Prevent abuse of press forums
(Baonghean) -Freedom of speech and freedom of the press are among the basic rights of citizens as stipulated in the Constitution. Article 2 of the current Press Law clearly states: “The State creates favorable conditions for citizens to exercise their right to freedom of the press and freedom of speech in the press and for the press to properly promote its role.”
Thus, freedom of the press in Vietnam is recognized by law and protected by the State. However, from there, there has been a situation of abuse of freedom of the press at many different levels. Hostile forces have taken advantage of freedom of the press to distort the truth, speak ill of the Party, defame the regime, and incite internal division among the people. The tricks of hostile forces to take advantage of freedom of the press have been exposed to public opinion, and anti-regime elements have been exposed and severely punished by law. However, there is a phenomenon of abuse of freedom of the press that not everyone is aware of, which is taking advantage of press forums to carry out personal intentions.
The press is at the forefront of the fight against corruption, thanks to the press, many major corruption cases have been exposed to public opinion, forcing law enforcement agencies to intervene. However, in the fight against corruption, there have been many cases where the press has been exploited. There are citizens who take advantage of their right to complain and denounce to write petitions demanding personal benefits that are not in accordance with the law. When their rights are not met, they seek to ask journalists to put one-sided information in the press to put pressure on public opinion. There are journalists who lack courage and are bribed by money, using the name of fighting corruption to write articles that subtly distort the truth in order to defend bad elements. There are articles written with impure motives to discredit one person or another.
A very discreet way of taking advantage of the press forum is to write articles discussing social issues but in fact to spread personal views. Public opinion is easily deceived because these personal views are often expressed in the form of "political opinions". The press is the voice of the Party and the State, the forum of the people. The responsibility of the press is to bring the voice of the Party to the people, and at the same time reflect the thoughts and aspirations of the people towards the Party. No individual or group of individuals has the right to take advantage of the press forum to carry out their own intentions. The support of the press agency is not an individual or a group of individuals but a large number of readers and collaborators, representing the thoughts, aspirations and interests of the people.
For a long time, we have paid great attention to combating the commercialization of the press to ensure that press agencies operate in accordance with their principles and purposes. Regarding the abuse of press freedom, we have only focused on refuting the distorted and slanderous arguments of hostile forces, and have not been vigilant against the abuse of press forums among the people. This abuse is no less dangerous, because it causes confusion among a segment of the people about inaccurate information posted in the press.
To combat the phenomenon of abuse of press forums, it is necessary to raise the responsibility of journalists and citizens. Journalists in any position must not give press weapons to some individuals to carry out their own intentions. Citizens have the right to press freedom and freedom of speech, but it must be for the common good, and must not use the press as a tool to demand personal benefits that are not legitimate and contrary to the provisions of the law. It is necessary to raise people's awareness to use press forums for the right purposes.
The Party and the State acknowledge the great contributions of the press to the struggle for national liberation over the past decades and the great role of the press in the current cause of innovation. The people have great trust and always accompany the press in the cause of building and defending the Fatherland. The press forum must not be used to destroy the people's trust in the revolutionary press.
Tran Hong Co
