Reporters from Vietnam News Agency's Vnews work at a COVID-19 checkpoint. — VNA/VNS Photo Quốc Dũng

HÀ NỘI — Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính has urged press agencies to contribute to national defence.

Ministries, agencies, local governments and press/media agencies were told to work closely to boost communication to increase public understanding, awareness, responsibility and consensus in national defence.

The new directive by PM Chính aims to strengthen communication activities so press and media agencies can play a bigger role in protecting Việt Nam alongside the Party, State and the whole political system.

Under the directive, ministries, agencies and localities were asked to provide press and media agencies with official information on issues of public concern.

Press agencies were asked to adopt new forms of media and diversify information to help improve the national image in the international arena.

Press and media agencies must balance and combine information about internal and external affairs in line with national benefits and people’s benefits. Positive information about daily life and society in Việt Nam should be highlighted.

Nhân dân (People) newspaper, Quân đội Nhân dân (People’s Army) newspaper, Việt Nam Television, the Voice of Việt Nam radio and the Vietnam News Agency as key national press agencies must develop in-depth communication programmes about national protection.

Press and media agencies are also encouraged to take advantage of social networks, local communication systems and new forms of media to deliver official information. 

PM Chính asked the Ministry of Information and Communication to work with the Party Central Committee's Commission for Publicity and Education, the Việt Nam Journalists’ Association and other Government bodies to provide official information to help the public have the proper understanding and increase their vigilance against the plots of hostile forces.

The ministry was also asked to work with other agencies to speed up innovation in the sector.

In addition, they were told to tighten the management of communication activities on conventional channels and new ones including social networks. 

The Ministry of Information and Communication, the Ministry of Public Security and other agencies should develop social network-based channels in many languages to fight against bad information and fake news.

The ministries of Defence and Public Security will help equip managers, presenters, reporters and editors of press and media agencies with proper knowledge about national defence, skills to report on relevant issues as well as communication skills.

Advanced technologies are expected to be used to detect and tackle press-related law violations. 

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will provide information about international issues, external affairs and Việt Nam’s policies for overseas Vietnamese, as well as international events Việt Nam is involved in.

Vietnamese living overseas were called on to help promote Việt Nam’s image and its national defence.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism will provide information about Vietnamese culture and history. The ministry will also help enrich cultural and historic knowledge for reporters and skills to report on relevant issues. — VNS