Role of press in national construction and development
Ha Noi, June 20 (VNA) -- The revolutionary press of Viet Nam has developed quantitatively and qualitatively over its 77-year development course.
It has been serving as a vanguard force in the cultural and ideological front and a reliable mainstay of the Party and the people.
Viet Nam's first revolutionary newspaper is Thanh Nien (Young People), which made its debut in 1925. It paved the way for the establishment of Co Do (Red Flag), Tranh Dau (Struggling), Co Giai Phong (Liberation Flag), and Viet Nam Doc Lap (Independent Viet Nam) newspapers. These first newspapers made considerable contributions to disseminating information to the people and mobilising forces in the struggle for national liberation and unification.
Apart from the national Viet Nam News Agency, Radio the Voice of Viet Nam, and Viet Nam Television, there are 490 press organisations across the country producing about 650 different publications. Since the country officially linked to the Internet in 1997, 17 newspapers have begun publishing their papers on-line. Radio and television stations have poured investment into purchasing advanced technologies to expand their coverage to all reaches of the country. Viet Nam also has a strong force of 11,000 journalists.
In its capacity as the vanguard force in the cultural and ideological front, the press has played an active role in discovering and encouraging cases of effective economic operation. It has also helped in the fight against corruption, negative phenomena, and social evils to purify the Party and administrative contingent.
A number of social movements and charity activities, including the "paying the debts of gratitude" and "building houses for the helpless", were initiated by the press organisations.
Press-related legal documents issued recently have provided the mass media with a ground of democracy, ensuring the right to freedom of press and freedom of speech.--Enditem
