Directive No. 37/2006/CT-TTg on the implementation of the Politburo's conclusions regarding certain measures to strengthen leadership and management of the press.

DIRECTIVE

Regarding the implementation of the conclusions of the Politburo

 on certain measures to strengthen leadership and management of the press 

On October 11, 2006, the Politburo issued Notification No. 41-TB/TW regarding certain measures to strengthen leadership and management of the press.

To implement the Politburo's conclusions and ensure that the press operates in accordance with the correct orientation, the law, and continues to develop strongly and firmly, serving effectively the cause of building and defending the country, the Prime Minister issues the following directive:

1. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism shall be responsible for coordinating with the Central Steering Committee for Ideology and Culture, the Vietnam Journalists' Association, and relevant agencies to strictly implement the Politburo's conclusions as stated in Notification No. 41-TB/TW dated October 11, 2006; guiding ministries, sectors, provincial people's committees under central cities, and managing agencies and press organizations to conduct mid-term reviews and evaluations of two years of implementing Notification No. 162-TB/TW dated December 1, 2004 of the Politburo.

2. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism shall take the lead and coordinate with relevant ministries, sectors, and managing agencies of the press to continue implementing the Government's plan to implement the Politburo's conclusions (issued together with Decision No. 388/QĐ-TTg dated May 13, 2005 of the Prime Minister), focusing on the following main tasks:

a) Reviewing and adjusting reasonably the planning of the print press system and developing planning and plans for the development of radio, television, and online newspaper systems; determining the legality and suitability of the objectives, functions, and responsibilities of newspapers, magazines, radio programs, television programs, online newspapers, and Internet web pages, especially supplements, special issues, etc., to rearrange according to the principle of developing alongside good management; resolutely suspending press organizations that do not comply with the law, do not fulfill their objectives, often commit violations, or reduce overlapping press organizations based on their objectives.

b) Continuing to perfect the legal framework for the press, drafting and promulgating management regulations for press activities in accordance with the Press Law; conducting a review of the implementation of the current Press Law to propose appropriate amendments and supplements.

c) Proactively coordinating with the Central Steering Committee for Ideology and Culture and managing agencies of the press to consider organizing and implementing well the reorganization and arrangement of leaders in press organizations, rectifying the management of journalists; organizing training on political theory, legal knowledge, professional skills, and professional ethics for leaders, journalists, and editors of press organizations.

d) Regularly inspecting, guiding, and doing well the work of encouraging and rewarding to fully leverage the role of the press; at the same time, promptly directing and handling according to the law any violations by the press. Resolutely not allowing the privatization of the press in any form and not allowing any organization or individual to exploit or control the press for private interests, causing harm to national interests.

3. Ministries, ministerial-level agencies, agencies under the Government, provincial people's committees under central cities, managing agencies of the press, and press organizations shall implement the following matters in accordance with the guidance of the Central Steering Committee for Ideology and Culture and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism:

a) Organizing the dissemination and implementation of Notification No. 41-TB/TW dated October 11, 2006 of the Politburo and conducting mid-term reviews of two years of implementing Notification No. 162-TB/TW dated December 1, 2004 of the Politburo; continuing to implement the contents outlined in the Government's plan to implement the Politburo's conclusions (issued together with Decision No. 388/QĐ-TTg dated May 13, 2005 of the Prime Minister).

b) The Ministry of Finance shall take the lead and coordinate with the Government Inspectorate and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to continue conducting financial inspections of press organizations. Through inspections, it is necessary to assess the economic and financial operations of the press, establish financial policies and systems for the press, help press organizations operate effectively, comply with the law and state regulations on economic and financial management; while handling according to the law any violations related to economics and finance in press activities.

c) Managing agencies of the press must fully perform their duties and responsibilities, bear responsibility for all activities of press organizations under their jurisdiction in accordance with Party guidelines and legal provisions.

Cooperating with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to perform state management functions over press organizations under their jurisdiction: reasonably arranging the press system; reviewing and immediately correcting the situation where press organizations deviate from their objectives and do not strictly adhere to the law, especially the Press Law; implementing inspections and supervision of press organizations in accordance with current regulations.

Strictly implementing planning and training programs; reviewing, improving, and properly arranging cadres and journalists under their jurisdiction to meet political and professional standards; resolutely replacing cadres and journalists who are weak in quality and ability, have incorrect views, and have persistent shortcomings.

d) Provincial People's Committees under central cities shall perform state management functions over representative offices of central and local press organizations located within their jurisdictions and journalists operating in their areas in accordance with the law; directing the establishment of cooperation regulations between the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Provincial Party Propaganda Committee, and the Journalists' Association in leading and managing the press and assigning organizational press conferences; promptly encouraging and rewarding and strictly inspecting and punishing any violations by press organizations and journalists operating in their areas.

d) News agencies and their heads must strictly comply with legal regulations, particularly the Press Law and the Party's guidelines, principles, directives, and regulations concerning press work, information dissemination, and propaganda; establish effective management mechanisms for journalists, editors, and contributors to prevent the misuse of press credentials for negative, self-serving activities or actions that harm national interests and the reputation of the country's revolutionary press; news agencies that disseminate false or inaccurate information must publish corrections according to the provisions of the Press Law.

4. Establish and implement well the system for providing information to the press and handling information published in the press:

a) The Ministry of Culture and Information shall take the lead and coordinate with the Central Committee on Propaganda and Ideology to develop and promulish specific regulations on weekly press briefings and quarterly leadership briefings for press agencies; urgently draft and submit to the Prime Minister before December 31, 2006, the Charter on Spokespersons and Information Provision to the Press.

Closely cooperate with the Government Office and relevant ministries, sectors, and local people's committees to proactively guide information in a timely and accurate manner, especially information regarding the Party's policies, the State's laws, and the Government's management and operations.

b) Ministries, sectors, local people's committees, and units must appoint spokespersons and establish mechanisms for providing information to the press; at the same time, fully exercise their rights and responsibilities under the law regarding information raised by the press within their respective fields of responsibility.

c) The Vietnam News Agency must effectively fulfill its function as the official source of information on the activities of the Party and the State; proactively and promptly publish information refuting false, distorted, and hostile reports.

5. Examine and handle violations by press agencies in accordance with the law:

a) Based on legal regulations and the Party's guidelines and regulations on leading and managing the press, the Ministry of Culture and Information shall take the lead and coordinate with the Central Committee on Propaganda and Ideology, the press agencies' supervisory bodies, and related agencies to inspect and review press agencies with violations, clearly identify the nature and extent of the violations, and accordingly apply appropriate and lawful measures against the involved collectives and individuals.

b) The examination and handling of press agency violations must be carried out concurrently with administrative disciplinary measures and Party disciplinary measures, linking the punishment of directly responsible individuals with the accountability of leaders and those involved.

c) The supervisory bodies of press agencies have the responsibility to closely coordinate with the Ministry of Culture and Information and the Central Committee on Propaganda and Ideology in handling violations by press agencies under their jurisdiction in accordance with Party and State legal regulations.

6. Ministries, ministerial-level agencies, government-affiliated agencies, provincial and centrally-administered city people's committees, and press agencies' supervisory bodies are responsible for directing and organizing the strict implementation of the Politburo's conclusions on press work and this Directive, regularly reporting on press activity and press management to the Ministry of Culture and Information.

The Minister of Culture and Information is responsible for summarizing the situation and quarterly reporting on the implementation results to the Politburo, the Secretariat, and the Prime Minister./.