Cultivating political qualities, ethics, and professional ideals of journalists

- Recently, public opinion has repeatedly expressed outrage at a number of cases where journalists harass and threaten businesses to extort money and gain advertising contracts. Could you share your views on this situation?

- Although there have been many "bad examples" of journalists violating professional ethics, being caught red-handed, and prosecuted for violating the law, the situation of "floor-counting journalists", groups of reporters specializing in blackmailing and extorting from businesses, or some news agencies sending reporters to "attack" businesses to get advertising contracts still exists. Even if in the past there was a situation of "posting in the morning, meeting at noon, and removing in the afternoon", now, here and there, there is also the situation of "posting in the morning, meeting in the morning, and removing in the morning". Recently, in early May 2023, the Investigation Security Agency, Hanoi City Police, initiated a case, prosecuted the accused, and issued an emergency arrest warrant for 3 collaborators of a number of magazines to investigate and clarify the act of "extortion of property"... Unfortunately, such cases are no longer unusual. The consequences of this situation are huge, deeply damaging public trust in the press, affecting the successful completion of political tasks in the press's propaganda work.

- According to you, what are the underlying causes leading to this situation?

- Violations by journalists and collaborators that are discovered are manifested in many forms. Some people blame the market mechanism, the pressure of autonomy that forces them to find every way to make a profit, loosen management, and even many press agencies "give the green light" for reporters to "attack" businesses to get advertising contracts. Some people commit mistakes because they cannot withstand the pressure of information competition, take advantage of open information sources on social networks, violate copyright of information, images, etc. Some people also commit violations because they are subjective, unprofessional, not alert, and cautious in the process of working. But the most direct cause is still the qualifications and professional ethics of journalists. A journalist who loves his job, has qualifications, has political courage, knows how to respect and clearly understands the value of the profession, his own value will not disregard the reputation, brand of the newspaper as well as the social responsibility of journalists.

- Sir, the Charter of the Vietnam Journalists Association issued together with Decision No. 375/QD-TTg dated April 12, 2023 of the Prime Minister clearly stipulates the Association's tasks as "participating in supervising compliance with the law on the press; inspecting and supervising the implementation of the Regulations on professional ethics of Vietnamese journalists, the Rules for using social networks of Vietnamese journalists; organizing education and training in political ideology, professional ethics, professional expertise and association work for members...". In reality, how has the Association implemented these tasks in the past time?

- Carrying out the task of promulgating and organizing the implementation of regulations on professional ethics for journalists as stipulated in Article 8 of the 2016 Press Law, the Vietnam Journalists Association has issued the Regulations on professional ethics for journalists, consisting of 10 articles, effective from January 1, 2017. In particular, it requires journalists to strictly comply with the provisions of the law; correctly implement the principles, purposes; internal rules and regulations of the press agency where they work; practice honestly, objectively, impartially, and not for personal gain; protect justice and reason. Do not distort, falsify, or conceal the truth...

In the context of strong digital media development, the Association has issued the Rules for the Use of Social Networks by Vietnamese Journalists, consisting of 3 chapters and 7 articles, effective from January 1, 2019. In particular, Article 4 clearly defines the things that Vietnamese journalists are not allowed to do when participating in social networks, such as posting, removing articles, images, sounds on social networks for the purpose of blackmail or other dishonest purposes; copying, sharing, spreading news, articles, works, sounds, images obtained by illegal means, violating copyright; unverified information about incidents, causing physical harm, honor, dignity of citizens...

In recent times, the Association has strengthened training in professional ethics and journalism skills for its members; actively participated in propagating and disseminating press laws; and supervised compliance with press laws. The Vietnam Journalists Association at all levels has also strengthened coordination with press agencies nationwide to deploy and strictly implement regulations and rules. On the occasion of the anniversary of Vietnam Revolutionary Press Day in 2022, the Vietnam Journalists Association announced the "Criteria for cultural press agencies and culture of Vietnamese journalists", including 12 points. In particular, press agencies are required to properly perform the tasks and powers of the press and its principles and purposes, at the same time develop and organize the implementation of internal rules and regulations associated with ethical and cultural standards; closely manage and direct the activities of reporters, editors, employees and representative offices. Along with that, it is necessary to attach importance to training and improving the political capacity, professional qualifications and professional ethics of journalists.

The Association also clearly stated 6 criteria for “Cultural Journalists”, in which it highly values journalists with a strong political ideology, ethics, and a clean lifestyle; correctly implementing the principles, goals, internal rules, regulations, and provisions of the agency, the 10 articles of the Code of Professional Ethics for Vietnamese Journalists, and the Rules for Using Social Networks for Vietnamese Journalists. We highly value journalists who are dedicated and responsible for their work; who practice honestly, impartially, without profiteering, without harassment, abuse of power, and who maintain the dignity and qualifications of journalists…

- Through your experience as the former General Director of Vietnam News Agency and current Permanent Vice President of the Vietnam Journalists Association, what is your opinion on key solutions to improve journalism ethics, especially for young reporters?

- Overall, most journalists still love their jobs, do a good job in political propaganda, and contribute significantly to the cause of building and defending the country in the period of international integration. The current digital media context requires journalists to improve their qualifications, have a strong political stance, and enhance their sense of responsibility to create quality press products, ensuring accuracy, standards, and multi-dimensional verification to achieve high reliability and persuasiveness. Therefore, strengthening professional ethics education for journalists right from when they are still in school must be emphasized. Press agencies must also carefully select personnel. In particular, we must do a good job of state management of the press, increase penalties for violations, and strengthen the orientation of press agencies to operate in accordance with their functions and principles, and absolutely not disregard truthfulness, humanity, and culture in press activities for profit.

Practice has shown me the important role of press agency leaders in assigning and approving topics, regularly monitoring and correcting the activities of journalists in accordance with regulations on journalistic ethics and working principles; promptly detecting and preventing bad and negative behaviors, and preventing unfortunate incidents. The Vietnam Journalists Association will regularly coordinate with press agencies to organize courses and training on professional ethics for journalists; enhance the role of monitoring and inspecting journalistic ethics. In particular, the Association focuses on opening training courses for young journalists so that they can improve their qualifications, produce many quality journalistic products, contribute to bringing true value to the public and society, and are worthy of being soldiers on the ideological and cultural front.

Thank you very much!

Source