Responsibility for Providing Information to the Press

Under the 2016 Press Law, providing information to the press is an obligation for agencies, organizations, and responsible individuals within their authority.

While providers must be accountable for their information, they also hold the right to refuse in specific cases, such as ongoing investigations. Additionally, state administrative agencies are required to appoint spokespersons and conduct both periodic and ad-hoc press briefings.

The 2016 Press Law further mandates that competent agencies and organizations failing to provide information to the press within their mandate and duties may face administrative fines ranging from 1,000,000 VND to 3,000,000 VND.

It can be affirmed that since the 2016 Press Law took effect, the provision of information to the press has seen many positive changes. State administrative agencies at all levels have become more proactive in providing information to the press.

As a result, the role of the press in public information dissemination has been strengthened, especially in policy dissemination.

However, there remains a view that proactively engaging with the press and providing information is a “difficult” task. The hesitation to interact with the press still exists, causing difficulties for journalists in accessing official sources.

In reality, in recent times, there have still been cases in which reporters contacting agencies for interviews or seeking information to serve dissemination work and guide public opinion, especially on sensitive issues of public concern, are referred from one person to another, avoided, or repeatedly postponed. This causes journalists to fall behind in executing their dissemination plans.

Although not a widespread phenomenon, such behaviors toward the press leave “unsightly stains” on the broader picture of information transparency.
Avoiding the press is not an optimal solution, because when official sources are unavailable, people will seek information elsewhere, leading to multiple interpretations. 

When misinformation spreads, shaping public opinion becomes even more challenging. Clearly, avoiding the provision of information shows a limited awareness of the importance of information access for society.

The best approach is to cooperate responsibly with the press to provide accurate information from the outset, counter negative or misleading content early, and thereby shape proper perception and attitudes among the public, foster social consensus, and prevent misinformation.

On the afternoon of December 10, the National Assembly approved amendments to the Press Law, tightening obligations to provide information to the press and, for the first time, clearly defining this as a legal responsibility compulsory for agencies, organizations, and persons with authority.

Accordingly, within their assigned duties and authority, agencies, organizations, and individuals with authority both have the right and the obligation to provide information to the press and to bear legal responsibility for the content provided.

The law also clearly assigns responsibility to the heads of agencies and organizations to respond to press inquiries concerning recommendations, reports, complaints, and denunciations forwarded by press agencies, and to notify corresponding handling measures.

The revised Press Law recently passed by the National Assembly will provide the necessary and sufficient legal basis to ensure that journalistic dissemination meets the growing public demand for access to information, while maximizing the role of the press in shaping public opinion. 

By NGUYEN CHUONG
Translated by ANH DUC