Vietnam's reporters reminded of duty

Vietnam's reporters reminded of duty

HANOI (AFP): Vietnam's Communist Party Chief met with the
heads of the country's media reminding them of their duty to act
as effective instruments of the party and government, local
reports said yesterday.

Le Kha Phieu, who was appointed to the country's most powerful
position last month, stressed "the Central Committee on Ideology
and Culture must play a key role in enhancing the propagandizing
quality of the press".

Vietnam's media are all government owned and run, and the tone
and content of news is carefully vetted by the culture and
information ministry.

Self-censorship is heavily practiced, but occasionally editors
are arrested for straying from the party line.