Communist-ruled Vietnam has amended its strict press law to tighten state control over official media and set rules that all reporting must be of benefit to the country, local newspapers said on Thursday. It was unclear whether individual journalists would be liable for such compensation, which would apply even if the media reports were accurate. The amendments, approved by the country's National Assembly, do not apply to foreign media operating in Vietnam.
All local media is controlled by the state.
This gave advantages for foreign buyers to put downward pressure on rice prices and this caused losses so compensation must be paid. It was not entirely clear whether this was an actual example, or whether the law would be retroactive. Vietnam's media business has boomed in the last decade as the country embarked on a series of economic reforms, but the state retains tight control. The role of journalists is to propagate the official line of the Communist Party and government.