(VOVworld)- High on the agenda of the ongoing 10th Plenum of the 11th Party Central Committee is a Project on Press Management and Development until 2025. VOV has a report on efforts to develop the Vietnamese press in line with the country’s development
In his opening speech at the 10th Plenum of the 11th Party Central Committee, Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong said the plenum will discuss various issues including improving press quality, streamlining press agencies and strengthening press management. These issues are of great importance as press is playing an increasingly important role in national construction and development.
Vietnamese press grows rapidly
According to statistics revealed at a recent national press conference, there are 845 newspaper and magazine agencies, 1 national news agency, 98 online newspaper agencies, and 67 radio and TV stations in Vietnam. In 2014 alone, 7 newspaper agencies and 6 online newspaper and magazine agencies were established and 2 TV channels changed their contents. Associate Professor, Doctor Nguyen Van Dung is Head of the Press Department of the Academy of Press and Communications: “This trend runs counter to the world trend because at this time, the print media is facing a lot of difficulties, so print media houses have to merge with other agencies or dissolve, but in Vietnam the number has increased. It sounds like good news but it’s not. The establishment of newspaper agencies might not have come from real demand”.
Improving press quality, streamlining press agencies
Minister of Information and Communications Nguyen Bac Son said many press agencies have renovated themselves to match the trend of the socialist-oriented market economy. Press activities and social networks have brought abundant information to the public. However, many press agencies have shown a waste of resources and a lack of identity. Due to the rapid increase of press agencies, competition in the information filed has become fiercer. As a result, false information has been reported and the guiding and educational function of the Vietnamese press has diminished. Minister Nguyen Bac Son, in a “People ask, Ministers answer” interview last June, stressed the importance of press management reform: “In reforming press management, in addition to streamlining press agencies, more importantly, we need to create a legal corridor and policies to enhance press development, ensure an appropriate number of press agencies and improve press quality. These are prerequisites for exercising citizens’ rights to freedom of speech and press as stipulated in the 2013 Constitution”.
Enhancing press development in line with Vietnam’s reality
Being aware of the importance of press in the current context of integration and information explosion, the 10th plenum of the Party Central Committee discussed the Project of Press Management and Development until 2025 to address shortcomings and work out orientations to improve the quality and effectiveness of press. Party leader Nguyen Phu Trong said:“It’s important to create a broad consensus on the importance of the Project on Press Management and Development until 2025. We need to evaluate the outcomes and achievements as well as weaknesses and shortcomings to work out solutions to improve the management and development of newspapers, online newspapers, radio and TV. We also need to take into consideration all aspects: quantity, quality contents, forms, human and financial resources, sources of revenues, and the management of press and related agencies. It’s necessary to forecast future trends to identify appropriate viewpoints and plans to enhance press development”.
The Project on Press Management and Development until 2025 and the resolution of the 10th Plenum of the 11th Party Central Committee will be basic orientations to ensure that eh Vietnamese press develops in line with Vietnam’s reality.