Vietnam revolutionary press benefiting healthy development of society (Part 2 and end)
28/6/16
To discuss freedom of the press of a country, one should look
into the functions, missions and operational purposes of the press. Since Thanh
Nien (Youth) Newspaper published the first issue on June 21st, 1925,
the Vietnam revolutionary press has experienced 91 years of its establishment,
growth and development in both wartime and peacetime. In contrast to other
countries, the Vietnam revolutionary press was born late, but it has always
accompanied with the country’s events and happenings, closely attached itself
to the destiny of the nation and served as a bridge between the Party, State
and working people over the past 91 years. Unlike some other countries’ press,
the Vietnam revolutionary press bears a deep feature of the people. That
feature is vividly reflected in the country’s press. Vietnamese people of all
walks of life can express their views, aspirations, concerns, interests and so
on in various forms of press. Over the past years, Vietnamese printed
newspapers, online newspapers, magazines, radio and television stations have
been operating columns and programs to contact their readers and audiences.
These readers’ columns and audiences’ programs have now become open forums for
people, where they can discuss issues and raise their questions and concerns.
Noticeable columns, programs, sub-columns and sub-programs in the Vietnamese
press and media include “For readers”, “A bridge span for audiences”, “Articles
on the demand of readers”, “Explanations of policies to readers”, “Issues of
public concern”, “Talk with audiences”, “People asking, Ministers answering”,
to name but a few.
On the other hand, Vietnam’s freedom of the press is also
clearly expressed in Articles 10 and 11 of the Press Law 2016. Article 10
defines Vietnamese citizens’ rights as the follows, “1. To compose press
pieces; 2. To provide information to the press; 3. To give feedbacks to the
information published on the press and media; 4. To have access to press
information; 5. To collaborate with the press and media to produce press and
media products; 6. To print and issue printed newspapers.” Meanwhile, Article 11
articulates Vietnamese citizens’ freedom of expression on the press and media
as the follows: “1. To express their opinions on domestic and international
situations; 2. To give opinions on building and implementing the Party’s
guidelines and the State’s laws; 3. To voice their opinions, criticisms,
proposals and complaints about Party organizations, State agencies,
socio-political organizations, professional organizations, other organizations
and individuals on the press and media.” Provision 3 of Article 13 of the Press
Law also defines, “The press and media are not censored before being printed,
transmitted and broadcast.”
The nature of the press freedom must first originate from the
object the press and media tend to reflect and serve. The Vietnam revolutionary
press always determines that “to serve the people” is its principle of action
and consistent viewpoint guiding all its operations.
In a law-ruled society, all citizens should respect laws and
anyone who violates laws must be punished. Some people, self-called “democratic
activists” or “free journalists”, were recently charged with crimes because
they had gone beyond the limit of the country’s freedom of the press. They
deliberately published and spread distorted, fake and false information about
others and governments at all levels, nation’s history, the people’s
revolutionary achievements, national heroes and the country. Their activities,
which left negative impacts on people and society and caused worries and
anxieties in communities and society, are law violations. By dealing with such
wrongdoings, the Vietnamese Government aims to protect other people,
communities and society from poisonous information, maintain social order and
safety, preserve the national cultural and moral values and ensure democracy.
In doing so, Vietnam is seriously implementing the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights as well as trying to maintain its national
political security and information security, one of the important factors
helping society develop in a healthy and civilized manner.
All comments [ 10 ]
The Vietnamese Press has developed continuously over the past 91 years, contributing to national liberation struggles and national construction and defense.
Peace, cooperation and development will be the focus in the coming years, but war, ethnic, religious, territorial and border conflicts and terrorism are still spreading and becoming more complicated in many areas. In this sense, the Vietnamese press is tackling more demanding tasks.
This requires journalists to renovate the content, and technical facilities to ensure information security. The press needs to upgrade its operation to meet the requirements in international integration
Vietnam’s revolutionary press has progressed significantly over the years, contributing to national renovation, development, and international integration.
Vietnam’s press has grown in quantity, media platforms, publications, the number of reporters and readers, infrastructure, technology, and financial capability. Media agencies have created strong social impacts.
Media is a forum to protect people’s interests and freedom
In Vietnam, media is an important platform and tool to protect people’s interests and freedom. All people have the right to voice their aspirations and contribute opinions to all social aspects through the media.
With its duty of reflecting and involving in social criticism, Vietnam’s revolutionary press has become an important channel for functional agencies to consult and fine tune the Party’s guidelines and State policies to match people’s lives.
While identifying and honoring good people and good deed, the media has actively engaged in combating corruption, red-tape, and other social phenomena which have received public appreciation.
Vietnam’s press has enjoyed a legal framework to work freely and obtained sizable achievements, contributing to national construction and defense.
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