Many press agencies owe salaries and royalties

The information was just announced by Mr. Hoang Huu Luong, Director of the Press Department, Ministry of Information and Communications on the afternoon of December 28, at the conference to summarize the work of 2015 and deploy the work plan of 2016 of 4 units under the information and press management sector of the Ministry of Information and Communications.

Looking back at press activities in 2015, Director Hoang Huu Luong shared: “The difficult economy has directly affected the press. Without financial investment and good equipment, it is difficult to make good newspapers. The press economy is also facing difficulties following the economic recession. Circulation has decreased, the number of people accessing online newspapers has decreased, and advertising revenue has also decreased. Budget investment for the press this year is also very difficult. The Party newspaper system receives an average budget investment of about 10 billion VND/newspaper. Some newspapers have an additional 2-3 billion VND from newspaper sales and advertising revenue. Debt to printers, salaries, and royalties is happening in many press agencies.”

However, press activities have also had many positive results. Typically, under the direction of the Ministry of Information and Communications, the Press Department has resolutely directed hourly and daily information for press agencies. Therefore, unlike in the past, when there were Party Congresses at all levels, there was often information disturbance, especially regarding personnel issues, but this year, the information situation has been relatively stable.

Director of the Press Department - Ministry of Information and Communications Hoang Huu Luong. Photo: Xuan Loc.

Also according to information provided by Director Hoang Huu Luong, in the past year, the Press Department has newly issued 20 licenses to operate electronic newspapers and scientific magazines; reissued licenses to 39 press agencies (29 agencies at the central level, 10 at the local level); issued 137 special edition licenses, 75 licenses to publish central-level unit newsletters;

Approved to increase the number of combined periods for 330 cases; Approved to hold press conferences for 110 units; Issued and changed press cards for thousands of cases; Issued 97 licenses to amend and supplement regulations in print press operation licenses (76 central, 21 local);

Review and propose the medical association to appoint 150 leaders of press agencies; The medical association commends 50 press agencies.

Also in the past year, the Press Department issued a decision to stop publishing the following publications: Performing Arts Magazine (3-month suspension), VIP Dat Viet and Global Football publications of Football Newspaper (3-month suspension);

Revoked 2 press agency operating licenses (Glass and Architecture Magazine, Business, Entrepreneurs and Brand Magazine); Suspended 3 press agencies (Organic Magazine, Humanity and Life Newspaper, Humanity Magazine); Revoked 14 press cards (3 press cards of Today Magazine, 1 of Vietnam Family Newspaper, 1 of Thanh Nien Electronic Newspaper, 6 of Automobile Transportation Magazine, 2 of Industry and Trade Magazine, 1 of Journalists and Public Opinion Newspaper).

Regarding inspection activities, the Press Department Inspectorate alone has imposed fines totaling 350 million VND for violations (the Ministry of Information and Communications Inspectorate imposed fines of more than 1 billion VND in the press sector).

Regarding the handling of complaints, similar to previous years, last year the Press Department handled about 200 complaints related to nearly 100 cases published in the press.

According to Infonet