Promulgating regulations on speaking and providing information to the press

The Prime Minister has just issuedRegulationsSpeaking and providing information to the press, regulations on speaking and providing information to the press of ministries, ministerial-level agencies, government agencies, People's Committees of provinces and centrally run cities according to current press laws.

Government spokesman, Minister and Head of the Government Office Vu Duc Dam speaks at the regular press conference in April 2013 - Photo: VGP

Specifically, the Spokesperson and information provider for the press of State administrative agencies includes:

1- Head of State administrative agency

2- The person assigned by the head of a State administrative agency to speak and provide information to the press regularly (Spokesperson).
The full name, position, telephone number and email address of the Spokesperson must be announced in writing to press agencies and State press management agencies and must be posted on the electronic information portal or website of the State administrative agency.

3- In case of necessity, the head of a State administrative agency may authorize a responsible person of his agency to speak (Authorized Spokesperson) or coordinate with the Spokesperson to speak or provide information to the press on specific assigned issues.

If the spokesperson specified in Point 2 above is absent and unable to make statements and provide information to the press, he/she must report to the Head of the administrative agency to authorize a responsible person of his/her agency to make statements and provide information to the press.

The authorization to speak is made in writing, applies only to each case and has a certain time limit.

When making authorization, the full name, position, telephone number and email address of the authorized spokesperson and the authorization document must be posted on the electronic information portal or website of the State administrative agency within 12 hours from the time of signing the authorization document.

The Spokesperson and Authorized Person specified in Points 2 and 3 above may not further authorize others.

In particular, the regulations also clearly state that individuals of State administrative agencies are allowed to provide information to the press according to the provisions of law, but are not allowed to speak or provide press information on behalf of State administrative agencies; are not allowed to disclose investigation secrets, official secrets, or false information; are honest when providing information to the press and are responsible before the law for the content of the information provided.

Provide monthly information on the direction and administration activities of the Government and the Prime Minister

According to the Regulations, the Minister and Head of the Government Office shall preside over and coordinate with ministries, ministerial-level agencies, government agencies, and People's Committees of provinces and centrally-run cities to periodically provide information to the press once a month on the activities and direction and administration of the Government and the Prime Minister in the form of press conferences and posting on the Government's Electronic Information Portal.

The Government Electronic Information Portal is responsible for updating information according to current regulations to provide timely and accurate official information to press agencies nationwide.

Ministries, ministerial-level agencies, government agencies, People's Committees of provinces and centrally-run cities shall organize the provision of periodic information to the press about the activities of their agencies, about the fields and areas under their management through the following forms: Monthly provision of periodic information to the press and updating information on the electronic information portal or electronic news page of their agencies; At least once every 3 months, holding press conferences to provide periodic information to the press; Providing timely and accurate information to the Government Electronic Information Portal according to current regulations.

Where necessary, State administrative agencies shall periodically provide information to the press in writing or directly at weekly meetings organized by the Central Propaganda Department, the Ministry of Information and Communications and the Vietnam Journalists Association.

Providing information in 3 sudden, unusual cases

The Regulations clearly state that the Spokesperson or Authorized Spokesperson is responsible for speaking and providing timely and accurate information to the press in three unusual and sudden cases:

1- When it is deemed necessary to inform the press about important events and issues that have a major impact on society within the scope of management of State administrative agencies in order to promptly warn and guide public opinion.

In case of an incident that requires immediate initial information from a State administrative agency, the Spokesperson or authorized Spokesperson is responsible for proactively speaking and providing information to the press within a maximum of 1 day from the time the incident occurs.

2- When a press agency or a State agency directing and managing the press requests a statement or provides information about events and issues of the agency or field under the agency's management that have been mentioned in the press or about the above-mentioned events and issues.

3- When there is reason to believe that the press has published false information about the field or area under the management of the agency, the Spokesperson or the authorized Spokesperson shall request that press agency to publish feedback and corrections in accordance with the provisions of law.

Press agencies and journalists are responsible for publishing, broadcasting, and truthfully reflecting the content of statements and information provided by the Spokesperson or Authorized Spokesperson, and must clearly state the full name of the Spokesperson or Authorized Spokesperson.

In case the press agency publishes or broadcasts the correct information content provided by the Spokesperson or Authorized Spokesperson, it shall not be responsible for the content of that information.

According to (Chinhphu.vn) - LT