Hanoi (VNA) - Names, designations, telephone numbersand email addresses of spokespersons should be submitted in writing to thepress state management agency, as per a new government decree.

Under Decree 09/2017-ND-CP issued recently by Prime Minister NguyenXuan Phuc, these details should also be posted on the state administrativeagencies’ websites.

This includes people who make statements and provide informationto the press, such as heads of ministries, ministerial-level agencies andprovincial-level People’s Committees; those authorised by the head of stateadministrative agencies; and those assigned to coordinate with otherspokespersons and make statements or provide information to the press on specificissues.

The chairman of People’s Committees in districts and communes willbe responsible for implementing this decree at those levels.

Individuals who are not authorised can make statements and shareinformation with the press but not on behalf of the state administrative bodiesand have to bear responsibility for the source of information.

According to the decree, there are six ways of making statementsand providing information to the press: holding press conferences; publishingstatements and information on state agencies’ websites and social networks;making statements or directly answering reporters’ questions; sending pressreleases or replying to journalists via written documents or email; sharinginformation through meetings with the press at their request; and asking pressagencies to publish or broadcast feedback, correction and apology forinformation in the press.

The decree stipulates that the minister and the head of thegovernment office will preside and coordinate with ministries,ministerial-level agencies and People’s Committee of provinces and cities tohold press conferences and share information with the press once a month andpost it on government portals that will be updated regularly.

The decree also has regulations on making statements and sharinginformation in case of emergencies.-VNA