Reporters and contributors become "parasites."

(Baonghean) - As the founder of revolutionary Vietnamese journalism, President Ho Chi Minh once demanded that journalists clearly define their target audience and the mission of journalism as serving the people; in criticizing evil, wrong, and backwardness, they must also contribute to instilling in the public faith in truth and the strictness of the law… However, looking back at journalistic activities in the past, some reporters and collaborators have violated journalistic ethics, eroding public trust.

Reporters and contributors extorting money...

The case of three individuals, including reporters and contributors to the Law Protection Newspaper, who extorted money from businesses and organizations, which was brought to trial by the People's Court of Yen Thanh District on November 7, 2016, truly shocked society and seriously affected the image of journalists and reporters.

These three individuals are Nguyen Gia Thoa (born in 1989, residing in Tan Hoi commune, Dan Phuong district, Hanoi), Phan Van Quan (born in 1974, residing in Hoa Thanh commune, Yen Thanh district), and Bui Van Toan (born in 1980, residing on Nguyen Chinh street, Tan Mai ward, Hoang Mai district, Hanoi).

Thoa and Quan were collaborators, while Toan was a reporter for the Law Protection Newspaper. These individuals extorted money from the Thanh Chung Cooperative in Tho Hop commune (Quy Hop district), the Thanh Son enterprise, and the People's Committee of Bao Thanh commune (both in Yen Thanh district), organizations and units with some "issues" in mineral exploitation and management. Their actions were caught red-handed by the Yen Thanh District Police on the evening of April 1, 2016, while they were receiving 20 million VND from Mr. Nguyen Cao Chung, the Director of the Thanh Chung Cooperative.

Nguyen Gia Thoa and Phan Van Quan were arrested while extorting money from a business, along with the money seized by the police.

The incident has been clarified by the investigating agency: in late March 2016, Thoa and Quan gathered information about illegal mineral exploitation in Tho Hop commune, Quy Hop district. Subsequently, Thoa wrote an article titled "Quy Hop, Nghe An: Despite the law, businesses continue to freely exploit resources." On April 1, 2016, Thoa received two phone calls from Mr. Nguyen Cao Chung (born in 1967, residing in Minh Hop commune, Quy Hop district) requesting that the article be stopped.

However, Thoa disagreed and sent the article to Bui Van Toan, asking him to review it. Around 8 PM that same day, Quan met with Thoa and said that Mr. Chung wanted to stop the article. Thoa replied, "If he's so eager to cooperate, why doesn't he talk to me directly?"; then agreed to meet Mr. Chung in Yen Thanh district. At the same time, she called Bui Van Toan, telling him to "stop sending the article, the company is requesting it." Around 11:45 PM on April 1, 2016, the meeting between Mr. Chung, Thoa, and Quan took place. Thoa stipulated that if Mr. Chung stopped the article, he had to give her 50 million VND to "handle" things with his boss. When Thoa received the 20 million VND advance from Mr. Chung, she was caught red-handed by the Yen Thanh District Police.

From this incident, the investigating agency further clarified the extortion activities of the suspects against Thanh Son enterprise and the People's Committee of Bao Thanh commune.

Regarding the criminal acts, on September 1, 2016, the People's Procuracy of Yen Thanh District prosecuted defendants Nguyen Gia Thoa, Phan Van Quan, and Bui Van Toan for the crime of extortion under Clauses 1 and 2 of Article 135 of the Penal Code. At the trial of the People's Court of Yen Thanh District, Nguyen Gia Thoa, Phan Van Quan, and Bui Van Toan admitted to exploiting their positions as reporters and contributors to the Law Protection Newspaper, reporting on and writing articles about violations by organizations and units, and then "negotiating" how much money would be required to stop publishing the articles.

The verdict read by the presiding judge at the trial clearly stated: The defendants' actions demonstrated recklessness and disregard for the law. Their criminal acts not only violated the property rights of organizations and businesses protected by the State and the law, but also disrupted social order and security, causing public outrage. Therefore, a strict punishment of the defendants is necessary to serve as an educational, deterrent, and preventative measure for the general public.

The evidence seized by the police when arresting Quan and Thoa.

Threaten the facility, then demand a contract.

In early 2014, in Hung Nguyen district, an incident occurred involving a young man from the North, claiming to be a journalist from a central-level newspaper, who requested a meeting with school leaders. During the meeting, this "journalist" would often loudly question and scrutinize financial matters, social work, and even go around the cafeteria taking pictures incessantly... At this time, Nghe An Newspaper also received information from the Principal of Hung Dao Primary School (Hung Nguyen) about a similar incident. Before contacting Nghe An Newspaper, the principal inquired at several neighboring schools and learned that they had also been "visited" by this "journalist" who then proposed a "contract" to write propaganda articles.

Authorities directly verified this "journalist," confirming he was a reporter for the Mekong Times. However, all of his personal documents (including an invalid letter of introduction from his employing agency and a Vietnam Journalists Association membership card) were insufficient for him to practice his profession. Subsequently, representatives from the authorities contacted and reminded the leadership of the Mekong Times to strictly comply with the regulations of the Press Law and to take measures to manage reporters during their work...

"Reporter's card" and letter of introduction from the Knowledge and Development Magazine.

According to information received by Nghe An Newspaper, the leadership of Hung Binh Secondary School (Hung Binh Ward, Vinh City) recently reported that the school was visited by two individuals claiming to be reporters from the magazines "Tri An" and "Tri Thuc Phat Trien". These two "investigative reporters" used inappropriate language during their meeting with the school's leadership; their work deviated from the principles and objectives of their respective magazines, instead vaguely criticizing the school's social outreach efforts… Significantly, the credentials of these two individuals did not meet the required standards for practicing journalism.

HQT holds a "reporter" card number 19/PV/TTPT issued by the Deputy Editor-in-Chief of the Tri Thuc Phat Trien (Union of Science and Technology Associations of Hanoi) on August 1, 2016, valid for exactly one year, until August 1, 2017. As for PVH, he received a letter of introduction number 05/GGT on September 21, 2016, from the Tri An online magazine (of the Vietnam Association for Supporting Families of Martyrs); valid for more than three months, until December 30, 2016.

In the letter of introduction, the Editor-in-Chief of the online magazine Tri An introduced PVH as an "investigative reporter," sent to "your agency/unit to gather information and materials for journalistic work." After being clearly explained the regulations of the Press Law, when the "reporters" contacted the leaders of Hung Binh Secondary School by phone, they clearly expressed their views; and these "reporters" were taken aback…

The letter of introduction stated that the person was an investigative reporter for the online magazine Tri An.

In October and November 2016, social media was abuzz with news about the Nghe An Rehabilitation Hospital attracting a sudden influx of reporters; this included a video clip showing several young reporters and contributors from the Vietnam Law Newspaper behaving inappropriately for journalists. Further investigation revealed that prior to 2014, the Rehabilitation Hospital had several irregularities in its records and accounting for health insurance claims.

This matter has been clarified by the Vietnam Social Security; relevant provincial agencies have directed thorough investigation and handling of each violation. However, a reporter who happened to be working at the hospital stumbled upon the file; subsequently, this person duplicated and shared it with colleagues.

From then on, the Rehabilitation Hospital was constantly visited by "journalists" with personal motives; among them, some published "investigative reports based on complaints," accusing the unit of serious violations and making various demands…

The press card issued by the Vietnam Craft Village Times was issued illegally. This "reporter" has also been arrested by authorities for the crime of misappropriation of property.

It is difficult to list all the "ugly" incidents committed by "journalists," "reporters," and collaborators that have left a negative impact in Nghe An province. Many district and town leaders have complained about the extremely offensive journalistic activities, demonstrating the professional incompetence and moral degradation of some "journalists," "reporters," and collaborators.

For example, in Tuong Duong district, there was one-sided information regarding teacher transfers; in Con Cuong district, a reporter on assignment arbitrarily rented a guesthouse for an extended period and then called the district leader upon departure to request that he pay for it; in Anh Son and Thanh Chuong districts, there were instances of reporters and collaborators acting dishonestly, engaging in "spying" tactics, waiting until near the end of working hours to photograph locked commune offices, and then threatening to write articles if they didn't sign a publicity contract…

(To be continued)

REPORTER TEAM