Can a cameraman at television station be considered for issue of press card in Vietnam?

Can a cameraman at television station be considered for issue of press card in Vietnam?

Pursuant to Article 26 of the Press Law 2016 stipulates that subjects to be considered for issue of press card are as follows:

1. The general director, deputy general director, director, deputy director, editor-in-chief and deputy chief editor of press agencies and news agencies.

2. Head of department, deputy head of department of press operation of press agencies and news agencies.

3. Reporters and editors of press agencies and news agencies.

4. Cameraman, director of broadcasting and television programs, (excluding movies) of units issued with the press operation permit in the field of broadcasting and television and documentary production of the State.

5. Reporter, editor and person in charge of activities of reporter, editor at the broadcasting station and television station at district level or the equivalent.

6. Persons who have been issued with the press card but transferred to perform another job but still make journalistic products that are used or are certified by the press agency shall be considered for issue of press card in the following cases:

a) Are mobilized to work at the units which do not carry out the direct press activities of the press agency;

b) Are transferred to carry out the teaching of specialized press at the university education establishments in accordance with the provisions of the Law on university education;

c) Are transferred to work as full-time officials at the journalist association at all levels or directly carry out the state management over the press.

Thus, cameramen of broadcasting station and television station (excluding movies) of units issued with the press operation permit in the field of broadcasting and television and documentary production of the State are subject to to be considered for issue of press card. You must see if the television station where you plan to apply for a job belongs to one of the above-stipulated units to consider eligibility for issue of press card in Vietnam.

If I don't have a university degree, am I eligible to be considered for issue of press card in Vietnam?

According to Article 27 of the 2016 Press Law, conditions and standards to be considered for issue of press card are as follows:

1. The persons working at the press agencies specified in Clauses , 2, 3 and 4, Article 26 of this Law are considered for issue of press card must meet the following conditions and standards as follows:

a) Are the Vietnamese citizens and are permanently residing in Vietnam;

b) Having graduated from university; in case of being the ethnic minority people who are carrying out the publications of printed newspapers, broadcasting and television programs, special column of online newspaper in the language of ethnic minority language, such persons must graduate from college or have higher education.

c) In case of issue of card for the first time, there must be the working time for 02 consecutive years or more at the press agency requesting the issue of card by the time of consideration for issue of card, except for the editor-in-chief of scientific magazine and other cases as stipulated by law;

d) Are recommended for issue of card by the press agency or the current agency.

2. The cases specified in Clause 5, Article 26 of this Law are issued with the press card must meet the conditions and standards specified under Points a, b and d, Clause 1 of this Article and must meet the conditions and standards as follows:

a) Are the permanent collaborator of the broadcasting and television station of province and centrally-run city;

b) Have at least twelve journalistic products which have been broadcast on the broadcasting station and television station of province and centrally-run city in 01 year by the time of consideration for issue of card.

c) In case of issue of card for the first time, there must be the working time for 02 consecutive years or more at the broadcasting station and television stations or the equivalent by the time of consideration for issue of card.

d) Are recommended for issue of card by the broadcasting station and television station of province and centrally-run city.

3. The following cases are not considered for issue of press card:

a) Are not the subjects specified in Article 26 of this Law;

b) Have committed the provisions on journalist’s occupational ethics;

c) Have been disciplined from the form of reprimand or heavier in accordance with the regulations of law on public servants and officials and the law on labor but the duration of 12 months is not yet expired by the time of consideration for issue of card;

d) Are the persons concerned in the cases without the conclusion from the competent state agencies.

dd) Have been convicted by a judgment which has taken legal effect of the Court and their criminal records have not yet been removed;

e) Their press cards are revoked due to violation of legal regulations but the time of card revocation is not over 12 months from the date of decision issue by the time of consideration for issue of card.

Thus, it is not necessary to have a university degree to be eligible for consideration for issue of press card. In case of being the ethnic minority people who are carrying out the publications of printed newspapers, broadcasting and television programs, special column of online newspaper in the language of ethnic minority language, such persons must graduate from college or have higher education.

What is duration for issue of press card in Vietnam?

Clause 2, Article 28 of the Press Law 2016 provides as follows:

1. The press card is issued to the persons who meet the conditions and standards as stipulated in Article 27 of this Law for press activities.

2. The duration for issue of press card is 05 years. The expiry date of press card is specified on the card. In special cases, the renewal of expiry date of press card is decided by the Minister of Information and Communications.

When the duration of the press card is over, the Ministry of Information and Communications shall consider for issue or change of press card as per the new duration.

3. The persons who have been issued with the press card and transferred to another agency or unit but still are the subjects issued with the press card as stipulated in Article 26 of this Law shall have to go through the procedures for change of press card upon working at the new agency.

4. Where the press card is lost or damaged, the person issued with the press card must go through the procedures for the re-issue of press card.

The application for re-issue of press card must have the certification of loss from the press agency, current agency, public security of commune, ward or town where the card was lost; in case of damage of card, the old card must be sent with the application.

5. The person issued with the press card must return it in the following cases:

a) The person who was issued with the press card but transferred to perform other duties and does not belong to the subjects issued with the press card specified in Article 26 of this Law; the person who was issued with the press card has retired; the person whose term of labor contract is expired but is not permitted to sign new labor contract or does not continue working at the press agency;

b) The person who has been issued with the press card has worked at the press agency whose press operation permit is revoked by the decision of the Minister of Information and Communications.

c) Within 15 days after the decision on the contents specified under Point a and b of this Clause, the head of the current agency of the person issued with the press card shall inform in writing of the cases specified under Point a of this Clause and revoke the press card and hand it over to the Ministry of Information and Communications.

Where the person issued with the press card does not return it, the press agency shall make announcement on its journalistic products, except that the person who must return the card has lost it. In this case, the press agency shall report in writing to the Ministry of Information and Communications.

d) The person who must return his card specified under Point a and b of this Clause, within 06 months after returning the press card, if being recruited by a press agency under the contract regime from 01 year or more, shall be considered for change of his press card as stipulated in Clause 3 of this Article.

6. The person issued with the press card which shall be revoked in the following cases:

a) Violating the regulations on journalist’s occupational ethics, journalistic professional activities, information in newspapers or improper use of press card causing serious outcome;

b) Being prosecuted by the proceeding conducting agency. Where the competent agency decides to suspend the investigation or the case to that journalist or from the day the effective judgement declares that journalist is not guilty or free from criminal liability, the state management agency over the press shall return the press card to this person.

c) Being disciplined from the form of caution or heavier or two times of reprimand in 02 consecutive years in accordance with the law on public servants and officials and the law on labor;

d) Leaving from job without returning his press card.

7. The Ministry of Information and Communications is the agency which issues, re-issues and revokes the press card.

8. The dossier and procedures for issue, re-issue and revocation of press card shall be stipulated by the Minister of Information and Communications.

Thus, according to the above regulations in Vietnam, duration for issue of press card is 5 years.

Best Regards!