New regulations on granting licenses for print and electronic newspaper operations

From February 15, 2017, the granting of licenses to operate print and electronic newspapers, publish additional publications, open specialized pages of electronic newspapers, publish supplements, publish newsletters, and publish special issues shall be carried out in accordance with the provisions of Circular 48/2016/TT-BTTTT.

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Accordingly, the Minister of Information and Communications grants licenses for print and electronic newspaper operations; grants licenses for additional publications in accordance with the provisions of law and the provisions of this Circular.

The Director of the Press Department grants licenses to publish supplements; grants licenses to specialized pages of electronic newspapers; grants licenses to publish special issues; grants licenses to publish newsletters to central agencies and organizations, foreign representative agencies, and foreign organizations in Vietnam.

The Director of the Department of Information and Communications assists the Provincial People's Committee in granting licenses to publish newsletters to agencies and organizations in provinces and centrally run cities according to regulations.

Regarding the dossier and procedures for granting a license to operate a printed newspaper, the Circular clearly states: Agencies and organizations requesting a license to operate a printed newspaper (including printed newspapers and printed magazines) must submit directly or via the postal system a set of dossiers to the Ministry of Information and Communications.

The dossier includes: Application form for a license to operate a printed newspaper; a printed newspaper operation plan certified by the agency or organization, including the prescribed contents; a list of expected personnel for the printed newspaper; a resume of the expected editor-in-chief; a sample of the name of the press publication certified by the agency or organization requesting a license to operate a printed newspaper.

Within 90 days from the date of receipt of a complete and valid application, the Ministry of Information and Communications shall issue a license to operate a print press; in case of refusal, a written notice must be given stating the reasons.

Regarding the dossier and procedures for granting a license to operate an electronic newspaper, the Circular stipulates: Agencies and organizations requesting a license to operate an electronic newspaper (including electronic newspapers and electronic magazines) must submit directly or via the postal system 1 set of dossiers to the Ministry of Information and Communications.

This dossier includes: Application form for a license to operate an electronic newspaper; an electronic newspaper operation project certified by the agency or organization; a list of expected personnel; a resume of the expected editor-in-chief; a color printout of the electronic newspaper homepage certified by the agency or organization requesting the license; and a document proving ownership of a domain name that is still valid for at least 6 months from the time of the license request.

Within 90 days from the date of receipt of a complete and valid application, the Ministry of Information and Communications shall issue a license to operate an electronic newspaper; in case of refusal, a written notice must be given stating the reasons.

When a press agency has been licensed in accordance with the provisions of law, when its press operation license expires, the press management agency shall carry out procedures to request a license to operate a printed newspaper, an electronic newspaper, or to publish publications, supplements, and special pages of an electronic newspaper in accordance with the provisions of this Circular. Circular 48 takes effect from February 15, 2017.

According to Infonet