Journalist’s rights and obligations in Vietnam

Journalist’s rights and obligations in Vietnam

Pursuant to Article 25 of the Press Law 2016, the journalist the person who carries out the press activities and is issued with the press card. The journalist’s rights and obligations are as follows:

(1) The journalists have the following rights:

- Carry out the press activities in the territory of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam or in foreign countries in accordance with the laws and is protected by law in occupational activities;

- Have the right to exploit, provide and use information in press activities as stipulated by law;

- Have the right to come to the organizations and agencies for journalistic professional activities. When coming there to work, the journalists only present their press card. The agencies and organizations shall provide the journalists with documents not under the state secrets or individual privacy and other secrets as prescribed by law.

- Have the right to carry out the journalistic professional activities in the public trials; are arranged the separate area for operation; make direct contact with the persons conducting the proceedings and persons involving in the proceedings to obtain information and make interview as stipulated by law;

- Are provided with training and retraining to improve the political level and journalistic professional skills;

- Refuse to take part in developing or creating the journalistic works in contradiction with regulations of law.

(2) The journalists have the following obligations:

- Provide truthful information on reality of the country and the world in line with the interests of the country and people; reflect the legitimate opinions and aspiration of people;

- Protect the viewpoint, policies, guidelines and law of the Party and the State; detect, propagandize and protect the active factors; struggle to prevent and fight against the wrong thoughts and acts.

- Must not abuse the name of journalist to harass and commit the law.

- Must correct and make apology in case of providing false information, distorting, slandering or hurt the prestige of organizations and agencies, honor and dignity of individuals;

- Take responsibility before law and before the head of press agency for the contents of their journalistic products and acts of law violation;

- Comply with regulations on journalists’ occupational ethics.

Journalist’s rights and obligations in Vietnam (Internet image)

Subjects to be considered for issue of press card in Vietnam

Pursuant to Article 26 of the Press Law 2016, subjects to be considered for issue of press card include:

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

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

- Reporters and editors of press agencies and news agencies.

- 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.

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

- 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:

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

+ 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;

+ 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.

Mai Thanh Loi

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