Circular No. 09/2017/TT-BTTTT stipulates the ratio of content, time points, and duration allocated to children on radio broadcasts, television programs, printed newspapers, online news, and publications.

CIRCULAR

REGULATIONS ON THE RATIO OF CONTENT, TIME PERIODS, AND AIRTIME FOR CHILDREN AND WARNINGS ABOUT CONTENT UNSUITABLE FOR CHILDREN ON RADIO, TELEVISION, PRINTED PUBLICATIONS, ELECTRONIC NEWS MEDIA, AND PUBLISHING PRODUCTS

The Minister of Information and Communications issues this Circular to regulate the ratio of content, time periods, and airtime for children and mandatory requirements when publishing or broadcasting news, articles, programs related to children and warnings about content unsuitable for children on radio, television, printed publications, electronic news media, and publishing products.

This Circular applies to press agencies; publishers, importers of publishing products; press management agencies, publisher management agencies; provincial Departments of Information and Communications under the central government; and other relevant agencies, organizations, and individuals.

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Pursuant to the Law on Children dated April 5, 2016;

Pursuant to the Law on Press dated April 5, 2016;

Pursuant to the Law on Publishing dated November 20, 2012;

Pursuant to the Government Decree No. 56/2017/NĐ-CP dated May 9, 2017 detailing certain provisions of the Law on Children;

Pursuant to Decree No. 17/2017/NĐ-CP dated February 17, 2017, issued by the Government, on the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Information and Communications;

At the proposal of the Director of the Radio, Television, and Electronic Information Department;

1. Information intended for children is content produced, published, broadcast, or published with direct beneficiaries being children.

PART I

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1. Scope of Regulation

2. Information unsuitable for children is content that does not align with their age, level of maturity, needs, and capabilities, and poses a risk of negatively impacting their cognitive development, psychological, and physical well-being.

Article 2. Applicability

Article 4. Prioritized contents for production, publication, and broadcasting

Article 3. Explanation of Terms

1. Prioritized contents for production, publication, and broadcasting include:

a) Implementation of laws and policies regarding children's rights;

b) Learning, exchanging knowledge, playing, and entertainment for children;

c) Prevention and detection of factors and behaviors causing harm, abuse, violence, and exploitation of children;

d) Guidance on life skills, self-protection skills, and safety skills for children;

đ) Sex education, health, nutrition;

e) Other contents as prescribed by law.

2. During the annual Month of Action for Children, special topics and columns on children should focus on information about the implementation of children's rights; issues arising in the work of implementing children's rights and duties; themes and messages of the Month of Action for Children.

REGULATIONS ON THE RATIO OF CONTENT, TIME PERIODS, AND AIRTIME ON RADIO AND TELEVISION

Article 5. For radio channels and television channels specified in the Radio Operation License and Television Operation License issued to organizations licensed to operate radio and television

1. News about children:

Chapter II

a) Airtime: At least 60 seconds per broadcast;

b) Frequency of new broadcasts: At least once per day during the annual Month of Action for Children. For other times of the year, information will be provided based on events.

c) Broadcast time: Included in daily news broadcasts.

2. Educational programs and knowledge dissemination programs:

a) Airtime: At least five minutes per broadcast;

b) Frequency of new broadcasts: At least twice per month. During the annual Month of Action for Children, increase the frequency of new broadcasts to at least four times per month.

c) Broadcast time: Between 06:00 and 22:00 every day, prioritizing from 06:00 to 07:30, from 12:00 to 13:30, or from 17:30 to 19:00 within the children's topic or special column of the channel program.

3. Entertainment programs, music, arts, storytelling, animated films, games, reality TV, and similar programs:

a) Airtime: At least ten minutes per broadcast;

b) Frequency of new broadcasts: At least once per week. During the annual Month of Action for Children, increase the frequency of new broadcasts to at least twice per week.

c) Broadcast time: Between 06:00 and 22:00 every day, prioritizing from 18:00 to 21:00 within the children's topic or special column of the channel program.

4. Programs and segments (clips, trailers) promoting events and activities for children organized by ministries and agencies responsible for managing the implementation of children's rights; promotional messages about children:

a) Airtime: At least thirty seconds per broadcast for clips, trailers promoting events and promotional messages about children; at least five minutes per broadcast for other programs;

b) Frequency of broadcasts: At least once per day during the annual Month of Action for Children. For other times of the year, information will be provided based on events.

c) Broadcast time: After daily news broadcasts; within the children's topic or special column of the channel program.

5. The ratio of airtime for programs providing information for children and promoting children must reach between two percent and five percent of the total airtime of the channel program in one week.

b) Frequency of broadcasting: At least once per day during the annual Month of Action for Children. For other times of the year, information will be provided based on events.

c) Time of broadcasting: After daily news broadcasts; within the children's section or special topics about children on the channel's program.

5. The ratio of broadcasting time dedicated to children's informational programs and child-related promotional activities must reach from 02% to 05% of the total broadcasting time of the channel's program in one week.

Article 6. Regarding domestic radio channels and television channels

1. For radio channels and television channels with objectives, purposes, and target audiences being children; having specialized content for children: shall strictly comply with the objectives, purposes, basic program structure, time, and duration of the channel as stipulated in the Domestic Program Production License issued by the Ministry of Information and Communications.

2. For radio channels and television channels not covered by Clause 1 of this Article and Article 5 of this Circular, the number of news items, articles, and information programs dedicated to children and promoting children must reach at least 01% of the total broadcasting time of each channel program in that month and be consistent with the objectives, purposes, and content specified in the Domestic Program Production License issued by the Ministry of Information and Communications.

Chapter III

REGULATIONS ON THE PROPORTION OF CONTENT AND POSITIONING IN PRINTED PUBLICATIONS AND ONLINE NEWS SITES

Article 7. Regarding press products serving children and specialized products for children

Shall strictly comply with the provisions set forth in the Print Press Operation License, Online News Site Operation License, Press Publication License, and Online News Site Special Section Opening License issued by the Ministry of Information and Communications.

Article 8. Regarding printed newspapers

1. Daily or every other day printed newspapers

a) Weekly publish a minimum of 05% of the number of news items and articles with content for children and promoting children consistent with the objectives and purposes specified in the press operation license.

b) During the Annual Month of Action for Children or during the period of other activities for children organized by ministries and agencies responsible for implementing children's rights, establish a minimum of 01 special section for children to provide information and promote children, events, and activities for children consistent with the objectives and purposes specified in the press operation license.

2. For printed newspapers not covered by Clause 1 of this Article

a) Monthly publish a minimum of 01% of the number of news items and articles with content for children and promoting children consistent with the objectives and purposes specified in the press operation license.

b) During the Annual Month of Action for Children or during the period of other activities for children organized by ministries and agencies responsible for implementing children's rights, publish a minimum of 02% of the number of news items and articles with content for children and promoting children consistent with the objectives and purposes specified in the press operation license.

Article 9. Regarding specialized magazines on culture and society

Quarterly publish a minimum of 02% of the number of news items and articles with content for children and promoting children consistent with the objectives and purposes specified in the press operation license.

Article 10. Regarding online newspapers

1. Weekly publish a minimum of 05% of the number of news items and articles with content for children and promoting children consistent with the objectives and purposes specified in the press operation license.

2. During the Annual Month of Action for Children or during the period of other activities for children organized by ministries and agencies responsible for implementing children's rights, weekly publish a minimum of 10% of the number of news items and articles with content for children and promoting children consistent with the objectives and purposes specified in the press operation license.

Article 11. Position for publication in print and online newspapers

Information content intended for children and promoting children shall be prioritized to be published at suitable positions that are easily recognizable by children when accessing information.

Chapter IV

||| REGULATIONS ON PUBLISHING PRODUCTS FOR CHILDREN

Article 12. Requirements for information recorded on products for children

1. Products for children (excluding textbooks) must clearly indicate the target audience on the fourth cover page and the title page according to the following age groups:

a) For children under six years old;

b) For children from six to under eleven years old;

c) For children from eleven to under sixteen years old;

d) In cases where the product for children has a different age classification than those specified in points a, b, and c of this clause, it must clearly state the specific age range.

2. Products for children published in Vietnam in foreign languages or bilingual must record the name of the product and other information as prescribed in Clause 1 of this Article in Vietnamese.

Article 13. Requirements for the content of products for children authored by domestic authors

Products for children authored by domestic authors, in addition to complying with laws on publishing, must ensure the following requirements:

1. Accuracy regarding history, sovereignty, and territorial integrity;

2. Promotion of patriotism and national pride;

3. Cultivation of noble souls, high moral character, and healthy physical development;

4. Compatibility with Vietnamese customs and traditions;

5. Suitability with the level of maturity, needs, and capabilities of children.

Article 14. Products for children authored by foreign authors

When foreign-authored products for children are translated and published in Vietnam or imported and distributed in Vietnam, in addition to complying with Vietnamese laws on publishing, they must ensure content and images compatible with Vietnamese customs and traditions, the level of maturity, needs, and capabilities of children, and the political, cultural, and social conditions of Vietnam.

Chapter V

REQUIREMENTS FOR POSTING AND BROADCASTING INFORMATION ABOUT CHILDREN AND

WARNING OF CONTENT INAPPROPRIATE FOR CHILDREN

Article 15. Mandatory requirements for posting and broadcasting news, articles, programs related to children

1. For printed newspapers, radio, television, and online newspapers

a) When reporting negative incidents or violations of law involving children as victims or related parties, the faces of children must be blurred or covered, and their private life and personal secrets must be protected in accordance with Article 33 of Decree No. 56/2017/NĐ-CP dated May 9, 2017, of the Government detailing certain provisions of the Law on Children;

b) When using children or images of children as characters or illustrations in programs reflecting negative incidents or violations of law: For children under seven years old, consent from parents or guardians must be obtained in accordance with current regulations; For children aged seven and above, consent from both the child and parents or guardians must be obtained in accordance with current regulations.

2. For publications When using images of children as illustrations in publications: For children under seven years old, consent from parents or guardians must be obtained in accordance with current regulations; For children aged seven and above, consent from both the child and parents or guardians must be obtained in accordance with current regulations.

Article 16. Warning of Content Unsuitable for Children

1. News agencies and publishers must implement warnings about content unsuitable for children on programs of radio channels, television channels; printed newspapers, online newspapers, and publications.

2. The warning must be carried out through one or more appropriate methods suitable for each type of news media and publication, including but not limited to: sound, image, text, symbol.

3. For broadcasting and television, the warning content must be displayed immediately before the start of the program containing the content that requires a warning.

4. For printed newspapers, the warning content must be displayed immediately above or below the title of the article or at the location where the article is published. For online newspapers, the warning content must appear immediately after the reader selects the article and before the reader can read the entire content of the article.

5. The warning content on broadcasting, television, printed newspapers, and online newspapers must ensure brevity, clarity, ease of understanding, memorability, and recognizability, and must include at least one of the following recommendations:

a) Content unsuitable for children, please consider before reading, listening, or viewing.

b) Parents and adults should guide if children read, listen, or view.

c) Programs and films with sensitive images and plot elements, it is recommended that parents guide children when watching.

d) Content unsuitable for children under six years old; Content unsuitable for children aged six to under eleven years old; Content unsuitable for children aged eleven to under sixteen years old.

6. For publications intended for children that contain content about sex education; preventing violence and physical abuse against children, the phrase "Parents and adults need to guide children when reading" must be printed on the book's title page or on the back cover.

Chapter VI

ORGANIZATION AND IMPLEMENTATION

Article 17. Responsibilities of News Agencies, Publishers, and Importers of Publications

1. For news agencies:

a) Implement the publication and broadcast of news products ensuring compliance with the provisions of the Press Law and this Circular;

b) Prioritize the publication and broadcast of domestic news products for children and news products authored by children;

c) Focus on editing the content of news products to suit the psychological characteristics of different age groups.

2. For publishers and importers of publications:

a) Implement the publication and importation of publications for children ensuring compliance with the provisions of the Publishing Law and this Circular;

b) Prioritize the publication of works and materials authored by domestic authors and children;

c) Focus on editing the content of publications to suit the psychological characteristics of different age groups.

Article 18. Responsibilities of the Management Authorities of News Media and Publishing

Direct news agencies and publishers to comply with their objectives and purposes; programs, plans, and content for children, and propaganda about children as stipulated in this Circular.

Article 19. Responsibilities of Provincial Departments of Information and Communications

1. Inspect, audit, and report to higher-level management authorities on the implementation of the contents prescribed in this Circular by news agencies and publishing units in the locality.

2. Coordinate with provincial Departments of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs in monitoring and inspecting the content of information for children, propaganda about children on broadcasting, television, printed newspapers, online newspapers, and publications, and organize press conferences and meetings related to children to provide information about children to local media.

Article 20. Responsibilities of functional units under the Ministry of Information and Communications

1. The Press Agency shall be responsible for managing, inspecting, and supervising the implementation of the provisions of this Circular by print press agencies and online newspapers.

2. The Radio, Television, and Electronic Information Agency shall be responsible for managing, inspecting, and supervising the implementation of the provisions of this Circular by radio stations, television stations, radio and television stations, and organizations engaged in broadcasting activities.

3. The Publishing, Printing, and Distribution Agency shall be responsible for managing, inspecting, and supervising the implementation of the provisions of this Circular by publishers and importers of publications.

Article 21. Implementation clause

This Circular takes effect from October 1, 2017.

During the course of implementation, if there are any difficulties or need for supplementation or amendment, units shall promptly report to the Ministry of Information and Communications for consideration and resolution within their authority./.