Perfecting the law for the press to develop in the digital age

Delegates attending the workshop. Photo: VGP/Thien Tam

Alternate member of the Party Central Committee, Permanent Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Le Hai Binh chaired the Workshop.

The event took place in a special context to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Vietnam Revolutionary Press Day (June 21, 1925 - June 21, 2025), and to collect comments on the draft Press Law (amended).

Speaking at the opening of the workshop, Deputy Head of the Central Propaganda and Mass Mobilization Commission Phan Xuan Thuy said that, implementing the program of building laws and ordinances in 2025 according to Resolution No. 59/2024/NQUBTVQH15 of the National Assembly Standing Committee, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism presided over and coordinated with relevant agencies to develop the Draft Law on Press (amended), expected to be submitted to the National Assembly for comments and approval at the 10th Session.

The amendment and supplementation of the Press Law is extremely necessary to perfect legal regulations to institutionalize the Party's guidelines and policies on the press; overcome limitations and shortcomings in current legal regulations on the press; adjust and manage press activities appropriately in the context of the strong and rapid development of science , technology, and modern communications, creating a legal corridor for press activities to develop in the digital age.

Mr. Phan Xuan Thuy, Deputy Head of the Central Propaganda and Mass Mobilization Commission, spoke at the workshop. Photo: VGP/Thien Tam

The workshop focused on three major contents: In the context of many press agencies merging, how to build a model of press agency complexes to promote efficiency and sustainable development? How to link the activities of press agencies to promote social resources to develop press agencies? Along with that, the press is having to compete increasingly fiercely with social networks and cross-border platforms in terms of speed and level of information dissemination. While social networking platforms are not subject to the same regulation as mainstream press, how can the press compete for information on social networking platforms?

In addition, delegates contributed comments on each specific article in the draft revised Press Law, aiming to perfect the law for press development in the new era.

Need to remove bottlenecks, especially in the press economy

At the workshop, Editor-in-Chief of Tien Phong Newspaper, Phung Cong Suong, contributed ideas such as: Legal corridor and press management agency, need to re-study the model of press management agency to make it suitable. The Press Law (amended) should have clear regulations, who is the management agency, what is the responsibility... so that the press can develop more independently and professionally.

Regarding the press economy and revenue sources. According to Mr. Suong, the press currently operating is defined as a revenue-generating public service agency, but is operating under the business model. If the press economy problem is not solved, the press cannot develop.

Therefore, the revised Press Law this time needs to remove bottlenecks, especially in press economics, organizational models, operating mechanisms and autonomy of press agencies, to truly pave the way for Vietnamese press to develop professionally, modernly and integratedly.

Speaking at the end of the workshop, Deputy Minister Le Hai Binh said that the workshop had a lively, urgent and serious discussion, and delegates together contributed ideas to perfect the draft revised Press Law.

On behalf of the Drafting Committee, he hopes to continue receiving constructive comments to organize the next workshop to quickly complete the draft Press Law (amended) to submit to the National Assembly for approval.

Kindness

Source: https://baochinhphu.vn/hoan-thien-phap-luat-de-bao-chi-phat-trien-trong-ky-nguyen-so-102250516141933547.htm