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3/1/1994 - Vietnamese Media Ride and Economic Boom and the censors take a back seat. by Carole Beaulieu

NOT FOR PUBLICATION WITHOUTWRrrER SCONSENI INSTITUTEOFCURRENTWORLDAFFAIRS CB VIETNAMESE MEDIA RIDE AN ECONOMIC BOOM censors Peter Bird Martin ICWA West Wheelock St Hanover NH 03755 USA Dear Peter News reporting Vietnam cause headaches Vietnamese journalists determine limits their freedoms report accordingly Such freedoms severely tested events occur reveal crimes country powerful This February former Vietnamese Minister Energy Vu Ngoc Hal trial corruption Many wondered should cover Our HoChiMinh City editors against recalls Pham Huy Hoan Hanoi based deputy editor chief L __Q_Og country popular newspaper owned Confederation Trade Unions published three times They worried Hai would after found guilty I wanted front Hoan copies L_ Q_ D Q bought street faster vendors could untie bundles The economic liberalization brought profound changes media Singaporean journalist Russell Heng Indochina Unit Singapore based South East Asian Studies Institute There liveliness press environment newspapers fight piece market resourceful Vietn around restrictions profit Stodgy newspapers mandated close become profitole began improve content desizn Business celebrities stars jumped front Fubbin elbows party officials their speeches CoveraKe extended problems everyday Sex murder State Zrumble about sensationalism taste But process moved Lay modernized classified advertisements introduced colorful Sunday pplements newsstands In their tract readers newsmen women began previous notions supposed According there censorship Vietnam In everyone knows there But keeps moving except issues multiparty system censors taken Carole Beaulieu ICWA fellow iting about countries former French Indochina focus Vietnam Since Institute Current World Affairs Crane Rogers Foundation provided fellowships enable outstanding young adults outside United Sates write about intemational areas issues Endowed bythelateCharlesR Crane theInstituteisalsosupportedbycontributionsfromlike mindedindividualsand foundations Hanoi numerous newsstands Seat It dance forward sideways another backward talented controversial Saigon based iournalist writing Q youth newspaper biggest Faker South Our margin freedom I expanded testing Between publications launched By Vietnam about newspapers magazines reviews estimated total circulation millions Every single ministry government organization seemed discovering wonders publishing Even foreigners trying Ringier powerful Swiss media group revamping Vietnamese language economic weekly planning fashion magazine A Thai group getting ready upgrade Vietnamese English language daily An Australian group behind become Vietnam English language business weekly V a__m_ VIR Granted risky market Private ownership media forbidden foreigners enter joint ventures Vietnamese partner In VIR example partner State Committee Coo peration Investment SCCI Foreign investors optimistic about future industry Australian newsman Ross Dunkley managing editor VIR Vietnamese press liberal minded others Southeast Asia You level debate Vietnamese press I easily found places Singapore Indonesia Malaysia Dunkley first Vietnam launch VIR While L Q Q Hal trial front VIR unable The SCCI censor could persuaded story inside paper Dunkley admits censorship paper We We political scientists We willing along rules What trying publish profitable newspaper change country With copies estimate readers VIR successful English language paper Vietnam Management admits though future industry Vietnamese language newspapers VIR preparing weekly Vietnamese version daily Long plans VIR mainly staffed Vietnamese ournalists trained produce informative business newspaper English Vietnamese Most editing still expatriates While Dunkley never talks things freedom press convincing Vietnamese counterpart balanced coverage still important battle And Dunkley battles After waiting weeks authorization paste promotional posters VIR front Dunkley finally decided without permit We young Vietnamese journalists staff Dunkley They adapt methods A STRONG PRESS TRADITION The Vietnamese certainly strong press tradition Today journalists often andsons granddaughters those risked their lives write under names fiery French language opposition newspapers French colonial times Some figures prestigious HoChiMinh himself directed weekly called L Others proud their parents founding members Thigh_ clandestine organ Revolutionary Youth League founded denounce French imperialism Indochina promote national liberation In there newspape Vietnam recalls Professor Ha Minh Duc director Journalism Department Hanoi University The current period resources study Some today journalists daughters those front during American while their editors South expos corruption Diem regime When I young ought censorship Thieu recalls another southern journalist working Mekong delta paper After fought communist censorship Now things getting better freedom Some there political debate today media there during first years renovation iprocess In President The January Hanoi Press Fair Vietnam Journalist Asso thousands visitors clarion VJA complained certain papers attacked Party leadership slang socialist reimeo In report renovation media VJA executive committee praised media iving always presenting pictures complained about crime stories emergence ercialism detriment educational aesthetical interests According VJA liberation information based correct concept revolutionary journalism I TOUGH LAWS PROMOTE REVOLUTI ONARY JOURNALISM The pieces legislation relating press certainly support One wonders Vietnamese journalists publishers manage trouble If applied Canada Press Law Publishing Law would journalists Take Article Publishing Law example The article forbids publication works bearing following Opposition Socialist Republic Vietnam thereby sabotaging people solidarity Advocacy violence aggression inciting hostility amongst nations people propagation reactionary ideas culture perverse obscene living criminal social vices superstitions destruction traditional customs culture Disclosing secrets Communist Party State secrets concerning military security economy affairs private lives people others secrets covered Vietnamese Distorting story refuting revolutionary achievements defamihg great persons national heroes maligning harming reputation organizations honor dignity individuals Vietnam always broad enough anyone himself explains HCMCity editor It provides exciting lives Some Vietnamese journalists I remind Polish colleague I befriended Paris seven years Witold worked Q known Polish newspaper I astonished Witold personal censor If censor Witold would story until promising Sometimes censor would Wait The situation quite favorable They would deals I story forget about Witold would solve censor personal problems The Poles thought lucky censors Th neighbors Czechs ended Up censoring themselves Many Vietnamese I write everything I believe important Vinh works economic weekly The editor chief decides Last I submitted story refused The I tried again different editor The story published report ional R Executive Committee Fifth VJA Congress Hanoi Oct THE FINE LINE OF SELF CENSORSHIP Even though thirty journalists editors I spoke would where there clearly It seems paper paper province province One topic entirely limit multiparty system One simply question merits single party system historic Communist Party Another dangerous topic private President HoChiMinh The someone story about HoChiMinh mistress about three years newspaper editor She works children publishing house impatiently waiting opportunity reporting Some other issues human rights shaky ground Ours developing society socialist editor Hoan We political stability develop Investors corae chaos Russia The Vietnamese people preoccupied economic development politics Our newspapers reflect No I spoke advocated absolute openness Although intellectuals chafe political debate I almost Vietnamese I Article Press Law The press censored before going print But editors chief responsible everything publish Pham Huy Hoan Hanoi editor Q_ Q machine Each signature before press I hours smiling Criticism government policy especially corruption economic mismanagement allowed It depends Hanoi based journalist You balanced constructive insult anyone Some journalists worry though being fight other people political battles Take privatization Legamex southern garment maker HCMCity based journalist At first Legamex privatization program Suddenly authorities leaking sorts information corruption within company For journalists change heart signalled broad based support within Party privatization program Opponents wanting publicly confront reformers using media fight Stories those itics getting complex Vietnam researcher Russell Heng And media playing ncreasing power struggle Article organizations limay subjected Press Law incur warning ccash ontraveni penalties withdrawal They circulation confiscation publications tapes temporary suspensions withdrawal license stipulated If newspaper close Ministry Information official Mai Linh ReadinghD People Daily MEETING THE CONTROLLER Linh character With jeans jacket designer glasses could Hanoi young racers nightly their motorbikes death deying speeds around capital deserted streets But When asked deine Linh joined Communist Party months better uttlre controller oreig language newspapers magazines published Vietnam Most English French Chinese Vietnam known abroad explains ambitious Linh We reach oreign audience maybe export publications Linh those publications inorm their editors writing mistakes Especially articles against party A letter Minister Inormation The paper amends urther trotle Linh writes letters hints happy Vietnams production As Vietnamese newspapers Linh LQ D paper They comply The paper ministry Give required copies Controllers control mechanisms still place All Vietnamese ptblicatlons licensed Frint shops incur heavy penalties printing unlicensed material Publications increase their number pages without State permission Printing samizdats Vietnamese spreading dissent Writin iction But another story Journalists licensed The procedure O CO QUAN TRUNG LI tight though I personally journalists without permit especially foreign language publications In print media booming The countries dailies despite their government subsidies losing ground tougher bolder competition L _a_Q___D Q despite price USS approaching I00 copies D Communist Party Daily which sells reported loosing US Sounds small Not strapped government Vietnam Among dailies O G Liberated Saigon property HCMCi People Committee adjusting faster New Hanoi owned Hanoi People Committee Most front stories H_a M Q_i_ editorials Editor chief Ho Xuan Son paper educate public He admits having problem attracting young readers As change maybe paper special Tet edition featured voluptuous blonde model holding bathing C Qg__A tabloid police newspaper closest Vietnam crime popular press already circulating copies often person T_t Tr Youth Paper popular newspaper south issues Sunday magazine copies almost impossible thern newsstands We complaining about distributiono months admits Tuoi Tre staff member Its authoritles fault fault We unable distribution network Lao Dong comparison relies private nation distribution network Some publications faring HoChiMinh City based weekly newsmagazine confused ThQ Q T_e V another publication supported Swiss group published Hanoi Launched 199_I newsmagazine English French counterpart n____T S_a O Q Other English language publications L_a B L ZD Y _n_a_m Q I G N published Ministry Trade reaching international standards The State Vietnam News Agency launched French English edition Q U weekly newspaper content never steering official policy Many Vietnamese newspapers Th N_ Youth L_ The Law P LI L Women often publish investigative pieces environment protection problems economic management Others T D P attract young readers strong coverage foreign Q I humorous magazine C L Q Smile tends Two dailies national Communist Party newspaper Q DQ N_h D Army paper three others regional Liberated Saigon H New Hanoi characters caricature politicians possibility laughing known Vietnamese attitudes caleless driving RENOVATION COMES SLOWLY TO THE AIRWAVES Compared print industry electronic media clearly The government scared power radio television Vietnamese broadcaster They tighter control A short visit Voice Vietn VOV headquartered Quang Su Street enough ovation coming airwaves I cannot budget station It secret international relations director Dinh The Loc The Vietnamese Television willingly provided budget US million shake loose additional information The Voice Vietnam still bureaucratic admits young radio announcer working English language service They their audience countryside people conservative The Voice Vietnam State radio network country provincial stations province It district stations broadcasting ethnic languages foreign service broadcasting I I languages VOV channels music other educational programs No listens Voice Viet Voan woman working Peasant Union Hanoi There nothing interesting except music weather forecast Even listen BBC VOA RFI French radio Apart music theater VOV programs targeted specific audiences women program children program people program For people advice staying healthy resolving family quarrels especially uncaring children Mai Lan retired library employee lives alone Hanoi Many urban dwellers complain conservative format They always telling Thanh studies Hanoi Conservatory Sometimes I educated preached I relax entertained Vietnamese radio heard phone shows dynamic jockeys The street surveys never conducted partly equipme citizens might They trust their people Sri Lankan broadcaster Wijayananda Jayaweera In Jayaweera conducted Canadian funded rural broadcasting seminar Vietnam A veteran broadcaster travelled extensively other Southeast Asian developing countries Jayaweera surprised discover Socialist Vietnam never broadcasted voices peasants Instead journalist writes information reads piece They peasants ignorant officials enough recalls shocked Jayaweera Their oblem lacko skills equipment It problem Lack equipment problem however Often radio stations recorder The twelve training session Hanoi National Training Center Radio Television The trainers expecting students instead None spoke English The hands approach Jayaweera planned students handling recorders learning their potential could Instead revert aight presentations which translated phrase phrase While believe seminars others organizations interested improving Vietnamese broadcasting should instead support pilot radio stations The trainers Vietnamese broadcasters insists Jayaweera This approacho Ehlropean based Association Radios Communautaires international grouping community radio stations whose ainers focused Vietnam setting rural radio stations The Australian Broadcasting Corporation begun training program In countries radio thriving dynamic medium people another knowledge their country development Jayaweera Not Vietnam There ittle advertisement radio though station allowed broadcast We little advertising Loc exactly Some bought families trying relatives during conflicts including Cambodian Chinese American Those US minute Prime rates foreign businesses US minute US joint ventures US Vietnamese companies But station sales force little incentive We complains Loc We money upgrade equipment Progress though With BBC expert station completed Swedish funded audience survey Hue Hanoi BBC expert Results under analysis London The ensuing report should station devise marketing strategy At VOV headquarter Loc confesses station thinking setting commercial station future Maybe Canada could experts running commercial stations VIETNAM CONSUMERS WEARY OF PUBLICITY Advertising tricky issue Nguyen Huy Hung director Television Service Center Vietnam TV advertisin branch recalls 1ooded complaints station began broadcast commercials years I received hundred letters angry listeners They complained interrupted movie Some feminine hygiene products television durin dinner Cuban trained Hung listeners gotten comlnercials Businessmen themselves skeptical first convinced their business without advertising Hung The station swamped requests unable fulfill The allows advertisement We askin government In meantime Hung admits occasionally circumventing We scenes parties people drinking certain brand alcohol smoking certain brand cigarette Hung qualms about because money earned improve station equipment Moreover authorities themselves exception station promote another State owned company Television powerful Vietnam Much radio Authorities estimate population watches television their coffee TV Stores selling latest model Hanoi Hai Ba Trung Street mobbed customers Middlemen often resell suburbs isolated areas At night outside Hanoi coffee shops sidewalks people sitting watch night movie Even Fun flats glare television screen beams night The television become family cultural center Hanoi primary school teacher spent Tet watching television There little other entertainment So everyone watches Dubbed foreign movies famous foreign operas spoilt events attract millions viewers Vietnamese television jumped aboard renovation juggernaut faster radio So summer government moved restore order television broadcasting Local stations dumping Vietnam TV programming favor pirated Thai movies Japanese cartoons dubbed Vietnamese Some replaced advertising broadcasted Hanoi local advertising eroding network ability raise revenues improve national programming A director named mandate consolidate Hanoi authority network early successfully A example renovated programming special International Women Day broadcasted March The highlights special fashion Western models aerobic demonstration given Westerners documentary aesthetic surgery VTV announced would tender first commercial channel Generally speaking Hanoi television tends better quality HCMCity program Journalists technicians trained French Japanese Australian broadcasters shows Southern journalists still harder receiving permission training programs abroad There little advertisink industry speak Vietnam In early billboards common advertislng vehicle Ads appeal frequently print television Foreign companies provide their taped Most Vietnamese produced staff Vietnam TV About produced Our advertising staff produce scientific programs training commercials admits Hung They learning advertisers often ambitious They everything seconds their factory themselves their family It their products instead Vietnam TV charges between US US produce The expensive produced Sony Giant Coke bottles starred Miss Vietnam front Hanoi Opera New advertising practices Foreign companies US minute thelr commercials aired prime In Vietnam prime would evening The US joint ventures US Vietnamese A US minute first VTV broadcasted But anyone giggles Hung Sometimes charge company richer On lapel jacket proudly wears promotion shaped replica bottle J B scotch An embryo advertising industry developing HoCHiMinh City where City Communist Youth Union acting broker between stations advertisers producer A CTicago based advertising company Leo Burnett Inc signed joint venture Vietnam Advertising Ltd breakaway Youth Advertising House Union could become leader field VINAVideo affiliate Filmmakers Association leases facilities companies wishing shoot commercials Publicity major inedia scene Authorities became alarmed early November perceived onslaught tasteless sometimes fraudulent advertising Some panies example advertised products stock honor guarantee promised their advertisement We protect consumers official Ministry Information We asked countries advice subject False advertising government worry While Communist Party media losing readers other previously obscure publications seemed gaining in1uence because tlney circulation earned large advertising revenues Hanoi tried fight restricting advertising publication total space Actually decree setting limit issued authorities suddenly dusted Australian joint venture V I R_ could survive under those stringent rules Those terms under which invested project Ross Dunkley The paper Vietnamese partner powerful State Committee Coope ation Investment backed Australians And never applied Nor elsewhere L DQg example publishes advertisement though separate The meant newspapers receiving State subsidies explain Ministry Information official Mai Linh But subsidies A I except radio television Now newspapers still State They dailies party magazines T C_ C Q S Communist Party theoretical magazine In theory other publications their revenues But clear either LQ Qn editor paper subsidies But advertisement account paper revenues The amount seems paper claiminz making profits payinz journalists US month highest salary profession manain subsc about fifteen foreign newspapers But Pham Huy Hoan millions reasons anyone especially Vietnamese department money newspaper really making A color Q D O D costs million US Most issues newspaper contain least color smalle The paper selling since Over clients South Vietnam FLEDGLING MEDIA EMPIRES Some publishers Australian behind V P I__v R announced plans diversify their activities VIR signed agreement Vietnam Television French production company create Vietnam first TV Called Magic TV station would broadcast mainly entertainment programs French English Vietnamese stJotitles Vietnamese programs would broadcasted second phase L_a Q planning diversify The company printing HoChiM City another Hanoi Presently paper printed HCMCity where quality better But flowing thousands copies Hanoi weighing paper finances While France month Pham Huy Hoan Hersant powerful French media group ideas He would discuss Hoan brought reporting manuals brochures which translated Vietnamese staff training sessions Training problem Until journalists trained Eastern Etmope complete their studies called Hanoi propaganda school called Journalist Publishing Sub Institute HoChiMinh National Political Institute The School still exists somewhere outskirts capital But there recruits No wants journalists school Nguyen Van Vinh editor chief Q S R _e_v___i_ _e_w_ magazine Ministry Foreig Affairs They employable tlney trained modern journalism A NEW JOURNALISM FACULTY IN HANOI Students Journalism Department H National University Opened school students Over students women young having failed entrance exams joined ranks timers Oddly enough today registered Vietnamese journalists women Tile students I introduced their promotion They reserved They worry about dangers profession I myself dangerous situations Some chosen journalism because glamorous All students study second languag The Faculty offers option English Ha Minh Duc director Faculty writer literary critic trained Eastern Europe speaks English The faculty teachers which speak English French The school journalism textbook receives foreign assistance Duc looking foreign expertise redesign curriculum touch needs industry Foreign journalists based Hanoi welcome speak school Faculty actively The school students market The curriculum abstract Hanoi editor They learn nothing about trade Students study Vietnamese literature philosophy history E glish another course called practices press Duc wants include economics basic computer skills practical training either human material resource None professors visited journalism schools abroad Mo editors these graduates opted instead training The Vietnamese Journalist Association VJA recently organized forelgn sponsored seminars various aspects profession recent business journalism Vietnamese ournalists economic training complains president association Many investigative skills unaware ethics profession An empty shell years despite members VJA found impetus government reduced funding Association The Union found sources income offering services foreign journalists It signed joint venture Korean company renovate Association Culture House hotel office entertaimx ceFter The first floor building house restaurant VJA hopes become favorite local foreign journalists VJA begun actively protect members The Union details acted protect journalists known repression According Press Law journalists performing their In HoChiMinh City local association wants establish Press Center where journalists could exchange experiences journalism English classes Nguyen Duy Cung deputy chief Vietnam News Agency State agency bureaus country provinces agency pressing computer photo journalism training He hopes abroad At Ministry Education Director International Cooperation Tran Van Nhung interested establishin relations jotwnalism schools abroad Journalism difficult science As press increases Vietnam learn other traditio For three months early I volunteered English language publication Ministry Trade I certainly appreciate qualms authorities Vietnamese journalism Most stories I edited badly organized fraught factual errors Some confused styles verged editorial always concluding piece advice government No newsroom thought checking information source Quotes sometimes fabricated In those transition market economy publication attracted pages pages advertising The itors about content staff worker They interested training All money Most journalists I speak agree uphill battle regain confidence public For years newspapers published stories people false HCMCity editor Why would trust In L_a_Q __DQ_n_g office Hoan argues confidence reason argued favor publishing Hal trial story We story readers Confidence growing Since Party General Secretary Nguyen Van Linh opened syndicated column May titled Things denounced cases abuse power miscarriages justice repress Vietnamese people found confidence their media I trust everything I admits Vinh government worker But I media expose corrupt officials people That Hanoians reading latest Recently newspapers become involved raising campaigns humanitarian causes sponsored cultural events Many feature columns which address people daily concerns consumers problems personal legal medical advice Readers responded Circulation Nea louse almost newspaper kiosk caters night birds The rickety wooden table dimly light closest Hanoi Montreal Maison Presse I browse through Now I beginning browsing there though paper I translates figlnt Vietnamese dictionary I often writer byline I HoniMinh City three weeks after arrival Vietnam He worked journalist racking covering sleeping shift dorms where cyclo drivers overnight stalking street corners where labor markets emerging documenting growing pains social misery wondering write about corrupt policemen without getting beaten He rookie compared years trade But I rookie I could crowd could doing We introduced university student arranged sidewalk coffee student acting interpreter The interview going The young journalist could figure I could reporter Vietnam without speaking Vietnamese You speak Vietnamese right obvious disgust The authorities always And people You cannot journalist without knowing society language traditions His words right I agreed argued I probably spoke about learning about needing begin somewhere before became expert I I convinced But I never forgot halting words nervous demeanor passion Vietnamese journalism endure because people Carole Beaulieu Hanoi March MAKING __O_NG THE BEST PAPER IN Pham Huy Hoan often receives phone unhappy Communist Party officials Topics One Coca Cola appeared corner newspaper front another speech secretary general Party which given prominent It polite Hoan I listen carefully I remind money State profitable producing interesting newspaper readers Only attract advertisers At fifty years Hoan unlikely editor A mechanical engineer slowly through ranks Union began write scientific articles newspaper Recently elected deputy editor Hanoi newsroom The editor chief chosen owner Confederation Trade Unions A years _L_a_QD_Qg different country other publications The paper colorle written flowery style All changed subsidies To survive _Q__I_n_g hired staff veterans worked Saigon based newspapers before exposed western style tradition Among those Ly Quy Trung Minister Information previous communist South Today Trung paper editorial secretary player daily affairs newspaper Old staffers could adapt offered retirement packages Younger hired replace The average Lao Dong journalists New rules established stories press major breaking provide information people accessible format The paper created training center where staffers learned write stories develop conduct interviews Differences between features editorials defined rules enforced Hoan really newsbug during period enjoys thrill getting first getting right Cu strip published special Tet issueo DC _n_Gg Mouthin directive sltlall celebration smaller smaller advises irecrackers small peach blossom branches small meals The wonlan restraint small equivalent aistresso The paper offices cities correspondents provinces It employs talented cartoonist On Tet Vietnamese New Year cartoonist managed express extraordinarily feeling Vietnamese being their leaders should restrain their celebrations though worked achieved Titled small strip walked criticism cartoonist known female characte expressing street wisdom while character voiced official point Lao Doag popular confused Lao DQg_X___HQi Nuoi Lao Dong Lao Dn_g___H__poi respectively organs Ministry Labor HCMCity Labor Union Hanoi Labor Union which trying Q_g popularity Copies Lao Dong street sellers often answer already finished I Some copies clients willing dongs issue L2 __DQoj sells copies plans reach I00 The paper wants become daily Ministry Communication agreed request Ideology Committee Communist Party stalling Hoan paper authorization reaches certain number copies street wisdom Party worried _Q__DQDg popularity final N Party weekly whose press would smaller government ofices bound copies every Not everything perfect __QDg Journalists allowed advertisements commissions Hoan insists procedure closely supervised One journalist however fired writing false information about company advertisements And Hoan manage corner newspaper front A phone Ministry Culture announced practices forbidden VIR though still publishes place No responds Hoan Received Hanover