Promote the role of the press
Currently, Quang Ninh province has 55 central and provincial press agencies with representative offices and resident reporters with about 113 journalists registered to work in the press field. Under the management, direction and supervision of the managing units (press agencies), the provincial Department of Information and Communications (Department of Information and Communications) and with the conscience, responsibility and ethics of journalists, press activities in this locality have become orderly, promoting the role of the press well.
According to the report of the Department of Information and Communications of Quang Ninh, in recent years, the local press has closely followed the development orientation of the province; accurately reflected the vivid reality of life, the aspirations of the people; performed well the role of leading public opinion, connecting the people with the government. Well performed the function of warning, criticizing, and refuting the information that lacks objectivity, false information, and distortions of hostile forces.
Scene of a regular press conference organized by the Propaganda Department, Department of Information and Communications and the Journalists Association of Quang Ninh province. Photo: Nguyen Quan
In addition, there are still some shortcomings such as: Press activities lack standards; exceed functions, tasks, and powers; have signs of violating professional ethics. Some reporters and journalists representing press agencies collect documents and post information that is not in accordance with the purpose and objectives, signs of "newspaperization" of magazines; the situation of sensational headlines that do not match the content to attract views, information reflecting the time, subjective comments, and lack of generalization still occurs. There are reporters and journalists who take advantage of the name of the press, operate illegally, harass establishments, businesses, and localities; create anonymous social network accounts, post negative, unverified information, and false information...
Strengthen inspection, review and strict handling of violations.
Faced with that situation, implementing the direction of the Ministry of Information and Communications, the Department of Information and Communications of Quang Ninh continues to step up inspection, review and strict handling of violations of press laws according to Decree No. 119/2020/ND-CP dated October 7, 2020 of the Government regulating administrative sanctions for violations in press and publishing activities, focusing on acts of press agencies that do not comply with their principles and purposes.
In particular, strengthen monitoring of press information on sensitive and pressing issues; reflect on corruption prevention and control; social criticism... From there, coordinate with relevant agencies to verify, handle cases and respond to the press on the results of handling the information reported by the press. At the same time, rectify the situation of taking advantage of the press name to harass and operate illegally; handle violations in the field of journalism; refute false content that affects the reputation and image of individuals and units, causing anxiety and confusion in public opinion.
Advise and guide departments, branches and localities in contacting press agencies, providing information in accordance with the provisions of law, in accordance with the objectives of each press agency and responding to requests for information from press agencies if the request is against regulations and not in accordance with the objectives. The Department of Information and Communications will also promote and expand the provision of information to the press in many forms; support and create favorable conditions for reporters and journalists to work, especially during major events taking place in the locality.
According to the leader of the Department of Information and Communications of Quang Ninh province, in 2023, the whole province had more than 40 press contents reflected by relevant agencies and responded to reporters and press agencies with the results of handling. Units and localities also handled 49 problems and shortcomings raised by the press. Two press agencies and a number of specialized magazines were invited to work on issues related to complaints from people and businesses and on specialized magazines reporting news that was not in accordance with the purposes stated in the license.
In the coming time, in parallel with creating favorable conditions for the press to operate smoothly, the Department of Information and Communications will continue to advise the People's Committee of Quang Ninh province to have stricter management measures, overcome existing problems; especially tighten press activities according to the purpose and objectives, so that there will no longer be a situation where specialized magazines send letters of introduction, requests for information, project profiles, research current issues, investigate according to readers' requests, signs of "newspaperization" of magazines like in the past...
The Spring Press Festival is held annually by the Quang Ninh Provincial Journalists Association in all districts, towns and cities in the province, to introduce local press publications and press with representative offices and resident reporters in Quang Ninh. Photo: Nguyen Quan
Tightening does not mean restricting press activities.
With the characteristics of independent operations, the management agency directing from afar, plus the heavy work pressure, especially the task of doing press economics, reporters and journalists have to "struggle" to complete their tasks, ... are the reasons that easily lead to the above violations and problems. Strengthening the management, monitoring, handling and tightening of press activities according to the principles and purposes that Quang Ninh province is applying is very necessary.
However, there are opinions that the management of press activities too deeply has caused difficulties for reporters' work; the tightening of press activities according to the purpose and objectives sometimes makes it difficult for reporters because some agencies and units do not clearly understand the "purpose and objectives", considering it a "barrier" to limit reporters' work, manifested in avoidance, causing trouble to "buy time" by slow provision of information, incomplete information, and information that is no longer relevant...
Regarding this issue, the leader of the Department of Information and Communications of Quang Ninh said that on November 26, 2021, the Ministry of Information and Communications issued Document No. 4854/BTTTT-CBC, on rectifying the situation of taking advantage of the name of the press to harass and operate illegally. It clearly stated that press activities must be strictly managed according to the principles and purposes, especially for specialized magazines. The Department of Information and Communications has been and is doing exactly according to the content of this document.
Along with that, it is necessary to create favorable conditions for the press to continue to operate cleanly and transparently, carry out effective communication, enhance the fighting capacity, and be determined to eliminate deviations in information and propaganda, and press activities. Tightening the principles and purposes does not mean restricting press activities, but on the contrary, allowing the press to demonstrate its expertise in the field of operation of each press agency. The common goal is to help the press fulfill its functions and tasks well, accompanying the continuous development of the locality.
Nguyen Quan
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