Information to be specified or indicated in press in Vietnam

Information to be specified or indicated in press in Vietnam (Internet image)

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

1. Information to be specified or indicated in press in Vietnam

Article 46 of the Press Law 2016 stipulates that the press agency in Vietnam must specify or indicate all of the following information:

- On the first page, cover one of printed newspaper, the home page and the pages of online newspaper, there must be the following contents:

+ Name of journalistic product;

+ Name of press agency, name of press line agency (to be written under the name of newspaper); domain name of online newspaper;

+ Ordinal number of press release of printed newspaper;

+ Date of press release.

- At the foot of the last page and last cover of printed newspaper, the home page of online newspaper, there must be the following contents:

+ Permit number, date of issue and agency issuing the press operation permit;

+ Address of the press agency, telephone number, fax, email and full name of the head of the press agency;

+ Place of printing, size, number of pages, publishing period and selling price of the printed newspaper.

- The talking newspaper and photo newspaper must express the symbol and theme song.

2. Regulations on provision of press information in Vietnam

- Within the powers and duties, the organizations, agencies and responsible persons have the right and obligation to provide information for the press and shall take responsibility before law for the contents of information provided.

The provision of information to the press can be made in writing, on the website, press conference, interview and other forms. The press agency must use contents of information provided correctly and must indicate the information origin.

- The competent authorities, organzations and individuals have the right to refuse the provision of information to the press in the following cases:

+ The information included in the list of state secrets, the secrets under the principles and regulations of the Party, individual privacy and other secrets as prescribed by law;

+ The information about the cases under investigation or not yet judged, except for cases the state administrative agencies or the investigation agencies need the press information about the issues in favor of investigative activities and the prevention and fight against crime;

+ The information about the cases under inspection pending the inspection conclusion or the cases whose complaints or denunciation is under the settlement; the disputes and conflicts between the state agencies are under the settlement pending the official conclusion from the competent persons not permitted for announcement as provided for by law.

+ The documents of policies and schemes which are under development and are not announced by the competent level in accordance with regulations of law.

- For the cases which are under investigation and prosecution and pending trial, the negative cases or the cases with signs of law violation pending the conclusion from the competent state agency, the press has the right to provide information based on its own documentary sources and shall take responsibility before law for the contents of information.

- The press agencies and the journalists have the right and obligation not to disclose the information provider, except for the case with a written request from the Head of the People's Procuratorate, President of provincial People’s Court and the equivalent or higher level necessary for the investigation, prosecution and judgement of very serious or particularly serious crimes.

The Head of the People's Procuratorate and the President of provincial People’s Court and the equivalent or higher level shall plan to protect the information provider; the law enforcement agencies shall have to coordinate with the Head of the People's Procuratorate and the President of provincial People’s Court and the equivalent or higher level to protect the information provider.

- The state administrative agencies shall appoint the spokeman to speak and provide information for the press on periodic and unexpected basis.

The government details the speaking and provision of information to the press of the state administrative agencies.

(Based on Article 38 of the Press Law 2016)

Nhu Mai

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