, so that readers can access authentic and humane information...

Source: https://daibieunhandan.vn/du-thao-luat-bao-chi-sua-doi-thao-go-vuong-mac-de-bao-chi-phat-trien-lanh-manh-ben-vung-10390252.html