Support branded and autonomous newspapers

Reporters work at hot spots as well as report on important events - Photo: H.LOC

On October 23, the National Assembly heard the presentation and discussed in groups the draft revised Press Law. Notably, the examining body and some delegates suggested considering adding key multimedia press agencies in some localities or some units that have built up prestige and have a certain position in press activities.

Currently, according to Decision 362 of the Prime Minister, there are 6 key multimedia press agencies identified including: Vietnam Television, Voice of Vietnam, Vietnam News Agency , Nhan Dan Newspaper, People's Army Newspaper, People's Public Security Newspaper.

Basically agree to supplement regulations on "multimedia key media agencies"

Reviewing this content, Chairman of the Committee on Culture and Society Nguyen Dac Vinh stated that the committee basically agreed with the addition of regulations on "key multimedia media agencies". However, the review agency suggested continuing to research and clarify the content, criteria for determination and specific financial mechanisms of key multimedia media agencies.

According to Mr. Vinh, there are opinions that in addition to the 6 press agencies identified under Decision 362/2019 of the Prime Minister on approving the national press development and management plan until 2025, it is necessary to consider adding key multimedia press agencies in some localities or some units that have built prestige and have a certain position in press activities.

Speaking with Tuoi Tre , delegate Bui Hoai Son, a member of the National Assembly's Culture and Social Affairs Committee, said that in reality, both Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi have press agencies with brands, prestige and influence beyond local boundaries.

In Ho Chi Minh City - the economic locomotive of the whole country, Saigon Giai Phong newspaper , Tuoi Tre , Nguoi Lao Dong and Ho Chi Minh City Television (HTV)... have affirmed their solid position. This is not only the "voice of the city" but also a reliable source of news, with strong influence nationwide.

According to him, these agencies have been pioneering in applying digital technology, converting models to multi-platform communication, and building a team of professional, creative, and socially responsible reporters and editors.

On the morning of October 23, the National Assembly listened to the presentation and report on the review of the draft Press Law (amended). In the photo: delegates attending the meeting - Photo: quochoi.vn

In Hanoi, we can mention the Hanoi Moi newspaper or Hanoi Radio and Television - agencies that have constantly innovated, clearly demonstrating political mettle and professional capacity in orienting information, reflecting the pace of life of the capital with a thousand years of culture.

From those foundations, he believes that it can be seen that Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City are fully qualified to develop a model of a key multimedia press agency at the regional or local level, playing the role of "information locomotive" in the national media network.

"These agencies will not only be responsible for political and social propaganda, but also be centers for content creation, multimedia production and promotion of local images in the national branding strategy," Mr. Son stated.

Mr. Son emphasized that if there are appropriate policy mechanisms - regarding organization, finance, human resources and investment in digital infrastructure - the above units can completely become "regional media pillars". Contributing to the redistribution of information power, spreading the voice of the people, and at the same time creating a "positive media front"...

Considering the formation of key multimedia press agencies in some localities with strong foundations, especially Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, is a step in line with the inevitable development trend of the era of media convergence.

Delegate Bui Hoai Son

It is necessary to allow some press agencies with large brands, reputations, complete financial autonomy, and influence beyond the locality to maintain independent legal status and register as key multimedia press agencies.

Delegate Phan Thi Thanh Phuong (HCMC)

"It is necessary to clearly define the criteria for identifying specific press agencies"

Delegate Phan Thi Thanh Phuong (HCMC) also pointed out that the development practice over the past 50 years shows that a number of newspapers, although under local management, have risen to become national and international brands thanks to their professional capacity, political courage, and prestige with readers; at the same time, they are completely financially autonomous.

These include Tuoi Tre , Phap Luat TP.HCM , Nguoi Lao Dong , Tuoi Tre Thu Do ... These press agencies operate according to their principles and purposes, always adhere to guidelines, policies, laws and demonstrate professionalism, humanity, and creativity, and are "bright spots" in the process of innovation in Vietnamese journalism.

She pointed out that it is necessary to recognize that arrangement should not mean uniformity. If it is purely a mechanical merger without considering historical factors, brand, autonomy and social prestige, it will unintentionally destroy the country's valuable press brands, affecting the effectiveness of information, criticism and social inspiration.

From this practice, Ms. Phuong recommends that the drafting agency consider adding to the bill a separate provision regulating specialized press agencies or key multimedia press agencies.

Reporters working at the session of the 15th National Assembly - Photo: QP

Accordingly, clearly stipulates the criteria for determining special press agencies, including having a minimum operating period of 20 years (possibly 30 years, 40 years); having clear principles and purposes, complying with the law and political orientation; having financial autonomy; having social influence and prestige domestically or internationally.

Along with that, the governing body (City Party Committee or People's Committee of Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi) will be responsible for state management of political orientation, but allow the newspaper to operate independently in terms of profession and finance, under the supervision of the central press management agency.

Based on the strong development of digital technology, Ms. Phuong proposed adding a legal framework to allow piloting the model of "press group" or "multimedia press - media complex" in major centers such as Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.

This model, according to her, is not just a formal merger, but a strategic connection between press agencies in the same system to share technology infrastructure, data, training and content creation resources.

"This is an inevitable trend of modern journalism, in line with the National Press Development Strategy to 2030, vision 2050," Ms. Phuong emphasized, affirming that Ho Chi Minh City has the capacity, conditions and staff to build a model of a key multimedia press agency, becoming a press and media center of the Southern region. Similarly, Hanoi will do well in this area in the Northern region.

Speaking at the group, Mr. Nguyen Dac Vinh said that the draft law stated that the concept of "Multimedia key media agency" had been mentioned in Party documents. On the other hand, Decision 362/2019 of the Prime Minister clearly stated that 6 press agencies were oriented to be built into a multimedia key media complex. Therefore, the draft law introduced this provision.

In addition to the six key multimedia media agencies, Mr. Vinh said the inspection agency proposed adding key local multimedia media agencies.

"Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City have many press agencies. If those agencies do a good job of propaganda and have prestige, these localities themselves can move towards consolidation. Regarding the main multimedia media agencies, the drafting committee is proposing that the Government provide detailed regulations to ensure flexibility in practice," said Mr. Vinh.

Reporters work at hot spots as well as report on important events - Photo: H.HANH

What is a multimedia mastermind?

The draft law has added a provision that the main multimedia media agency is a press agency with many types of press and affiliated press agencies. At the same time, there is a specific financial mechanism; established in accordance with the Press System Development and Management Strategy approved by the Prime Minister. The draft law stipulates that the press, radio and television agencies are press agencies under the provincial and municipal Party Committees, with many types of press and press products. At the same time, the Government details the specific financial mechanism for each main multimedia media agency in accordance with the level of autonomy.

* Delegate Tran Huu Hau (Tay Ninh):

There should be more types of multimedia agencies.

Ho Chi Minh City currently has a series of newspapers such as: Tuoi Tre , Sai Gon Giai Phong , Nguoi Lao Dong ... If understood according to the draft law, the press and radio and television agencies are press agencies under the provincial and city party committees, with many types of press and press products, then the Ho Chi Minh City press agency will have a press agency, including the above newspapers merged together, becoming specialized newspapers and magazines like some units are doing.

I think this approach is not appropriate. I suggest that some localities such as Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi should be allowed to establish multimedia agencies, "roughly understood as media corporations". This will include media agencies such as Saigon Giai Phong newspaper, Tuoi Tre newspaper , HTV... These are all strong, fully autonomous press agencies, not press agencies or radio stations under press agencies. There should be more types of multimedia agencies in some strong provinces and cities that have enough potential and they have full autonomy. For example, Tuoi Tre newspaper is fully autonomous, so research should be done to allow them to continue to operate independently.

Great social status from behind-the-scenes activities

In addition to good professional activities, delegate Phan Thi Thanh Phuong (HCMC) also said that the behind-the-scenes activities of newspapers have great social effects. For example, Tuoi Tre newspaper has been implementing the program "Tiep suc den truong" for 20 years, helping more than 20,000 poor new students have the opportunity to study. For such behind-the-scenes activities to exist for a long time, it shows the prestige of the newspaper, which can mobilize huge social resources.

Or activities that directly impact society such as "Lighting up DK1 platform and Contributing stones to build Truong Sa" of Tuoi Tre newspaper or the program "Proud of the national flag" of Nguoi Lao Dong newspaper .

"These things show that besides professional activities, the behind-the-scenes activities of such prestigious newspapers have affirmed their position and prestige in society," Ms. Phuong affirmed.

Journalists working at the International Defense Exhibition in Hanoi - Photo: NAM TRAN

Network platforms need to share revenue with the press

The bill stipulates principles on operating models, press economics, and expanding the press's operating space to develop the press in the context of streamlining the political system's organizational apparatus to meet information and propaganda requirements in the new era.

According to the draft, new sources of revenue for press agencies include: revenue from selling the right to view and listen to press works; revenue from allowing the exploitation and use of press works; revenue from linking in press activities; revenue from providing public career services assigned, ordered, or bid by competent state agencies; revenue from people who need to publish scientific research articles to have funds to review, complete, and improve the quality of articles.

Regarding the press economy, delegate Hoang Minh Hieu (Nghe An) said that the annual budget for press activities is about 0.5% - an average level compared to the international level, but the support is still scattered. Therefore, he suggested that it is necessary to study a budget allocation mechanism with focus, key points, and priority for press agencies to carry out their tasks.

According to Mr. Hieu, there has been a policy to reduce corporate income tax for press agencies, but the tax policy needs to be reviewed and supplemented. He said that some countries apply tax incentives for press agencies operating on a subscription model, especially digital subscription for electronic newspapers (subscription), to encourage the development of quality content and reduce dependence on advertising. This is a direction that needs to be researched to suit the trend of digital transformation in the media sector.

Another important issue proposed by Mr. Hieu is that social networking platforms need to be responsible for sharing revenue with press agencies when using and re-posting press agencies' content.

"Many countries in the world have issued regulations on this issue, in which Canada stipulates that social networks with 2 million or more users, when using the content of press agencies for commercial purposes, will have to share revenue. Therefore, this needs to have specific regulations in the bill," Mr. Hieu suggested.

Proposal to supplement regulations on a separate autonomous framework for the press

Delegate Nguyen Ngoc Son (Hai Phong) suggested that the drafting agency continue to carefully evaluate the implementation of Decision 362 of the Prime Minister and the content of the press economy to ensure a truly autonomous mechanism, while coordinating with linkages and the platform market to create a comprehensive press development.

He also recommended adding regulations on a separate autonomy framework for the press, in which financial autonomy, personnel, technology, and conditional association need to be more clearly defined. At the same time, the Government should be assigned to provide detailed regulations for specific implementation.

Tuoitre.vn

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/ung-ho-to-bao-thuong-hieu-va-tu-chu-20251024081230396.htm#content-2