Dear Comrade Pham Tat Thang, Member of the Party Central Committee, Standing Deputy Head of the Central Propaganda and Mass Mobilization Commission;
Comrade Do Tien Sy, Member of the Party Central Committee, Deputy Head of the Central Propaganda and Mass Mobilization Commission, General Director of Voice of Vietnam Radio.
Comrade Le Quoc Minh, Member of the Party Central Committee, Deputy Head of the Central Propaganda and Mass Mobilization Commission, Editor-in-Chief of Nhan Dan Newspaper, Chairman of the Vietnam Journalists Association.
Dear comrades leaders of press agencies;
Dear comrades attending the briefing,
On the occasion of the 101st anniversary of the Vietnamese Revolutionary Press Day, on behalf of the leaders of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, I would like to send to the leaders, journalists, and reporters nationwide my sincere congratulations and deep gratitude for the persistent and silent contributions of the team of journalists throughout the 101-year journey.
The General Secretary - President, Chairman of the National Assembly and Party and State leaders have given profound directions on the mission and tasks of the press in the new period. I believe that press agencies have been imbued and are making efforts to implement it. Today, I just want to share a few thoughts from the perspective of state management agencies on ICT - with the spirit of looking back together and thinking together about the issues being raised.
I. THE PRESS BEFORE A FUNDAMENTAL SHIFT
The information environment is changing at a speed that perhaps even insiders have not yet fully defined. Digital technology, social networks, artificial intelligence - all are creating a new reality: more information than ever before, but trust in information is becoming a more difficult problem than ever.
The main pressure on the press is therefore also gradually shifting. Not only is it producing enough information, fast enough, wide enough - but increasingly: how to make that information more reliable, more valuable, more responsible and create a more positive impact on society?
Today's readers, viewers, and listeners are different. They have more information sources than ever before, and therefore, they also become more sophisticated in choosing. This is pressure, but looking from a different perspective, this is also an opportunity for professional journalism to distinguish ourselves from unverified information sources that are rampant in cyberspace.
II. WHAT TECHNOLOGY CANNOT REPLACE
Looking from another perspective, this is the time for professional journalism to find and affirm values that no digital platform or algorithm can replace.
In a chaotic information environment, society needs even more core values that only professional journalism can bring:
- The ability to verify the truth is not through data processing, but through the presence, judgment and responsibility of humans.
- Professional responsibility associated with specific legal and ethical commitments and obligations.
- Journalistic ethics - not anything abstract, but clear principles in every daily news reporting decision.
- Political bravery helps the press maintain its orientation, not being drawn into temporary trends or crowd pressure in cyberspace.
- the dedication to the interests of the country and the people, And above all - something that no algorithm is programmed to feel or perform.
These values are the real and sustainable competitive advantage of Vietnamese revolutionary journalism in the digital age. And this is also what the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism wants to preserve and promote with press agencies.
III. ON THE SIDE OF STATE MANAGEMENT AGENCIES
3. 1. Improve institutions - two Decrees guiding the Press Law will take effect from July 1, 2026
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism is focusing on implementing Directive No. 05 of the Politburo on strengthening the Party's leadership over the press and media in the new situation. In terms of institutions, an important step forward needs to be announced to the Conference: two Decrees guiding the implementation of the Press Law No. 126/2025/QH15 - including the Decree detailing the implementation of a number of articles of the Press Law and the Decree on management of radio and television activities - have completed the process of receiving and fully explaining the opinions of Government members and have been submitted to the Government for signing and promulgation. The two Decrees will take effect from July 1, 2026, synchronously with the effective date of the Press Law - this ensures no legal loopholes when the law takes effect. 3 Circulars have also been prepared by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to be signed and promulgated immediately when the Government's Decrees are promulgated.
On this occasion, I would like to share some noteworthy new points in the two Decrees, in two directions: what is of positive significance to press activities and what content press agencies need to prepare right now to ensure compliance.
Some new points that press agencies expect:
First, regarding the right to work: for the first time, sub-law documents clearly stipulate that if an agency or organization remains silent beyond the deadline for responding to the press - 30 days for resolving issues, 15 working days for petitions and reflections - the press agency has the right to publish, broadcast that issue or transfer it to a higher-level competent authority. This is the most powerful legal mechanism to protect the press's right to access information to date.
Second, regarding the press card: when a journalist transfers to another press agency and is still eligible for a card, the card can be exchanged immediately, without having to apply for re-issuance from the beginning. In case the contract expires and the card must be returned, if it is received by another press agency within 12 months with a contract of 01 year or more, the card can still be considered for exchange.
Third, regarding the press economy: electronic press agencies are legally integrated with e-commerce, finance, banking, insurance, education, health, and content services as required on their platforms. This is a legal basis for editorial offices to diversify revenue sources and reduce dependence on traditional advertising.
Fourth, about technology: for the first time, a decree on journalism stipulates that the State encourages press agencies to apply artificial intelligence in collecting, producing, analyzing and distributing content. This is an important legal signal creating a clear foundation for editorial digital transformation.
Some content needs to be prepared right now
Besides the new points that are beneficial for press activities, the two Decrees also set out some new obligations stemming from the requirements of information environment governance and the common interests of the entire system. There are three contents that require substantive preparation right now:
First, all content channels on social networks must be notified to management agencies within 10 working days from the time of opening the channel - applicable to all platforms, from YouTube, Facebook to TikTok. When terminating channel operations, it is also necessary to notify at least 10 working days in advance. It is requested that press agencies review and make a complete list of all channels currently operating, assign focal points to carry out procedures immediately from July 1, 2026.
Second, ensure the intact storage of published and broadcast content: online newspapers for 03 months, radio and television for 30 days. It should be emphasized that this is not only a compliance obligation - complete archives are the editorial office's self-protection tool in case of content disputes. It is requested to immediately check the storage infrastructure capacity and internal procedures before July 1, 2026.
Third, connecting the national electronic recording system - effective from January 1, 2028, but technical preparation is needed in 2026. Upgrading the content management system, server and connection interface usually takes from 12 to 18 months. The Ministry will issue detailed technical guidelines in 2027, but requests press agencies to proactively assess infrastructure and arrange investment plans from this year.
3. 2. Towards a press development strategy - not only management but also creation
In addition to perfecting institutions, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism is coordinating with relevant agencies to develop a Strategy for management and development of the press according to the Party's new ideology on press and media in the digital age.
What I want to emphasize is: entering a new stage of development, besides management requirements, we need to pay more attention to the development story - or in other words, to creating development. The strategy being built focuses on issues that state management agencies must accompany press agencies to solve:
- Develop resources for the press, including financial mechanisms, investment in facilities and technical infrastructure, so that press agencies have conditions to operate truly professionally.
- Developing technological capacity, helping the press not only keep up but also proactively master new digital tools, from big data to artificial intelligence.
- Develop high-quality human resources - journalists who are not only skilled in their profession but also have technological capacity, analytical thinking and firm political bravery.
- Develop press economic models suitable for the digital environment, in which the State is responsible for creating a legal framework and support policies so that the press can create sustainable resources itself.
- Develop the competitiveness of Vietnamese journalism in the regional and international information space, in the context of increasingly blurred cross-border information boundaries.
- Developing a digital journalism ecosystem And more broadly, dynamic, modern, creative and sustainable - in which press agencies, journalists, state management agencies, press and media training institutions, digital technology businesses, media and content production companies, distribution platforms, advertisers and the public participate, interact and share responsibilities.
We are clearly aware that state management agencies are responsible not only for building institutions but also for creating a favorable environment for the press to truly promote those irreplaceable values. Problems in mechanisms and operating conditions - the Ministry is ready to listen and jointly remove them.
Comrades,
101 years of Revolutionary Vietnamese Journalism is a journey of bravery, intelligence and dedication. In an era where technology is reshaping everything, that journey will continue - but it requires each press agency, each journalist to set higher requirements for themselves, not only in terms of speed and quantity, but in terms of quality, responsibility and trust.
Wishing leaders, journalists, reporters good health, happiness and success.
Thank you very much!
