It is illegal to refuse to receive reporters because they do not have a card.
Clause 12, Article 9 of the new Press Law stipulates: strictly prohibiting acts of "threatening, intimidating the life, insulting the honor and dignity of journalists and reporters; destroying, seizing equipment and documents, and preventing journalists and reporters from performing their professional activities in accordance with the law".
Why does the word “reporter” appear next to the word “journalist”? According to the new Press Law, “A journalist is a person who conducts press activities and is granted a press card” (Clause 1, Article 25 of the 2016 amended Press Law).
As for reporters, according to press law experts, the concept of "Reporter" in the new Press Law is understood as a person who has signed a contract with the editorial office with the title "Reporter" but does not meet the conditions to be granted a Journalist card. A reporter is a person who comes to the facility, through his professional measures, exploits and processes information to write articles for publication in the newspaper. Normally, reporters who do not have a Journalist card when coming to the facility, the working unit uses a letter of introduction from the press agency sending them.
That said, from January 1, 2017, the new Press Law took effect, officially, in the legal document, it has stipulated the protection of the right to work of reporters without press cards, reporters working with letters of introduction from press agencies. This is a progressive point, a new point of the old Press Law.
| Clause 12, Article 9 of the 2016 amended Press Law, effective on January 1, 2017, stipulates: "It is strictly forbidden to act in any way that threatens or intimidates the life or offends the honor or dignity of journalists or reporters; destroys or confiscates equipment or documents; or obstructs journalists or reporters from performing their professional activities in accordance with the law." Gasoline prices increase, people immediately think of travel, living expenses increase accordingly. |
That does not mean that reporters without press cards (reporters working with a letter of introduction) are not protected. In fact, Decree 159/2013/ND-CP, signed on November 12, 2013, effective January 1, 2014, has recognized and protected the right to work of reporters without press cards.
Article 7 of Decree 159/2013/ND-CP clearly states: “1. A fine of VND 5,000,000 to VND 10,000,000 shall be imposed for acts of illegally obstructing the professional activities of journalists and reporters.
2. A fine of between VND 10,000,000 and VND 20,000,000 shall be imposed for acts of insulting the honor and dignity of journalists and reporters while performing their professional duties.
3. A fine of between VND 20,000,000 and VND 30,000,000 shall be imposed for one of the following acts:
a) Threatening the lives of journalists and reporters;
b) Destroying or intentionally damaging journalistic equipment and documents of journalists and reporters;
c) Illegally confiscating journalistic equipment and documents of journalists and reporters.
4. Remedial measures:
a) Forced to apologize for the acts specified in Clause 2 and Clause 3 of this Article;
b) Forced return of press equipment and documents for acts specified in Point c Clause 3 of this Article".
With a similar explanation, in Decree 159, the title “reporter” is placed next to the title “journalist” and is equally protected against acts of illegal obstruction, threats to life, destruction, intentional damage, illegal seizure of vehicles, documents, etc.
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| Reporters without a press card are also protected in their right to work. |
However, in practice, many reporters still report to the writer that when they come to the facilities, they present their letter of introduction but are asked to have a press card before being received. There are individuals who, when approached by reporters without a press card, have a contemptuous attitude, use insulting words and do not cooperate with reporters to work according to the law.
Legal experts on press and media recommend that when reporters encounter such obstacles, they should send petitions and evidence to the Inspectorate of the Department of Information and Communications, the Inspectorate of the Ministry of Information and Communications, and the Vietnam Journalists Association for resolution.
When the new Press Law comes into effect, the legalization of regulations to protect reporters working in accordance with the law will make the protection of the right to work of reporters without a press card stronger. Previously, the right to work of reporters without a press card was also protected by Decree 159/2013/ND-CP. From now on, it can be said that no individual or organization should make excuses or harass them for not receiving reporters because they do not have a press card.
According to Infonet