Journalist Ho Quang Loi, former Permanent Vice President of Vietnam Journalists Association, Vice President of Vietnam Digital Communications Association:

Currently, the National Assembly is reviewing and discussing the Press Law (amended) - an important legal corridor for press development in the new period. This is an issue that is of great concern to public opinion, because it is not only directly related to the life of journalism, the thoughts and feelings of journalists, and the people's right to information, but also affects the future of the revolutionary press with a 100-year tradition founded by President Ho Chi Minh and nurtured by many generations of Party and State leaders.

One of the highlights is that the draft Law on Press (amended) has added provisions on the main multimedia media agency. This is a press agency with many types of press and affiliated press agencies; has a specific financial mechanism according to the Government's regulations; is established in accordance with the Strategy for development and management of the press system approved by the Prime Minister .

Currently, there are 6 press agencies oriented to build into a key multimedia media complex. They are Vietnam Television, Voice of Vietnam, Vietnam News Agency , Nhan Dan Newspaper, People's Army Newspaper, and People's Public Security Newspaper.

In my opinion, the Press Law (amended) should have a provision allowing Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City to establish or pilot a model of a multimedia media complex. Because these are the two largest press and media centers in the country, possessing press agencies with rich traditions, potential, strength and strong brands. This is not only in line with the development trend of modern press and media, meeting the requirements and development tasks of the two most important centers of the country, but also creating conditions to retain newspapers with strong brands.

Press agencies that meet the three criteria: "Strong brand", "financial autonomy" and "high prestige and social efficiency" need to have an independent legal entity in key multimedia communication groups.

Newspapers such as Hanoi Moi, Kinh Te va Do Thi... in Hanoi, or Sai Gon Giai Phong, Tuoi Tre... in Ho Chi Minh City are currently units that ensure these criteria and can become independent legal entities within the main multimedia media complex of the two cities. And not only the two cities, if the press develops in the future, any press agency that meets these three criteria will also be allowed to operate under a similar mechanism. Such a regulation will certainly create motivation for the press nationwide to develop, serve the Fatherland, and serve the people.

In addition, retaining famous newspapers not only has political significance, but also cultural and historical significance. I think this is the responsibility of legislators. A typical example is Hanoi Moi - a newspaper named twice by Uncle Ho with a very sacred meaning. This is also a press agency with a tradition of nearly 70 years with important contributions to the cause of national liberation, construction and development of the capital and the country; it is the first provincial Party newspaper to be awarded the title of Labor Hero in the renovation period. Hanoi Moi newspaper can be considered one of the cultural and spiritual symbols of Hanoi, loved by readers of all generations...

If the Press Law (amended) does not contribute to preserving the traditional newspapers that have contributed to the glorious history of Vietnam's revolutionary press and are currently still performing well on the Party's ideological and cultural front, effectively serving the cause of building, protecting and developing the country, then it will not meet the requirements according to the direction of the Central Committee and the expectations of the people, including journalists nationwide.

Source: https://hanoimoi.vn/nha-bao-ho-quang-loi-nguyen-pho-chu-tich-thuong-truc-hoi-nha-bao-viet-nam-pho-chu-tich-hoi-trayen-thong-so-viet-nam-co-quan-bao-chi-co-thuong-hieu-manh-tu-chu-ve-tai-chinh-can-phap-nhan-doc-lap-trong-to-hop-trayen-thong-chu-luc-da-phuong-tien-721288.html