Quy Chau district reports case of 'signs of impersonating journalists to harass'

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Document No. 605/BC-UBND "on press activities not in accordance with regulations" of the People's Committee of Quy Chau district dated October 14, 2020, has the following content:

On October 9, 2020, the People's Committee of Quy Chau district received report No. 74/BC-UBND dated June 6, 2020 from the People's Committee of Chau Binh commune, Quy Chau district on the suspicion of impersonating a journalist. The People's Committee of Quy Chau district reported the incident as follows: At 4:30 p.m. on September 23, 2020, at the headquarters of the Party Committee - People's Council - People's Committee of Chau Binh commune, 3 people (1 male and 2 females), aged 30-35, appeared.

These subjects walked around the offices, looked around, and took out their personal phones to take photos and videos. One person went to work with an officer of the Chau Binh Commune People's Committee Office, claiming to be a journalist and asking for the phone number of the Commune People's Committee Chairman. The People's Committee officer did not provide the phone number because he had not provided any documents; his information and background were unclear. Then all three people left the headquarters of the Chau Binh Commune Party Committee - People's Council - People's Committee.

At 4:58 p.m., one of the three people sent previously recorded images and videos to the messenger application to the Accounting Officer of the Commune People's Committee (who had previously contacted the commune to request data). The above incident was recorded by the Chau Binh Commune People's Committee, ending at 5:30 p.m. on September 23, 2020.(Minutes are attached to this report).

Document No. 605/BC-UBND "on press activities that do not comply with regulations" of the People's Committee of Quy Chau district; One of the text messages that the Chau Binh commune People's Committee staff copied from the phone screen.

During their stay in Chau Binh commune, these 3 people left a set of documents at the tea shop of Ms. Ha Thi N., Luong Lanh village, Chau Binh commune, Quy Chau district. At 7:30 a.m. on September 24, 2020, Ms. Ha Thi N. handed over the file to Chau Binh commune police. The file included an introduction letter from the Ethnic and Modern Magazine No. 226/GGT-DTTĐ, issued on February 15, 2020, signed by Editor-in-Chief Assoc. Prof. Dr. Le Ngoc Thang; a number of contracts for introducing advertising information in the Green Knowledge magazine.

On September 28, 2020, Ms. Nguyen Thi Van, born on April 20, 1984. Permanent residence: Nghi Xuan district, Ha Tinh province; ID number: 183426924, issued by Ha Tinh Provincial Police on December 2, 2013, went to Chau Binh Commune Police to report and request to receive the abandoned property. At 4:40 p.m. on September 28, 2020, Chau Binh Commune Police handed over the file to Ms. Nguyen Thi Van.

(There is a record of the return of property and a commitment from Ms. Nguyen Thi Van that she has received all the lost property attached to this report)

Based on the report of Chau Binh Commune People's Committee, the minutes of the incident of Chau Binh Commune People's Committee, Chau Binh Commune Police Department and related documents and papers. Quy Chau District People's Committee has the following opinions:

1. The act of a group of people, including Ms. Nguyen Thi Van, filming and taking photos and not presenting documents when coming to Chau Binh Commune People's Committee for work is against regulations.

2. In the file kept and photographed at Chau Binh Commune Police Station, there is a Letter of Introduction from the Ethnic and Times Magazine introducing Ms. Nguyen Thi Van as a reporter (pen name Ha Van) dated February 15, 2020, assigned to:“Agencies and businesses”Contact about:"Exploiting information to serve the press"; Letter of introduction from February 15, 2020 and valid until December 30, 2020.(A photocopy of the letter of introduction is attached to this report)

Pursuant to Official Dispatch No. 3366/BTTTT-CBC dated September 28, 2016 of the Ministry of Information and Communications on the use of documents and cards that can be confused with the Journalist card. The introduction letter of the Ethnic and Modern Magazine for Ms. Nguyen Thi Van (pen name Ha Van) is not in accordance with regulations. The agency assigned to the work; the content of work and the time of work are not clearly stated.

The District People's Committee would like to report the incident and respectfully request the Provincial Party Committee's Propaganda Department and the Department of Information and Communications of Nghe An province to know the incident and give instructions.

Prevent illegal press activities!

This is the proposal of the Ministry of Information and Communications in Document No. 2595/BTTTT-CBC (issued on July 14, 2020) sent to ministries, branches, and central agencies; Provincial Party Committees and People's Committees of provinces and cities; and press management agencies.

In Document No. 2595/BTTTT-CBC, the Ministry of Information and Communications provided the following information: “Recently, the Ministry of Information and Communications has received many reports on the situation of reporters being introduced by the Editor-in-Chief or the person authorized to sign letters of introduction to agencies, organizations, businesses and individuals to work, publish news and articles that are not consistent with the principles and purposes of the press agency, contrary to the regulations on the duties and powers of the head of the press agency as prescribed inPress Law. The fact that many journalists and reporters do not operate in accordance with the principles and purposes of the press agencies they work for has affected the reputation and image of press agencies and the team of journalists and reporters operating in accordance with the law; caused outrage in public opinion, and affected the legal operations of agencies, organizations and businesses.

Thereby, it is proposed that: The principles and purposes of press agencies have been publicly posted on the electronic information portal of the Ministry of Information and Communications at the addresshttps://mic.gov.Pages/TinTuc/142418/Ton-chi-muc-dich-cac-co-quan-bao-chi.htmlTherefore, the Ministry of Information and Communications requests that agencies, organizations, and responsible individuals, within the scope of their functions and duties, consider and weigh the provision of information when receiving requests for information from press agencies, journalists, and reporters, ensuring the right to information of press agencies, ensuring that press agencies operate in accordance with the law and in accordance with their objectives.

At the same time, the Ministry of Information and Communications emphasized: "When contacting and providing information, responsible agencies, organizations and individuals have the right to request journalists and reporters to present a valid press card or letter of introduction and clearly state which agency or organization they are working with, what content, and specific time.

In case of detecting signs of taking advantage of the press name to conduct illegal activities or harassment, it is recommended that agencies, organizations and responsible individuals keep evidence, promptly report and provide it to the Press Department's hotline or the hotline of the local Department of Information and Communications so that competent state agencies can take measures to prevent and handle violations.

Implementing the direction of the Ministry of Information and Communications in Official Dispatch No. 2595/BTTTT-CBC dated September 10, 2020, the Provincial People's Committee issued Official Dispatch No. 6142/UBND-TH "On speaking and providing information to the press”sent to provincial departments, branches, sectors and mass organizations; People's Committees of districts, cities and towns. The content of Official Dispatch No. 6142/UBND-TH, in addition to regulating the responsibilities of spokespersons of provincial departments, branches, sectors and mass organizations; People's Committees of districts, cities and towns; also notifies the hotlines of the Press Department and the Department of Information and Communications. In order to thereby, when detecting signs of illegal exploitation of the press or harassment, responsible agencies, organizations and individuals should promptly report to take measures to prevent and handle violations.