Notable issues in the Press Law (amended)
Presenting a speech at the workshop, Mr. Luu Dinh Phuc, Director of the Press Department, said that the Draft Press Law (amended) was developed on the basis of Resolution 148/NQ-CP of the Government.
The draft includes 4 major groups of policies: Strengthening the management of press activities; Improving the quality of the press team; Promoting the development of the press economy; and Regulating press activities in cyberspace.
The process of drafting the Press Law (amended), the drafting committee, the editorial team closely followed the opinion of the General Secretary, the Chairman of the National Assembly and the Prime Minister on renewing the thinking thinking of law, concretizing the above 4 policies.
This draft law adds many important provisions, emphasizing the principle of strict, transparent press management and clearly defining the authority between the Central and local governments. It is expected that there will be 30 contents assigned to the Government and competent authorities to specify in detail.
In particular, the Government's Decree will include 25 key issues, such as the mechanism for developing a large-scale media press complex, conditions for granting and revoking licenses, press revenue sources, international linkages and cooperation, standards for appointing leaders, press cards, the right to refuse to provide information, activities in cyberspace, import - export of press...
In addition, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism will issue a circular guiding 5 contents related to licensing, issuing press cards, representative offices, newsletters, specialties, etc.
The draft also proposes to delegate authority to localities to carry out 10 administrative procedures to increase proactiveness and flexibility in state management of the press at the grassroots level.
In addition, the draft also sets out strict principles in cyberspace journalism activities.
" before entering the press, content channels on social networks and Internet applications are required to register and connect the system with management agencies. The content of the broadcast must comply with press law, cybersecurity and international treaties to which Vietnam is a member, Mr. Phuc emphasized.
The State will invest in digital tools to monitor press activities in the online environment, ensuring information security and management efficiency.
The draft also clarifies the process of importing and exporting press, expanding the participation of press agencies or enterprises with import-export functions. At the same time, there will be regulations on conditions for granting a business license for import press distribution services.
Legal infrastructure needs to promote development and integration
In the opening discussion, Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Le Hai Binh emphasized that the completion of the draft Press Law (amended) this time is a basic addition, forming space and mechanisms, creating a legal corridor for press development, helping journalists to feel secure in their profession in the coming years.
The new Draft has some notable contents that need to be reflected on, including the story of the press economy, how digital transformation is and the third is the story of the media complex.
Expressing his opinion, Mr. Pham Manh Hung - Deputy General Director of the Voice of Vietnam - said that the Press Law opens a new era of press development, so we should think about designing and perfecting the law - closely following that direction. In addition, when drafting laws, it is necessary to study and refer to international sources for comparison, but it is necessary to study objectively to see what challenges the Vietnamese press is facing.
The press economy problem emphasized by many delegates is the existence of a large bottleneck. Mr. Le Quoc Vinh, Chairman of Le Group, proposed the law to expand the corridor for press agencies to develop a communication ecosystem, exploit data, and press products and services proactively.
He clearly stated the four main sources of press revenue today: From businesses through advertising and brand cooperation; From social projects; From readers (collecting content fees, membership models); and From self- business activities.
Therefore, the draft law needs to stipulate more clearly the right to financial autonomy and the ability of the press to link up business.
Editor-in-Chief of Tien Phong Newspaper Phung Cong Suong said that Vietnam still lacks a global journalism strategy. He emphasized the need to remove barriers in organizational mechanisms, operating models and especially the press economy.
The press cannot develop strongly if it is still bound like a traditional public service unit, without autonomy or legal basis for business development.
Mr. Suong proposed that it is necessary to clearly define the responsibilities of the governing body, creating conditions for the press to become a comprehensive digital media ecosystem, competitive and internationally integrated.
