Establish more specific occupational safety protection mechanisms for journalists

Discussing in the group on the afternoon of October 23 about the Draft Law on Press (amended), National Assembly Delegate Group 3 (Tay Ninh, Thanh Hoa) said that, to ensure the substance of journalists' right to "be protected by law", the draft law needs to concretize this principle into clear legal obligations, aiming to establish a mechanism to protect professional safety for journalists.

Clearly define the legal responsibilities of cross-border platforms

According to delegates, compared to the current Law, the draft Law on Press (amended) has added regulations on press activities in cyberspace. This is a new point that promptly updates the requirements for state management in the context of digital media and digital transformation of press. In addition, the regulations on key multimedia media agencies demonstrate innovative thinking in state management of press, showing an approach to the trend of integrating media and press on a modern technology platform, in the context of digital transformation and increasing information competition.

Overview of Group 3 discussion. Photo: Khanh Duy

In addition, the Press Law (amended) has added a mechanism for developing the press economy , allowing press and media agencies to expand their revenue sources to overcome difficulties in current operations; strengthen regulations on copyright and responsibility in the digital environment, initially mentioning the responsibility of cross-border platforms.

However, from current practice, delegate Huynh Thanh Phuong (Tay Ninh) said that it is necessary to clearly define the nature and role of the press in the digital society and clarify the function of orientation, monitoring and active social criticism of the press to be worthy of being a forum for the people. Currently, every individual online can post news, broadcast videos and comment; social networking platforms produce content similar to the press but are not subject to any legal responsibility or professional ethics standards. Meanwhile, the mainstream press is bound by many factors, leading to confusion between true and false information and fake news spreading at a rapid pace.

National Assembly Delegate Huynh Thanh Phuong ( Tay Ninh ) speaks. Photo: Khanh Duy

Accordingly, delegates suggested that the draft law should clearly stipulate the legal responsibilities for tax and copyright obligations of cross-border social platforms when posting and broadcasting Vietnamese press products. Press agencies should be allowed to open content channels on online platforms but must register and be responsible for the content. At the same time, it should stipulate the responsibility of management agencies to coordinate with global platforms in removing bad and toxic information and protecting Vietnamese press.

Some delegates also said that the provisions in Chapter III of the new draft Law are only principles on compliance with legal regulations on press and cyber security, regulation 8 on the principles and purposes of press agencies and lack regulations to promote press activities in cyberspace such as: operating conditions, organization methods, state management measures for press activities in cyberspace; responsibilities of cross-border platforms in coordinating with press agencies to prevent and remove bad and toxic information; issues of training and fostering press human resources to carry out press publishing in cyberspace. Delegates suggested that the drafting committee should study and supplement these regulations.

The mechanism to protect journalists is not specific yet.

Concerned about the regulations on the rights and obligations of journalists, National Assembly member Huynh Thi Thanh Thuy (Tay Ninh) said that although the draft Law on Press (amended), point a, clause 2, Article 28 continues to affirm that "journalists are protected by law in their professional activities". However, this regulation is still only a principle, and has not established a specific and feasible protection mechanism for journalists during their work.

National Assembly Delegate Huynh Thi Thanh Thuy (Tay Ninh) speaks. Photo: Khanh Duy

The delegate pointed out that in recent times, there have been many cases of journalists being obstructed, assaulted, threatened or asked to reveal sources of information while performing their duties, but the handling and protection of these cases are often slow, lack deterrence and are not coordinated uniformly among competent authorities. Therefore, to ensure the substance of the right to "be protected by law", the Draft Law on Press (amended) needs to concretize this principle into clear legal obligations, aiming to establish a mechanism to protect professional safety for journalists.

“When journalists are threatened, obstructed or attacked during their legal work, the police and local authorities where the incident occurs must be responsible for applying emergency protection measures, handling the violation and reporting the results to the state press management agency. This regulation not only protects individual journalists but also contributes to protecting press freedom - a constitutional right. Some countries (such as France, Germany, the Philippines) have established a “Media Protection Mechanism” under the coordination of press management agencies, police and professional organizations. Vietnam can refer to this model to ensure consistency, initiative and effectiveness in protecting journalists,” emphasized delegate Thuy.

National Assembly Delegate Le Thanh Hoan (Thanh Hoa) speaks. Photo: Khanh Duy

Discussing this issue, some delegates also said that the draft law should stipulate a focal point for receiving information, complaints or requests for support from journalists when their rights to work are violated. This mechanism should be coordinated with the police to ensure timely and transparent responses and clear sanctions. In addition, press agencies should be regulated to have the responsibility to support and protect reporters during their work, including providing legal support, training in occupational safety skills, and promptly notifying competent authorities when reporters are violated.

During the group discussion, the National Assembly deputies also paid attention to the regulations on key multimedia media agencies. According to the deputies, in addition to the 6 key multimedia press agencies mentioned in Decision 362/QD-TTg, it is necessary to consider adding key multimedia press agencies in some localities or some units that have built a certain reputation, brand and position in press activities; consider changing the phrase "key multimedia media agency" to the phrase "key multimedia press - media agency" to correctly reflect the functions, tasks and nature of activities of this type of agency, while ensuring consistency with the system of specialized terminology and press management practices.

Source: https://daibieunhandan.vn/thiet-lap-cu-the-hon-co-che-bao-ve-an-toan-nghe-nghiep-cho-nha-bao-10392657.html