Correcting the situation of taking advantage of the press to harass and engage in illegal activities

Ministry of Information and Communications(TT&TT) has just issued Document No. 4854/BTTTT-CBC to the People's Committees of provinces and centrally-run cities; Vietnam Journalists Association; press management agencies; editors-in-chief of press agencies on rectifying the situation of taking advantage of the press name to harass and operate illegally.

Recently, the Ministry of Information and Communications has received a lot of information and feedback about a number of press agencies, mainly magazines belonging to social organizations and socio-professional organizations, taking advantage of the name of the press to operate illegally and harass agencies, businesses and localities.

That is the situation where some press agencies, journalists, reporters, and collaborators have behaviors that exceed their functions, duties, and powers, with many ways of causing trouble such as: sending documents requesting explanations, providing information, assigning journalists, issuing letters of introduction to reporters and collaborators to work on issues that are not in accordance with the principles and purposes stated in the license; requesting to provide all records and documents like inspection and investigation agencies; exerting pressure by continuously calling, texting...

In particular, there is a phenomenon of some journalists, reporters, and collaborators taking advantage of having one-sided, unverified internal information about the shortcomings and errors of agencies, businesses, and localities to suggest, pressure, and even threaten, then propose to sign media and advertising contracts or make illegal profits; extort agencies, businesses, and individuals, especially during the period near Lunar New Year and major holidays.

Document on rectifying the situation of taking advantage of the press to harass and engage in illegal activities.

These are substandard activities, showing signs of violating professional ethics and the law; affecting legal activities and causing frustration for agencies, businesses and localities; seriously damaging the reputation and image of genuine press agencies and journalists. This phenomenon has existed for a while, but recently has tended to increase and become more complicated.

Part of the reason is the degradation and weakness of ethics; lax management and education of the governing body and press agencies; lack of control by press agency leaders, allowing a number of reporters and collaborators to not actually perform their professional duties, taking advantage of the name of journalism for personal gain. In addition, it cannot be ruled out that some press agency leaders may create economic pressure, even assigning revenue and advertising targets to representative offices, journalists, reporters and collaborators; thereby turning a blind eye and condoning the above-mentioned acts of harassment.

To limit this situation, in the coming time, the Ministry of Information and Communications will direct functional units to strengthen inspection, review and strictly handle violations of press laws according to Decree No. 119/2020/ND-CP dated October 7, 2020 of the Government stipulating administrative sanctions for violations in press and publishing activities, focusing on acts of press agencies that do not comply with their principles and purposes; acts of heads of press agencies assigning or delegating authority to subordinates to assign journalists and reporters to conduct press activities that do not comply with their principles and purposes; acts of journalists conducting press activities that do not comply with the principles and purposes stated in the license of the agency where they are working.

For complicated cases with signs of criminal violations, the Ministry of Information and Communications will transfer and coordinate with relevant agencies for consideration and handling.

In order to contribute to correcting and thoroughly limiting the above-mentioned painful situation, there needs to be a drastic and synchronous participation of relevant agencies, organizations and responsible individuals. Therefore, the Ministry of Information and Communications proposes:

For the People's Committees of provinces and centrally run cities: Implement and direct departments, branches, localities, and affiliated units to coordinate, provide, and transparently provide information for requests for information in accordance with regulations, principles, and purposes, ensuring the right to information of press agencies, ensuring that press agencies operate in accordance with the law; resolutely not execute communication and advertising contracts when there are signs of taking advantage of the name of the press to harass and profit.

Instruct agencies, organizations and individuals, in case of detecting signs of taking advantage of the name of the press to conduct illegal activities or harassment, to keep evidence and promptly report to local authorities (Police Department, Department of Information and Communications, Provincial Journalists Association...) for strict handling according to regulations. At the same time, notify the results of handling so that the Ministry of Information and Communications can coordinate with the Central Propaganda Department and the Vietnam Journalists Association to take measures to rectify the activities of press agencies.

Direct the Department of Information and Communications to strengthen state management of the press in the locality; perform the responsibility of managing and inspecting the activities of representative offices and resident reporters in the locality according to regulations; proactively promote the authority assigned by law, especially in Decree 119/2020/ND-CP dated October 7, 2020 of the Government stipulating administrative sanctions for violations in press and publishing activities to strictly handle violations, including those in the activities of central press agencies.

For press management agencies: Focus on Party building work in press agencies. Enhance the role and responsibility of leadership and comprehensive direction of Party committees, Party organizations, and heads of management agencies for the activities of affiliated press agencies. Pay closer attention to the activities of affiliated press agencies. Direct press agencies to properly implement the principles and purposes stated in the license.

Regularly inspect and supervise; review, consider and strictly handle the responsibility of the head of the press agency if the press agency is disciplined for violations or if journalists, reporters and collaborators violate the law. Focus on investment, ensure regular funding and necessary conditions for the operation of the affiliated press agency. Annually, arrange budget and resources to order or support the press agency to carry out political, information and propaganda tasks. Do not impose financial obligations on the affiliated press agency contrary to the law. Direct the affiliated press agency to develop and approve the annual operation plan; regularly urge and inspect the implementation status.

For heads of press agencies: Strengthen information discipline and management of journalists, reporters, and collaborators. Direct press agencies to properly implement the principles and purposes stated in the license. When requesting information or issuing a letter of introduction, the content must be consistent with the principles and purposes stated in the license; the letter of introduction must clearly state which agency or organization to work with, what content, and specific time. Do not issue a letter of introduction to people who are not reporters of the press agency; do not issue a letter of introduction to collaborators but state the title as reporter.

For the head of the representative office and local resident reporters, due to the distance from the editorial office, it is necessary to carefully select personnel with good political and ethical qualities and monitor and supervise activities regularly and closely.

The Ministry of Information and Communications also requested the Vietnam Journalists Association to enhance its role in educating and fostering professional ethics for journalists. Direct provincial Journalists Associations, branches and sub-branches to step up monitoring, supervision, inspection and clear conclusions for journalists who violate the Code of Professional Ethics for Journalists and the Rules for Using Social Networks for Vietnamese Journalists to serve as a basis for further handling.

According to the Ministry of Information and Communications, in order to contribute to correcting and thoroughly limiting the above-mentioned painful situation, there needs to be drastic and synchronous participation of relevant agencies, organizations and responsible individuals.

During the implementation process, if there are any difficulties or problems, the units should contact and report to the Press Department (Ministry of Information and Communications, No. 7 Yet Kieu, Hai Ba Trung District, Hanoi; hotline number: 0865.28.28.28) for discussion and guidance./.