06 forms of announcing and providing information to the press in Vietnam

06 forms of announcing and providing information to the press in Vietnam (Internet image)

Regarding this issue, LawNet would like to answer as follows:

On March 13, 2023, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Vietnam issued Decision 562/QD-BVHTTDLstipulating the regulations on announcing and providing information to the press of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

1. Principles of announcing and providing information to the press in Vietnam

announcing and providing information to the press must comply with the principles specified in Article 4 of the Regulation promulgated together with Decision 562/QD-BVHTTDL in 2023, specifically as follows:

- Spokesperson, authorized speaker specified at Point b, Point c, Clause 1, Article 3 of the Regulation promulgated together with Decision 562/QD-BVHTTDL in 2023, on behalf of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to to speak and provide information to the press.

The information provided to the press is the official information on the activities and views of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

- The announcement and provision of information for the press should ensure accuracy, timeliness, and efficiency, and be consistent with the principles and purposes of each press agency.

- Individuals under the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism who are not assigned the task of announcing and providing information to the press may do so in accordance with the law, but not on behalf of the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism. They must also take legal responsibility for the content of the information they provide.

2. Forms of announcing and providing information to the press in Vietnam

Specifically, in Article 5 of the Regulation promulgated together with Decision 562/QD-BVHTTDL in 2023, the forms of announcing and providing information to the press include:

(1) Hold a press conference.

(2) Posting statements and providing information on the official portal, website, and social networking site of the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism or of relevant units under the Ministry.

(3) Direct speech or interview with journalists and reporters.

(4) Send press releases and replies to press agencies, journalists, and reporters in writing or by email.

(5) Provide information through direct exchange or at press briefings or extraordinary press conferences held at the central or local level when required.

(6) Issue a written request to the press agency to publish, issue feedback, correct, or apologize for information content in the press.

3. Cases of refusal to provide information to the press in Vietnam

According to Article 11 of the Regulation promulgated together with Decision 562/QD-BVHTTDL in 2023, the cases of refusal to provide information to the press are as follows:

- Cases of refusal to provide information to the press comply with the provisions of Clause 2, Article 38 of the Press Law 2016, specifically:

Competent agencies, organizations, and individuals have the right to refuse to provide information to the press in the following cases:

+ Information on the list of State secrets, secrets under the Party's principles and regulations, personal secrets, and other secrets as prescribed by law;

Information about the case that is under investigation or pending trial, except for the case of state administrative agencies, investigating agencies need to inform the press on issues beneficial to investigation activities, crime prevention, and combat;

+ Information about the case being inspected without any conclusion; the case is in the process of settling complaints and denunciations; disputes and conflicts between state agencies are in the process of being resolved, and there are no official conclusions of competent persons, which, according to the law, have not been allowed to be published;

+ Policy documents, projects are in the process of being drafted, but according to the provisions of law, they have not been allowed to be published by competent authorities.

- When a journalist fails to present a valid journalist's card or recommendation letter issued by a press agency.

Decision 562/QD-BVHTTDL takes effect from the date of signing and replaces Decision 2499/QD-BVHTTDL 2017.

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