Regulation
Prior to 2003 VOV and VTV were the designated agencies responsible for the overall management of the national radio and television broadcasting systems throughout the country. In 2003 this responsibility reverted to the former Ministry of Culture and Information, but has rested since late 2007 with the
Ministry of Information and Communications (MIC).
Like the print media, Việt Nam's broadcast media are subject to the Press Law, which was passed at the 6th session of the 8th National Assembly of Việt Nam on 28 January 1989. This law includes seven chapters and 31 articles specifying the role, function and rights of the media and penalties for violation. The Council of Ministers is charged with stipulating in detail the way in which the Press Law is implemented. The media's role is defined in Việt Nam as being ‘the voice of the party and of the masses’ and its main function as being ‘to propagate the party's lines and policies’ as well as reporting and analysing the news. The government maintains strict control of all sectors of the media, but the Press Law sets out the right of journalists to disseminate information through their own sources and also offers limited protection of the confidentiality of sources, thereby allowing scope for investigative reporting.