The press highlights the revolution in streamlining the political system's organizational apparatus.

The Central Propaganda Department, the Ministry of Information and Communications, and the Vietnam Journalists Association have just reported on press work in 2024 and directions, tasks, and solutions for 2025.

According to the report, there are currently 884 press agencies nationwide, including 812 newspapers, magazines and 74 radio and television stations. In 2024, print and electronic newspapers will have an estimated revenue of VND8,080 billion, down about 6.1% compared to 2023, of which advertising will decrease by about 5.6%. Radio and television will have a revenue of VND9,140 billion.

Statistics show that the number of personnel working in the press sector has not changed much, about 41,000 people, of which about 16,500 are in the radio and television sector. As of December 2024, about 21,000 people have been granted press cards.

Affirming the role of leadership and orientation

Regarding the press's operations in 2024, press agencies basically seriously implemented the leadership, direction and information orientation of the Party and State; closely followed the goal of maintaining political stability, creating social consensus and people's trust in the Party and the regime, together moving towards a new era, an era of national growth.

Press agencies continue to promote information and propaganda on the implementation and concretization of the Resolution of the 13th National Congress into life; propagate the results of the 13th Party Central Committee Conferences, National Assembly Sessions, resolutions, conclusions, directives and decisions of the Central Committee, Politburo, Secretariat, National Assembly, Government; propagate boldly and extensively important political and diplomatic events and major national holidays...

In 2024, the press will continue to proactively promote propaganda on Party building and rectification work; prevent and combat corruption and negativity; protect the Party's ideological foundation and fight against erroneous and hostile views; spread and praise good people and good deeds... affirming its leading and guiding role to well carry out the mission of revolutionary journalism and create social consensus.

In particular, the press information highlighted the direction of the Politburo, identifying the summarization of Resolution 18 and the arrangement and completion of the organizational apparatus of the political system to be streamlined, operating effectively and efficiently as a particularly important task, a revolution in streamlining the organizational apparatus of the political system, requiring a very high level of unity in awareness and action throughout the Party and the entire political system.

After 1 year of implementing Directive No. 07 of the Prime Minister on strengthening policy communication, the number of news and articles on policy communication increased from 11% to 20% (total news and articles in newspapers annually is 40 million; television 50 thousand hours; radio 20 thousand hours). Budget for policy communication of localities increased by about 10%, in which some provinces budget for policy communication increased by 50%.

The press has done a good job in informing and propagating about storm No. 3, the strongest storm in 30 years in the East Sea and in the past 70 years on land that directly hit our country. However, the work of responding to and overcoming the consequences of storms and floods has received early and drastic direction from the leaders of the Party, State, Government, Prime Minister, and the synchronous participation of the entire political system and community, forces, including the information and propaganda system... thereby partly minimizing the damage.

The report also pointed out some limitations of the press in 2024. Specifically, there are signs that the heads of press agencies are lax in managing and controlling information content.

There are still some journalists, reporters, and collaborators who take advantage of having one-sided, unverified internal information about the shortcomings and mistakes of agencies, businesses, and localities to exert pressure, even threaten, and then propose signing media and advertising contracts, participating in the press agency's social activity fund, or making illegal profits.

These are substandard activities, showing signs of violating professional ethics and the law. Since the beginning of 2024, about 14 journalists have been prosecuted by the prosecution agency, including the head of the magazine agency.

The report also pointed out that the depth and specialization of magazines belonging to associations and institutes, especially electronic magazines, have not received proper attention and access; many electronic magazines still show a tendency to simply reflect and inform on events, leading to information that is not consistent with the objectives and nature of the magazine's activities.

Removing economic difficulties in journalism

In 2024, the Ministry of Information and Communications has made efforts to carry out processes, procedures, and reports so that on November 7, the Government submitted to the National Assembly Standing Committee a proposal to add a number of draft laws and draft resolutions to the 2025 Law and Ordinance Development Program, including the draft Press Law (amended). Thereby, fundamentally resolving the shortcomings and problems that have existed in the past and promoting the press to develop strongly, in the right direction, and to do a good job of state management.

The Ministry of Information and Communications advised the Government to issue Decree No. 147 on the management, provision and use of Internet services and online information. In particular, cross-border social networks and platforms must reach an agreement with press agencies on whether to allow the use of their articles, share links and share article content.

In order to remove economic difficulties in journalism for press agencies, on June 14, the Ministry of Information and Communications issued Circular No. 05 guiding the development, appraisal and promulgation of economic and technical norms for public services using the State budget in the field of journalism under the state management of the Ministry of Information and Communications.

Thereby, creating more favorable conditions for press units to implement the state's policy on autonomy of public service units and enhancing conditions for receiving orders and assigning tasks from competent state agencies.

Regarding the direction and management of the press, the Central Propaganda Department, the Ministry of Information and Communications, and the Journalists Association continue to closely coordinate and proactively direct and manage press activities. Ensure unified and timely direction and provision of information, especially on important, sensitive, and complicated issues, ensuring that the press maintains its role in guiding and controlling information in society.

The work of directing, guiding and managing information is implemented with innovative, proactive and timely methods in many forms: Documents, direct exchanges, using Zalo social platform, Viber application...

According to the assessment, in 2024, press management agencies will also strengthen reminders and timely corrections for signs of politically insensitive information, manifestations of not following the principles and purposes; resolutely handle cases of false information, not implementing the principles and purposes.

In particular, promptly issued a document reminding and requesting the competent authority to dismiss the head of the press agency, and resolutely not re-appoint the head of the press agency that has committed many violations in press activities.

Continue to promote the use of information technology in information management and direction; maintain the implementation of the "manage by large numbers" method, in which technology is used to measure and evaluate press activities to grasp and recognize information trends, and detect manifestations that require timely adjustment.

The Vietnam Journalists Association at all levels continues to direct and organize the emulation movement "Building a cultural environment in press agencies"; deploy many practical and effective activities that have a widespread influence in press life; many press agencies have developed a set of rules on standards of "ethics and lifestyle of party members, cadres, civil servants, public employees, and journalists".