Joint Circular No. 17/2007/TTLT-BVHTT-BTC guiding support for high-quality press works at central and local levels during the period of 2006-2010.

JOINT CIRCULAR

Guidelines for Supporting High-Quality Journalism Works at the Central Level and Locally from 2006 to 2010

and the period of 2006 - 2010

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Pursuant to the State Budget Law number 01/2002/QH11 dated December 16, 2002;

Pursuant to Decision No. 926/QĐ-TTg dated July 6, 2006 of the Prime Minister approving the Project to continue supporting creative works and literary and artistic projects and journalism at the central level and local Literature and Art Associations; supporting high-quality journalism works at the local level during the period 2006-2010;

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Ministry of Finance jointly issue guidelines on implementing support for high-quality journalism works at the central level and locally from 2006 to 2010 as follows:

I. GENERAL PROVISIONS

1. The State continues to support high-quality journalism works at the central level and locally from 2006 to 2010 through the Vietnam Journalists' Association and local Journalists' Associations, according to the contents approved by the Prime Minister in Decision No. 926/QĐ-TTg dated July 6, 2006 on approving the Project to continue supporting creative works and literary and artistic projects and journalism at the central level and local Literature and Art Associations; supporting high-quality journalism works at the local level during the period 2006-2010 (hereinafter referred to as Decision 926), including:

a) Central-level journalism prioritizes topics reflecting:

+ History, various periods of anti-enemy resistance wars, national cultural traditions.

+ The renewal process of building and defending the country, positive factors, outstanding individuals in society, of the era.

+ Youth and children, ethnic minorities.

b) Local journalism focuses on the following topic areas:

+ About the Party, Uncle Ho, national heroes; disseminating and promoting the resolutions of the Communist Party of Vietnam Congresses, promptly and deeply reporting major political events, significant anniversaries of the nation at the local level; about revolutionary history, resistance wars, with emphasis on the anti-French and anti-American resistance wars in the locality.

+ Ethnic unity; industrialization and modernization of agriculture and rural areas; poverty reduction; about new people, exemplary models in labor production, fighting corruption and negative practices, maintaining local security and politics; about mountainous regions, remote areas, ethnic minority groups, youth and children.

The State's financial support to increase funding sources and improve the quality of high-quality journalism works at the central level and locally does not reduce the annual regular financial support provided to the Vietnam Journalists' Association and local Journalists' Associations.

2. Criteria for evaluating high-quality journalism works:

High-quality journalism works are those that bring practical benefits to the whole society or a region, locality; have many explorations and discoveries of new issues arising in daily life; have content suitable, attractive to readers, listeners, viewers; consistent with the guiding viewpoints, propaganda, policies, and laws of the Party and the State.

3. Forms of financial support: Commissioning creation or directly supporting authors and author groups with high-quality journalism works.

4. Objectives and scope of support:

- Support authors and author groups with high-quality journalism works that timely reflect major events and important aspects of social life in localities, regions, and the country; authors and author groups who are members of the Vietnam Journalists' Association working for central and local news agencies with high-quality journalism works that have been registered, approved, and published on mass media platforms, in accordance with the criteria for support approved by the Prime Minister in Decision 926.

- Support fieldwork trips for creating journalism works, training courses, and seminars to enhance political and professional skills in journalism, particularly focusing on equipping specialized knowledge and modern journalism skills and nurturing young talent in journalism activities.

- Support the review, selection, appraisal, and evaluation of work proposals; the selection and recommendation for awards of outstanding journalism works.

- Support research and collection of materials.

- Support the dissemination and publication of works.

- Support other tasks directly related to the organization and implementation of support for high-quality journalism works.

5. Sources of financial support:

- Central budget support according to Decision No. 926/QĐ-TTg dated July 6, 2006 of the Prime Minister;

- Other lawful sources of support from domestic and foreign organizations and individuals.

II. SPECIFIC PROVISIONS

1. Direct financial support to authors and author groups:

- Members (listed) of central and local news agencies with approved work proposals and high-quality journalism works published on mass media platforms within the topic areas specified in Point 1, Section I of this Circular (authors and author groups still receive royalties according to current regulations);

- Authors and author groups with high-quality journalism works published on mass media platforms that timely reflect major events and important aspects of social life in localities, regions, and the country.

The level of support is determined by the Council or the Work Evaluation Board of the Journalists' Associations at all levels (established as stipulated in Item c, Point 9, Section II of this Circular), approved by the Chairpersons of the Journalists' Associations at all levels, and implemented according to the "Regulation on Expenditure for Supporting High-Quality Journalism Works from 2006 to 2010" (hereinafter referred to as the "Expenditure Regulation") and carried out through direct contracts between authors, author groups, and Journalists' Associations at all levels (or authorized through affiliated Branch Associations and Sub-Branch Associations with legal personality).

2. Financial support for fieldwork trips for creating journalism works, training courses, and seminars. The content and level of support for participants are applied according to Circular No. 23/2007/TT-BTC dated March 21, 2007 of the Ministry of Finance on travel expenses and expenditure for organizing conferences for state agencies and public institutions.

Support for purchasing materials, documents, supplies, renting machinery and equipment directly serving training classes, seminars, and field trips to create high-quality press works shall be provided.

3. Support for activities directly supporting high-quality press works includes: remuneration; printing of documents; photocopying; office supplies; telephone; postal items; etc., based on actual conditions each year and current state regulations.

4. Support for organizing the review of outlines, evaluation, and acceptance of high-quality press works. The level of direct support for members of the Review Board or Acceptance Committee shall be determined by the Standing Committee (for the Vietnam Journalists' Association); the Executive Committee and Secretariat at various levels (for the Vietnam Journalists' Associations), based on the state budget allocation and stipulated in the "Support Expenditure Regulations" of the Associations.

5. Support for disseminating and publishing high-quality press works. The level of support is based on the "Support Expenditure Regulations" and implemented through the signing of contracts.

6. Other support expenses directly related to activities supporting the creation of high-quality press works.

7. Special support expenses (if any) outside the support levels specified in this Circular and current financial expenditure regulations must be agreed upon in writing by the Ministry of Finance (for the Vietnam Journalists' Association) or the Standing Committee of the People's Council at the provincial level (for local Journalists' Associations).

8. Organizing, guiding, reviewing works, evaluating, summarizing, and concluding the policy of supporting high-quality press works at the central and local levels of the Vietnam Journalists' Association.

9. The Vietnam Journalists' Association and local Journalists' Associations shall perform the following:

a) Prepare plans for the use of support funds, submit them to the competent authority for approval in accordance with the State Budget Law and current guiding documents.

b) Develop and promulgate the "Support Expenditure Regulations" after discussion, public disclosure, and consensus within the Standing Committee (for the Vietnam Journalists' Association); the Executive Committee and Secretariat at various levels. The "Support Expenditure Regulations" shall be publicly disclosed to all members and submitted to the financial agency at the same level for monitoring and supervising implementation; sent to the State Treasury where the unit has an account for transaction purposes as a basis for controlling expenditures.

The content of developing the "Support Expenditure Regulations" shall follow the guidelines in the Appendix attached to this Circular.

c) The Chairpersons at various levels of the Journalists' Associations shall establish Review Boards or Acceptance Committees to review, select outlines, evaluate, accept, and review high-quality press works, and examine the use of funds according to the "Support Expenditure Regulations" already issued to ensure that support funds are correctly allocated to the intended recipients, for the intended purposes, efficiently, and economically.

d) Implement financial transparency in accordance with Circular No. 21/2005/TT-BTC dated March 22, 2005, of the Ministry of Finance guiding the implementation of financial transparency regulations for budgetary units and organizations supported by the state budget, and current regulations.

e) Conduct self-audit of finance and accounting at the unit in accordance with the Accounting Law, Decision No. 67/2004/QĐ-BTC dated August 13, 2004, of the Minister of Finance regarding the issuance of regulations on self-audit of finance and accounting at agencies and units using state budget funds, and current regulations.

g) When implementing the "Support Expenditure Regulations," the unit must ensure that there are legal and valid vouchers and invoices in accordance with the regulations.

10. Funding Implementation:

- For the Vietnam Journalists' Association: The funding for supporting high-quality press works in central press agencies through the Vietnam Journalists' Association during the period 2006-2010 is 7,240 million VND.

- For local Journalists' Associations: The funding for supporting high-quality press works for local Journalists' Associations during the period 2006-2010 is 27,500 million VND.

11. The preparation, execution, and settlement of support funding for high-quality press works shall be carried out in accordance with the State Budget Law, guiding documents for the implementation of the State Budget Law, and the provisions of this Circular.

At the end of the year, unused funding can be transferred to the next year in accordance with current regulations.

12. Inspection, audit, and auditing work shall be carried out in accordance with current laws.

13. Responsibilities of agencies and units:

a) Local Journalists' Associations:

- Annually conduct summaries, evaluations, and reports on the implementation of support for high-quality press works to the Vietnam Journalists' Association and concurrently send to the People's Committees of provinces and centrally-administered cities for oversight and guidance.

- Coordinate with press agencies in the publication and dissemination of high-quality press works; responsible for coordinating with relevant government management agencies at the local level to organize good activities for creating high-quality press works locally.

b) The Vietnam Journalists' Association:

- Serve as the focal point for compiling annual plan implementation results reports from Journalists' Associations at the central and local levels; select and review outstanding works for consideration of support for their publication and recommendation for commendation by the competent authority as prescribed; serve as the focal point for coordination with government management agencies in the organization and implementation of support regulations at the central and local levels in accordance with current regulations.

- Organize training sessions and seminars to enhance political, professional, specialized, and theoretical knowledge for members regionally, provincially, and nationally, in line with the Party and State's orientation.

- Annually summarize, evaluate, and promptly identify difficulties and report to the Prime Minister.

c) The National Committee of the Vietnam Federation of Literature and Art Circles:

Coordinate with the Vietnam Journalists' Association to implement Project 926. Receive and compile reports from the Vietnam Journalists' Association for summary, evaluation, and reporting to the Prime Minister and relevant Ministries and sectors.

d) The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism:

- Coordinate with the Vietnam Journalists' Association, relevant Ministries, Sectors, and People's Committees of provinces and centrally-administered cities to guide the implementation process and provide timely adjustments to contents not aligned with the Party and State's objectives and orientation.

- Compile reports on the situation and results of using support funds at both central and local levels; propose appropriate forms of reward for outstanding press works to the Prime Minister.

e) The Ministry of Finance shall cooperate with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to inspect the use of support funds for high-quality press works at both central and local levels.

g) People's Committees of provinces and centrally governed cities shall direct the implementation of plans to support high-quality press works at the local level in accordance with current regulations; create conditions for local Press Associations to fulfill their assigned tasks.

14. This Circular shall take effect from the fiscal year 2007. For the year 2006, the Vietnam Journalists' Association shall implement according to Joint Circular No. 52/2003/TTLT-BVHTT-BTC dated August 29, 2003, issued by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Ministry of Finance guiding the support for creative activities of literary and artistic works and press under the state order system; local Press Associations shall implement according to Circular No. 5139/BVHTT-KHTC dated December 19, 2005, issued by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism guiding the support for high-quality press creation activities in 2005 for local Press Associations.

III. IMPLEMENTATION

This Circular shall take effect fifteen days after its publication in the Official Gazette.

In the course of implementation, if there are difficulties or obstacles, agencies and units are requested to report them to the relevant ministries for study and appropriate amendments and supplements./.