The event was held on the special occasion of the approaching 100th anniversary of the Viet Nam Revolutionary Press Day (June 21, 1925 – June 21, 2025), and served as a forum to gather public feedback on the draft revised Law on Press.
In his opening remarks, Phan Xuan Thuy, Deputy Head of the Party Central Committee’s Commission for Communication and Education, stressed that the revision and supplementation of the Law on Press was crucial to improve legal regulations and institutionalise the Party’s policies on journalism, as well as to address shortcomings and inadequacies in the current legal framework.
Additionally, amending the current Law on Press aims to help journalism adapt to the rapid development of technology, media science, and the digital environment, thereby shaping a suitable legal corridor for press activities in the modern era.
The draft law introduces principles of transparent management and delineates responsibilities between central and local authorities. Around 30 specific areas will be regulated in detail by the Government and relevant agencies. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism will be responsible for journalist card issuance, operating licences, representative offices, bulletins, and special publications.
Notably, the model of a centralised multimedia journalism conglomerate is proposed for formal inclusion in the law. According to this model, a conglomerate may include several affiliated units, operate under a business-finance mechanism, and have the right to establish or invest in media enterprises.
To manage online press content, the draft law requires content channels operating on social media and internet-based applications to register with regulatory bodies, comply with cybersecurity laws, and adhere to international commitments.
According to Le Hai Binh, Alternate Member of the Party Central Committee and Standing Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the ongoing revision of the Law on Press includes fundamental additions that help shape a legal framework and mechanism for the development of journalism. This will provide reassurance to media professionals as they carry out their work in the coming years.
