Media told to name sources in cases pending a hearing

Hanoi (VNA) - The Ministry of Information and Communications has issued new
regulations on the provision and use of information in an attempt to make
press organisations more responsible.

The regulations include the printing of news relating to criminal or civil
cases, which are pending investigation or rulings.

Press organisations and reporters will be required to clearly state their
information sources in their publications.

The individuals, agencies or organisations will have legal responsibility
for the origin and the truth of the information, according to the new
regulations.

Press organisations must ensure the truth of information sources and are not
allowed to publicise information relating to relatives or those with
relationship to those involved in civil or criminal cases, if they do not
have evidence proving that the relationship is related to the cases or if
final rulings have not yet been made. This is to prevent harmful impacts on
the private lives of innocent individuals.

The same rules and responsibility apply to the quoting of documents in
publications.

When using news and stories for publication, press organisations are
required to clearly state the names or pen-names of writers or groups of
writers. If the writers use pennames, the press organisations must know the
real names and addresses of the writers.

Information on mystical and new scientific issues will only be allowed to be
published by specific newspapers.

Heads of press organisations will be held responsible to leaders of
governing bodies and must also take legal responsibility for the accuracy of
information publicised by their newspapers.-Enditem