Minister of Information and Communications: Do not let the private sector hide behind the press

“Press development must go hand in hand with good press management, not allowing group interests to dominate. The press does not need to be large but must be refined and of high quality,” said Minister Nguyen Bac Son.

Minister Nguyen Bac Son talked with reporters about Circular 19 at the Government press conference on April 1. Photo: ND

At the Government press conference on the afternoon of April 1, answering reporters' questions regarding Circular 19, Minister Nguyen Bac Son said that to manage the State in general and in the press sector in particular, State agencies issue legal documents in accordance with the Law on Promulgation of Legal Documents, which stipulates that ministries issue circulars. The Ministry of Information and Communications shall implement in accordance with the provisions of this Law.

On October 11, 2006, to restore order in the press sector, the Politburo issued Conclusion No. 41 on press work, which clearly stated solutions, affirming that there is no private press, and that private businesses must not hide under the guise of press. The conclusion clearly stated that newspapers that violate the State's policies and guidelines, and that private businesses must hide under the guise of illegal joint ventures and associations, must be strictly handled. The announcement also assigned the Government to plan the press.

According to Minister Son, Circular 19 of 2009 implements this directive so that the press can better carry out its association activities. Article 1 of the current Press Law clearly states that the press is an essential means of mass communication for social life; it is the mouthpiece of Party organizations, State agencies, and social organizations.

Thus, enterprises do not have newspapers. Previously, some corporations and state-owned companies had newspapers. Because some state agencies were converted into enterprises, they still had newspapers. The Minister cited that previously, VietNamNet newspaper belonged to enterprises, then it was transferred to the Ministry of Information and Communications. VTC station, which previously belonged to enterprises, has also been transferred to the Ministry...

However, in the past there were spontaneous association activities for private individuals to hide behind the press.

According to Minister Nguyen Bac Son, when the Ministry of Information and Communications was established, under the direction of the Standing Secretary of the Party Central Committee Truong Tan Sang, the Government assigned the Ministry of Information and Communications to re-evaluate the situation of press activities in general and joint activities in particular, and to build a corridor for these joint activities to strictly manage them. Joint activities are necessary to mobilize social resources in terms of finance and human resources, but only in entertainment programs, not in political and social programs.

The Publishing Law also clearly states that only the exploitation of manuscripts, preliminary editing of manuscripts, printing and distribution of publications are allowed, while the final version must still be approved by the publisher. For works and documents with content on political theory, history, religion, national sovereignty, and memoirs, the publisher is not allowed to jointly edit the preliminary manuscript. As for the press, there is no such regulation, so there must be sub-law regulations to regulate it. It is expected that in June, the Ministry will submit to the Government a new Press Law and in October, it will submit to the National Assembly. While there is no law, the Secretariat and the Government require regulations and sanctions.

On that basis, the Government Office issued a document notifying the Prime Minister's opinion to assign the Ministry of Information and Communications to develop and submit to the Prime Minister regulations on linkage. And then, the Ministry of Information and Communications has 2 submissions to the Prime Minister. To develop this Circular, it is necessary to seek opinions from ministries and branches. The Ministry of Justice affirmed that the Ministry of Information and Communications developed this document in accordance with regulations and procedures for developing legal documents, and has sought opinions from Vietnam Television, Voice of Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh City Television... to receive and explain various issues.

“Circular 19 was issued in accordance with regulations and is in effect,” Minister Son affirmed, adding that in order to facilitate some public service units, Decree 16 of 2015 also clearly states (at Point c, Section 2, Article 5) that joint ventures and associations with organizations and individuals to provide services to meet social needs must comply with the provisions of law.

“All radio and television stations must comply with this regulation. Circular 19 has created a corridor for joint activities, many joint programs have contributed to generating revenue for the units. In the past, we have basically done well, but there are still some things that have not been done well, so there must be sanctions. When there are violations, the Ministry of Information and Communications will handle them based on current regulations,” Minister Son shared.

However, according to the Minister of Information and Communications, if Circular 19 has any points that are no longer suitable, it must be amended. Specifically, recently, the Politburo has issued two concluding announcements, affirming that in the current situation, it is necessary to especially tightly manage this important tool, not allowing the press to develop spontaneously. Press development must go hand in hand with good press management, not allowing group interests to dominate, the press does not need to be large but must be refined and of high quality.

The issue of financial autonomy for the press is also considered appropriately on the basis of clearly distinguishing the press serving political tasks, the press providing information and propaganda with the task of commercial entertainment. The Government is studying regulations on financial autonomy for the remaining newspapers in the direction that the State does not fully subsidize, encouraging agencies to do well, be healthy, and have financial autonomy but not loosening the right to direct and manage.

The conclusion announcement dated November 18, 2014 of the Politburo also clearly stated that there is no private press, but in press activities associated with the private sector, there must be orientation, direction, and management. This is a very important issue that must be clarified.

“With this spirit, Circular 19 will have a number of issues amended and supplemented in a more rigorous spirit, ensuring the attraction of social resources, creating conditions for stations to produce richer but more rigorous programs,” said Minister Nguyen Bac Son.

According to Infonet