Vietnam’s Media Restructuring Sparks Fears of Propaganda Surge
Critics are raising alarms over Vietnam’s ongoing media restructuring, warning that it will tighten government control over news outlets and intensify the spread of state propaganda. The restructuring plan, initiated in 2019 under former Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, aims to reduce the number of press organizations from 180 to 100 by 2025, leading to job losses for 8,000 reporters and editors. Under General Secretary To Lam’s leadership, the restructuring has accelerated. The initiative, known as Resolution 18, consolidates 14 ministries into seven, each permitted only one official news outlet. Analysts predict this will halve the number of media organizations, concentrating resources into six state-run conglomerates, including Nhan Dan, the Communist Party’s official newspaper, and national broadcaster Vietnam Television. On January 15, 2025, the restructuring led to the shutdown of Vietnam Multimedia Corporation (VTC) and other broadcasters, leaving approximately 1,000 employees without jobs. A journalism student, identified only as Justin, described emotional scenes as VTC employees counted down to the channel’s closure, followed by fireworks. “Everyone was crying,” he said. While the government claims the reforms aim to streamline operations and eliminate inefficiencies, democracy advocates argue that the changes will prioritize propaganda over independent journalism. Trinh Huu Long of Legal Initiatives for Vietnam stated, “The government will invest in a small number of state agencies to make them more effective in propaganda. Serving readers is secondary.” The crackdown extends beyond media consolidation. A November 2024 report revealed that 17 independent journalists are currently imprisoned, highlighting the shrinking space for press freedom in Vietnam. As critics call for balanced reforms, many fear the rapid changes will further stifle independent voices and leave Vietnam’s public with fewer sources of unbiased news. Source: voanews
Vietnam’s Media Restructuring Sparks Fears of Propaganda Surge Read More »