Strictly handle cases of violations of the law and professional ethics of journalists.

The Council for Handling Violations of Professional Ethics of Vietnamese Journalists has just issued Official Dispatch No. 01/CV-HDXL to the Journalists Associations of provinces and cities; the Associations and affiliated Associations closely coordinate with the authorities to strictly handle cases of violations of the law and professional ethics of journalists.

Accordingly, through monitoring, grasping, and reflecting from many information channels, the Vietnam Journalists Association has noticed that: Recently, the phenomenon of reporters and collaborators of a number of press agencies (mainly magazines belonging to social organizations and socio-professional organizations) taking advantage of the name of the press to operate illegally, harassing agencies, businesses, and localities has shown signs of increasing and becoming more complicated.

Some reporters and collaborators have formed groups that have exceeded their functions, tasks, and powers, and have operated in a manner that is not in accordance with the principles and purposes stated in their licenses, and have provided one-sided, unverified information about the shortcomings and errors of agencies, businesses, and localities to suggest, pressure, and even threaten them, and then propose signing media and advertising contracts or making illegal profits, especially during the period near the Lunar New Year and major holidays. The above-mentioned substandard behaviors, which show signs of violating professional ethics and violating the law, have seriously damaged the reputation and image of press agencies and genuine journalists.

To rectify this phenomenon, the Council for Handling Violations of Professional Ethics of Vietnamese Journalists recommends that the Journalists Associations of provinces and cities, the Inter-Associations and affiliated Sub-Associations immediately implement the work of strengthening political and ideological education, professional ethics, social responsibility, and civic duty for the team of journalists.

The Journalists Associations of provinces and cities, the Inter-Associations and affiliated Associations shall review, strictly manage, regularly urge and remind the team of reporters, especially resident reporters and collaborators in localities, to strictly implement the provisions of the Press Law, the 10-article Code of Professional Ethics, and the Rules for the Use of Social Networks by Vietnamese Journalists. At the same time, closely monitor and manage the use of press cards, membership cards, and letters of introduction issued to officials and reporters...

The Council for Handling Violations of Professional Ethics of Vietnamese Journalists requests that units urgently review, establish and consolidate the Council for Handling Violations of Professional Ethics of Vietnamese Journalists according to the provisions of the Regulations on the Operation of the Council for Handling Violations of Professional Ethics of Vietnamese Journalists (Issued together with Decision No. 534/QD-HNBVN dated March 30, 2017 of the President of the Vietnam Journalists Association); closely coordinate with competent agencies to strictly handle cases of violations of the law and professional ethics of journalists.

According to VNA

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