"The press overcomes commercialization and escapes from its principles"

Head of the Central Propaganda Department Dinh The Huynh requested that in 2013, press agencies need to create real and clear changes in overcoming the situation of "commercialization" and deviating from the principles and purposes that has lasted for too long; and have specific solutions to the situation of the number of television channels exceeding the necessary level.



Head of the Central Propaganda Department Dinh The Huynh. (Photo: Nguyen Dan/VNA)

Directing at the closing session of the National Press Conference to deploy key tasks in 2013, jointly organized by the Central Propaganda Department, the Ministry of Information and Communications and the Vietnam Journalists Association in Hanoi, Mr. Huynh also stated that in order to do that, the directing, managing and governing agencies need to have a program to review and evaluate the implementation of the principles and purposes of press agencies; clearly point out the advantages, achievements, limitations and shortcomings; deeply analyze the causes; clearly state the responsibilities of each agency and each level, have a resolute and timely attitude in handling violations, and at the same time, reward and commend press agencies that seriously implement and have many advantages and achievements.

The closing session was also attended by Mr. Le Hong Anh, Politburo member, Permanent Secretary of the Party Central Committee Secretariat.

Highlighting the country's major tasks in 2013, Mr. Dinh The Huynh emphasized that, together with the people, press agencies must promote information and propaganda work, effectively participating in the implementation of the country's important tasks.

The Head of the Central Propaganda Department requested that governing bodies, directing and managing agencies, and press agencies need to clearly recognize the characteristics of society with strong development and the increasingly great influence and domination of media on the internet.

Therefore, to maintain their position and role in guiding public opinion, those working in the press must further promote their proactiveness and persuasiveness in directing, guiding, managing, and in information and propaganda on the basis of firmly grasping, flexibly and creatively applying the viewpoints, mottos, political orientations, regulations and principles of the Party and the laws of the State in press activities.

Press agencies need to do a better job of forecasting, analyzing, and processing information; strengthen coordination between press agencies and all levels, sectors, and press agencies; proactively orient and create conditions for the press to access and capture information, especially important, complex, sensitive information that is of interest to public opinion; overcome the situation of avoiding information to maintain and create a proactive position, on that basis, perform well the function of orienting public opinion; limit, repel, neutralize, and refute false information and hostile arguments.

Closely following the country's renovation process, the press discovers and commends advanced models and patriotic emulation movements; affirms bright spots, changes, positive results, and prospects of the economy... Information in the press about all aspects of social life must ensure comprehensiveness and authenticity, with high social responsibility and civic duty.

This is both a requirement and a challenge for each journalist and press agency. The requirement is very difficult, but only then can the press contribute to creating excitement, trust and consensus among the people, leading the country forward to victory in the cause of innovation, building and firmly defending the Fatherland.

Mr. Dinh The Huynh requested to speed up the progress of building and implementing topics, projects, and legal documents in the field of journalism; review and evaluate the results and progress of implementing recommendations on specific mechanisms and policies proposed at the 2012 National Conference of Press Cadres; coordinate with relevant sectors and agencies to remove obstacles and problems, creating the best conditions for the press to operate and develop.

Press management agencies, press agencies, and associations at all levels need to pay special attention and take more care in Party building, association building, and building a team of journalists with strong political qualities and mettle, clear professional ethics, good professional capacity, mastery of technology, and modern journalism.

Head of the Central Propaganda Department Dinh The Huynh requested that the press management and direction agencies pay attention to, receive, and seriously consider resolving the recommendations of press agencies on: press economics, planning, press system management, technology and facilities, press techniques, and press copyright.

Mr. Huynh requested that immediately after the Conference, with the urgent spirit of journalists, press agencies actively and effectively deploy the key tasks of information and propaganda work and the solutions discussed and agreed upon by the Conference.

[Improving the quality of journalism work in 2013]

The conference unanimously agreed that over the past year, press agencies and the team of Vietnamese revolutionary journalists continued to uphold their role and promote the glorious tradition of revolutionary journalism organized and trained by Uncle Ho; took the lead on the ideological and cultural front led by the Party; were loyal to the interests of the people and the country, maintained political orientation, and effectively carried out information and propaganda work on the country's key tasks in 2012 and early 2013.

The conference analyzed and clarified the main limitations and shortcomings in press work in 2012; analyzed the causes of limitations and shortcomings, presented lessons learned and discussed solutions.

The conference affirmed that in order to overcome limitations and shortcomings, in the coming time, press work needs to closely follow the Party's political and ideological orientation, effectively coordinate leadership work with State management work; be more closely connected with reality; be proactive, timely, and creative in handling information on the basis of mastering the Party's principles and regulations and State laws; and strictly implement working procedures.

The conference discussed and assessed the situation, determined the direction, goals and tasks of press work in 2013 - the pivotal year for implementing the goals, tasks and 5-year plan 2011-2015 with key tasks: promoting the responsibility of Party committees, Party organizations, editorial boards, editors-in-chief and each reporter.

The press has stepped up propaganda on the Resolution of the 11th Party Congress, the Resolutions, Directives, and Conclusions of the Central Committee, the Politburo, the Secretariat, the National Assembly, and the Government; propagated the amendment of the 1992 Constitution, the amendment of the Land Law, the Resolution of the 4th Central Committee (11th tenure) "Some urgent issues on Party building at present" associated with promoting the study and following of Ho Chi Minh's moral example; propagated solutions to curb inflation, stabilize the macro-economy, ensure social security, restructure the economy, and innovate the growth model with creative, vivid, effective, and right-oriented forms.

The press actively fights against corruption, waste, and negative social phenomena. The press performs its critical function in a scientific and constructive spirit; actively and proactively fights against false information and arguments of hostile forces; expands international communication exchanges; and organizes practical and effective social activities.

The conference focused on discussing solutions to improve the quality and effectiveness of propaganda work to bring Party resolutions, policies and laws of the State into life; experience in fighting against the plot of "peaceful evolution"; strengthening and improving the quality and effectiveness of information to orient public opinion; implementing the overall planning of the press; overcoming shortcomings, defects, inadequacies and waste in the press field...

At the conference, the Central Propaganda Department and the Ministry of Information and Communications commended a number of units and press agencies with outstanding achievements in information and propaganda work on political and economic events and tasks; and in organizing practical and meaningful social activities in 2012./.

According to Vietnam+ -TH