(VOVworld) – The Ministry of Information and Communications will strengthen state management in press, publication, post and telecommunication, and information technology. It aims to realize the Party Central Committee’s resolution on the development and management of Vietnamese press until 2025.

A roadside newspaper shop in Hanoi

In a recent interview with VOV, Deputy Minister of Information and Communications Truong Minh Tuan revealed development orientations for communications, particularly the planning of the press.

Finalizing the Project on press development and management until 2025

The Ministry of Information and Communications is finalizing a Project on press development and management until 2025 to be submitted to the Party Politburo. The project aims to create a legal corridor for the press to develop healthily in the right direction. Deputy Minister Truong Minh Tuan said: “The Project on press development and management until 2025 focuses on development and good management of the press. It will re-organize the press for stronger development in the right direction to provide accurate and sufficient information to the public. The Vietnamese revolutionary press should be the voice and forum of the people, reflect people’s concerns, and communicate Party and state guidelines to the people. The press must be objective, unbiased, and immediate.”  

Vietnam has 845 press agencies. Deputy Minister Tuan said the Project plans to organize multimedia agencies. Publications and unqualified newspapers that provide incorrect information and violate intellectual property rights will be closed. Press agencies will be given the best possible conditions to develop.

Management aligned with development

Deputy Minister Tuan said the internet and social networks have developed rapidly and Vietnam is not alone in that global trend. The internet boom and social networks in Vietnam have created an opportunity for Vietnamese people to access information quickly but created management challenges as well. The Ministry of Information and Communications has identified as one of its tasks this year the handling of misleading information. Mr. Tuan again: “Press agencies and reporters have to actively provide prompt information to the public. State agencies have to be involved in this work by giving the people specific information.”

Deputy Minister Tuan said the Ministry will take steps to improve information publishing in 2015. Together with the Law on Publication, the Ministry will continue to issue sub-law documents to improve management of publication licensing, registration, printing, and distribution.