Hanoi (VNA) - Promoting the role and responsibility in the fight against corruption, wastefulness, and other negative phenomena has always been an ongoing requirement for the Vietnamese revolutionary press.
From the task of dissemination, detection, and supervision to the rebuttal of false allegations, the information work of the press in general, and the Vietnam News Agency (VNA) in particular, has been implemented in conjunction with its role as the official source of information for the Party and the State. This contributes to strengthening social trust and promoting the building of a clean and strong Party and political system.
A tough battle against "internal enemies"
The fight against corruption, wastefulness, and other negative phenomena has been identified by the Party as a tough and complex battle against "internal enemies." When he was still alive, President Ho Chi Minh was always concerned about corruption, considering it one of the diseases that needed to be combated. The nature of corruption is inherently bad, as it is "theft" that turns "public assets" into "private property".
In this battle, communication and public outreach always play a pioneering role, helping to raise awareness and a sense of responsibility among officials, Party members, and the general public - first and foremost through the exemplary conduct of leaders at every agency, unit, and locality.
The press, with its role and responsibility, consistently accompanies the nation in this fight, with the principles of transparency and openness to mobilise public participation in detecting, combating, disseminating information about, and monitoring efforts to prevent and fight corruption, wastefulness, and negative practices. In this regard, its role and responsibility are clearly reflected in the following key tasks: disseminating and popularising the Party’s relevant guidelines, policies, and laws; and contributing to raising awareness among officials, Party members, and the public.
The press also provides timely information on the leadership and directions of the Party and State leaders, as well as relevant authorities, while also encouraging and defending exemplary individuals in this battle. Through these efforts, the press mobilises the participation of all segments of society and strengthens public trust in the leadership of the Party and State and in the observance of the law. It also helps to expose and criticise corrupt, wasteful, and negative acts, and reports on the public and strict handling of violators by competent authorities. By doing so, the press contributes to deterrence, early warning, and the prevention of violations.
The press also participates in social oversight and criticism, and in making policy recommendations, while reflecting shortcomings arising from real life and providing information on proposed solutions to address them, thereby helping to improve policies and laws related to the fight. Additionally, it combats and refutes distorted and false allegations about the fight against corruption and wastefulness.
Shaping public opinion and spreading positive information
On the information front, the VNA has been an active participant, with its Party Committee and leaders strengthening their guidance and direction for the agency’s information units to effectively carry out communication tasks related to preventing and combating corruption, wastefulness, and misconduct. These units have closely followed the communication guidelines of the Party Central Committee’s Commission for Information, Education, and Mass Mobilisation; Regulation No. 116-QD/TW of the Party Central Committee’s Secretariat; and the coordination mechanism between the Party Central Committee’s Commission for Internal Affairs and the VNA.
The VNA produces tens of thousands of products related to the fight against corruption, wastefulness, and negative phenomena each year, in various forms such as text news, photos, videos, infographics, podcasts, and distributed through its news wires, print publications, online platforms, and social media channels. The agency’s information units have also developed many columns and thematic series related to anti-corruption efforts.
Its reporters provide accurate coverage of the directives issued by the Party General Secretary and the Central Steering Committee for Prevention and Control of Corruption and Negative Phenomena; information on conclusions and disciplinary decisions; activities of the Party Central Committee’s Commission for Internal Affairs; sessions of the Party Central Committee’s Inspection Commission; inspections and handling of violating Party organisations and members; as well as the work of inspection, auditing, prosecution, investigation, and trials of corruption and economic cases. In addition, information related to judicial reform is systematically organised and implemented.
Particularly, the VNA has strengthened information efforts to protect the Party’s ideological foundation and to counter false and hostile allegations. Alongside the specialised page dedicated to protecting the Party’s ideological foundation - “Happy Vietnam,” (https://happyvietnam.vnanet.vn/en), its electronic news platforms, online newspapers, and fanpages actively publish tens of thousands of information products each year in various formats. These efforts help guide public opinion and spread positive information to the public.
Alongside domestic communication efforts, the VNA has taken advantage of its network of resident correspondents in 30 overseas bureaus and its partnerships with more than 40 news agencies and media organisations to highlight international experiences and lessons, especially from countries in the region, on anti-corruption efforts and judicial reform, as well as the international community’s support for Vietnam in its fight against corruption, wastefulness, and negative phenomena.
In addition, the agency produces reference reports on how corruption, misconduct, and wastefulness are handled in several countries such as China, the Republic of Korea, and Japan, providing comparative insights that serve the leadership and management needs of the Party and State.
The official information source of the Party and State
VNA units follow a strict information-handling process, with multiple layers of editing and verification before publication. Information related to anti-corruption efforts is given even greater scrutiny to prevent any misuse of “media power” or “group interests.” Its information focuses on reflecting the strong determination of the Party and the State in holding leaders politically accountable; addressing violations of exemplary conduct; and handling breaches of regulations on what Party members are prohibited from doing. This approach encourages officials to voluntarily admit shortcomings and proactively resign or step down from their positions when they no longer meet the necessary conditions, capabilities, or integrity; and also supports efforts to strengthen the recovery of assets in corruption cases.
The VNA’s information on this combat is always accurate, comprehensive, and objective. As a result, it is widely used by domestic and international media agencies, with a high rate of citation and broad dissemination across social media platforms. This has also helped its reporters earn numerous high awards at the National Press Awards on combating corruption, wastefulness, and negative phenomena, as well as the National Press Awards in general. Many other works have also been highly praised by competent authorities and readers, who have responded with practical and effective feedback.
To further enhance the effectiveness of combating corruption, wastefulness, and negative phenomena, the VNA proposes improving mechanisms and policies to ensure that press agencies operate in accordance with their mandates and objectives, while maintaining the Party’s leadership in communication efforts; regularly fostering professional ethics and expertise among journalists; strengthening coordination and information sharing between press agencies and bodies directly involved in anti-corruption efforts, particularly ensuring the state news agency function of the VNA; and promoting digital transformation across all areas of socio-economic life to ensure transparency and openness.
As the national news agency and the official information source of the Party and the State, the VNA remains committed to contributing to the fight, and steadfast in building a professional, humane, and modern revolutionary press, thereby helping reinforce social trust and promote sustainable national development./.
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