Amended Press Law: Tightening the handling of false information and corrected news

That is one of the new contents in the draft Press Law (amended) discussed by the National Assembly in the hall this morning (November 26).

New points of the Draft Law on the Press Amendment include: protection of citizens participating in the press, division of roles between content creators and general newspaper managers, expansion of press connections, clear regulations on the authority of the press, etc.

Press in action

Do not let the situation of "matchbox correction information" happen.

For a long time, many people have been concerned and dissatisfied with the situation of posting false information in large numbers, posted in visible locations, while posting corrections and apologies is only the size of a "matchbox" and "hidden" in hard-to-see locations. This can be said to be an "unfair" situation between the press and individuals, businesses and organizations.

Compared to the current Press Law, this draft Press Law has overcome the above situation, adding a number of new provisions on correction. In Article 40, the Draft Revised Press Law clearly states that for electronic press, in addition to publishing and broadcasting corrections and apologies, false information that has been published and broadcast must also be immediately removed.

The Draft Law also stipulates that when posting or broadcasting corrections or apologies, press agencies must fully display the following contents: Title: "Corrections and apologies"; name of press work, name of column, issue number, date, month, and year of posting or broadcasting that must be corrected.

Regarding the time of posting, broadcasting corrections and apologies, for electronic press: Must post, broadcast corrections and apologies immediately upon receiving the conclusion document or self-discovery of violations; For radio, television and printed press: 02 days for daily newspapers, radio and television; in the most recent issue for weekly newspapers and magazines, calculated from the date the press agency receives the conclusion document or self-discovery of violations. For magazines published for more than 30 days per issue, the magazine must immediately respond in writing to the organization or individual and must publish in the most recent issue;

In particular, for false, distorted, slanderous information that seriously damages the reputation of an organization or the honor and dignity of an individual, in addition to making corrections and apologies as prescribed above, within 05 days from the date the press agency receives the conclusion document or self-discovers the violation, the press agency must also publish or broadcast the correction and apology in 01 electronic newspaper and 01 daily newspaper selected by the press agency, when requested by the organization or individual. The press agency whose information must be corrected shall bear all costs of correction and apology.

Decentralization of state management of the press

Regarding decentralization of management, the draft law clearly stipulates the scope of state management of the press of the People's Committees of provinces and centrally-run cities, which is to implement state management of local press agencies; representative offices and resident reporters of press agencies operating in the locality.

The draft law has added content on state management of the press, specifically: "extension, amendment, supplementation, temporary suspension, and termination" of press operation licenses, licenses to publish special issues, newsletters, and other types of licenses in print, audio, visual, and electronic press activities; revocation and confiscation of printed press publications; temporary suspension and termination of radio and television programs; removal of information content on electronic press; reading, listening to, watching, and checking archived press; management of the national press archive system.

More detailed regulations on Vietnam Journalists Association

In Article 9, the draft Law has added provisions on the responsibility of the Vietnam Journalists Association in developing and organizing the implementation of regulations on professional ethics for journalists; fostering professional ethics and journalism expertise for members; participating in monitoring compliance with the law and regulations on professional ethics of journalists more fully and comprehensively.

At the same time, it is added that the Vietnam Journalists Association shall preside over the organization of the annual national press awards to honor authors and groups of authors with high-quality press works that have positive social effects.

Consider handling violations of copyright and intellectual property

In Article 57 of the draft Law, a number of new provisions have been added as follows:

Press agencies shall have their press operation licenses, licenses to publish additional press publications, supplements, produce additional radio channels, television channels, and specialized pages of electronic newspapers revoked, and agencies and organizations shall have their licenses to publish special issues and newsletters revoked when posting or broadcasting information in violation of the provisions of Clause 1, Article 10 of this Law, causing very serious or especially serious consequences.

A person who has been granted a press card will have his/her press card revoked in the following cases: The prosecution agency decides to prosecute the accused;

Being disciplined by a competent authority from warning or above or being reprimanded two (02) consecutive times within two (02) years;

Violating regulations on journalistic ethics, journalistic activities, information in the press, using the Press Card for the wrong purpose causing serious consequences; Disciplinary action, dismissal or being disciplined and forced to resign from the agency or unit.

In particular, the Bill recognizes measures to deal with copyright infringement. Organizations and individuals who infringe upon intellectual property rights in the field of journalism will be handled according to the provisions of the law on intellectual property./.

According to Infonet