Streamlined press agency organization model, increasing effectiveness in guiding public opinion

On the afternoon of October 8, at the National Assembly House in Hanoi, the National Assembly Standing Committee reviewed and commented on the draft Law on Press (amended). Politburo member and National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man chaired and delivered the opening speech. Vice Chairwoman of the National Assembly Nguyen Thi Thanh chaired the meeting.

Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan attended the meeting.

Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyen Van Hung presents the Draft Law. Photo: quochoi.vn

Draft Press Law (amended) closely follows 4 policy groups

At the meeting, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyen Van Hung presented the basic content of the Proposal of the draft Press Law (amended). Accordingly, the structure of the draft Law includes 4 chapters and 50 articles (2 chapters and 11 articles less than the 2016 Press Law).

The draft Law on Press (amended) closely follows the four groups of policies approved in Resolution No. 148/NQ-CP dated September 22, 2024 of the Government, the September 2024 thematic meeting on law-making and new issues arising in practice according to the Party and State's policy on restructuring and streamlining the apparatus, including restructuring and streamlining press agencies; on decentralization and delegation of power to local authorities when implementing the two-level local government model.

Some important and groundbreaking innovations of the draft Law include: Supplementing regulations on the position of the press, stipulating principles on operating models and press economics, expanding the operating space of the press to develop the press in the context of arranging and streamlining the organization of the political system, meeting the information and propaganda requirements in the new era...

Presenting the Preliminary Review Report of the Draft Law on Press (amended), Chairman of the National Assembly's Committee on Culture and Society Nguyen Dac Vinh said that the Standing Committee of the Committee basically agreed with the scope and subjects of regulation of the draft Law. In addition, there were opinions suggesting that the Government continue to research and perfect regulations on organizations and individuals producing information products of a journalistic nature on cyberspace in relevant laws to overcome the situation where a group of social network users spread information of a journalistic nature but are not true, deviate from the policies and guidelines of the Party and State, causing instability in security and social order.

Regarding types of press, compared to the current Press Law, the draft Law continues to divide the press into 4 types but has revised the names, suggesting that the use of concepts should be carefully studied to be consistent with specialized terminology, universal and not misleading.

Chairman of the National Assembly's Committee on Culture and Society Nguyen Dac Vinh presents the Verification Report. Photo: quochoi.vn

According to the draft Law, “A key multimedia media agency is a press agency with many types of press and affiliated press agencies; and is entitled to a specific financial mechanism according to Government regulations”. This regulation defines two criteria to become a key multimedia media agency, which are: Having many types of press and affiliated press agencies and having a specific financial mechanism. However, the draft Law has not yet specified these two criteria...

It is argued that, in order to 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 study and build a "main multimedia press-communication group" to replace the "main multimedia communication agency" as in the draft Law to specify a number of Party documents.

Regarding the contents related to “press economy”, 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. However, the draft Law still lacks the concept of “press economy”; 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 mechanisms...

Chairman of the National Assembly's Committee on Law and Justice Hoang Thanh Tung speaks at the meeting. Photo: quochoi.vn

Facilitate press agencies in implementing press economics

Discussing at the meeting, Chairman of the National Assembly's Committee on Law and Justice Hoang Thanh Tung emphasized that the concept of press in the draft Law is not really consistent and needs to be further clarified. Regarding press activities in cyberspace, Clause 3, Article 30 of the draft Law stipulates that the agency operating the national digital press platform is responsible for ensuring the integrity of the information content posted and broadcast on the national digital press platform. It is recommended that the drafting agency clarify which agency is the operating agency of the national digital press platform? This is to avoid creating an organizational apparatus and is not consistent with the Party's policy on arranging and streamlining the name and organization of the apparatus in the current period...

Chairman of the National Assembly's Economic and Financial Committee Phan Van Mai speaks at the meeting. Photo: quochoi.vn

Concerned about the issue of press economics, Chairman of the National Assembly's Economic and Financial Committee Phan Van Mai said that this is a very necessary and important issue for press agencies, especially in the current period, so he suggested that it be "opened" more.

“We have economic mechanisms for state-owned enterprises and public service units. We allow research and application to open up press agencies to have open press economic activities and ensure regulations,” said Mr. Phan Van Mai.

View of the meeting. Photo: quochoi.vn

Speaking at the meeting, National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man said that the principle of drafting the Law is to ensure feasibility, suitability with digitalization and encourage press economy.

The concept of journalism needs to be consistent with digital transformation, avoiding confusion of types. The organizational model should be generally streamlined, increasing the effectiveness of public opinion orientation. The National Assembly Chairman suggested ensuring the requirements of strengthening management and development of information communication types on digital platforms; having appropriate mechanisms to develop revolutionary journalism, increasing the presence of revolutionary journalism on social platforms, and maintaining the information and propaganda front in the face of the development of cross-border platforms.

Second is to continue to streamline the press and media system in the direction of streamlining, efficiency, effectiveness, and efficiency, in accordance with the spirit of Resolution 18-NQ/TU. It is necessary to strengthen the responsibility of governing agencies and leaders.

Third is to have effective solutions to rectify and strictly handle violations, especially violations in the online environment.

Fourth, it is necessary to do a good job of information and propaganda and create consensus and social trust.

The fifth is to develop key national press agencies and groups that have the role of guiding information...

In addition, the National Assembly Chairman suggested that specific instructions are needed for the contents related to press economics, creating favorable conditions for press agencies in the implementation process.

Source: https://hanoimoi.vn/mo-hinh-to-chuc-co-quan-bao-chi-tinh-gon-tang-hieu-qua-dinh-huong-du-luan-718896.html