Should stop immediately the side information about the murder case in Binh Phuoc

Last week, despite the direction of the Ministry of Information and Communications, many press agencies continuously and chaotically reported information about the details surrounding the murder case in Binh Phuoc.

Faced with the above pressing issue, Deputy Minister of Information and Communications Truong Minh Tuan discussed the information situation before the weekly press conference in Hanoi.

Deputy Minister of Information and Communications Truong Minh Tuan

- Dear Deputy Minister, society is being "flooded" with information about the murder case in Binh Phuoc. There are two different opinions about this phenomenon. One opinion is indignant because the press has published it so widely, the other opinion says it is necessary to "make a big fuss" about the case without limiting it. What is the Deputy Minister's opinion on this issue?

- Clear information about the above murder case is necessary, but as I said, that information must be positive, educational, warning, supporting the legal process, and useful to society... I do not agree with the viewpoint of any press agency that it is necessary to make a "big fuss" about all information about this heartbreaking case. The press should not be indifferent, insensitive to the pain and loss of others, and should not be cruel enough to lead the public to entertain themselves with thrilling details of the crime.

- Deputy Minister, could you please tell us the direction of the Ministry of Information and Communications before the media crisis about the case in Binh Phuoc?

- When the case happened, on behalf of the state management agency in this field, I had my opinion about the information about the case. The Ministry of Public Security sent a spokesperson, the Ministry of Public Security also held a press conference, proactively providing information widely while the case was under investigation.

Now that the case has entered the litigation stage, the press's indiscriminate reporting of information, putting pressure on the investigative agency and disrupting information, is a serious violation. All press agencies should stop violating personal rights, giving themselves illegal jurisdiction, causing bad public opinion and affecting education and social morality.

- Deputy Minister, specifically, are there any sanctions for the State management agency to handle information affecting social ethics?

- Every organization, agency, profession or citizen has its own rights in the spirit of the rule of law. But the press, like other professions, must not abuse its power. In addition to the press law, press agencies and journalists are also regulated by other laws.

However, as a special profession, journalism plays a very important role in society. The impact of press information through incidents like this can corrupt social morality. The identity of violence is always latent somewhere, the press should not stimulate evil but promote goodness.

The press information effect has happened in the Le Van Luyen murder case. When this defendant was brought to trial, many young people attending the court session waved to the defendant, seemingly “admiring”. It would be dangerous if this were to happen again. As the state management agency of the press, we will prevent this abuse of power. All acts of violating professional ethics of the press have sanctions and need to be strictly implemented.

- Deputy Minister, can the press continue to report on the above case and how?

- The press has the right to inform the public about the investigation process but must restrain itself, not report in a way that incriminates and must not express opinions about the defendant's crime, which according to the law is the right of the Court. During the investigation, prosecution and litigation stages, the press also has the right to inform but must not convict the suspect or defendant, must not distort information, or orient information to influence the prosecution agencies.

Once again, I request all newspapers, especially electronic newspapers and electronic information sites, to immediately stop reporting violations of the law as mentioned above to support information during the investigation process.

Require press agencies not to pressure journalists to "clickbait" news, forcing them to violate professional ethics and abandon their civic responsibilities.

A true press agency needs to know that the public now demands information on many issues and aspects of society, so don't lose trust by chasing after thrilling news like the current case in Binh Phuoc!

Thank you, Deputy Minister!

According to Infonet