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.