From January 1, 2027, people who are granted a press card for the first time must pass the training course

On January 7, the Office of the President held a press conference to announce the President's decree promulgating 12 laws passed by the 15th National Assembly, including the 2025 Press Law.

According to Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Trinh Thi Thuy, the 2025 Press Law consists of 4 chapters and 51 Articles, effective from July 1, 2026.

Deputy Minister Trinh Thi Thuy said that the regulation that "people working at scientific journals are not eligible for a journalist card" takes effect from January 1, 2026.

The regulation on the conditions for being considered for the first-time journalist card must pass the professional training course in journalism and professional ethics takes effect from January 1, 2027.

The Law stipulates the principles of model of press activities and economy, expanding the space of activities to develop the press in the context of streamlining the apparatus of the political system, meeting the requirements of information and propaganda in the new era.

Accordingly, the law supplements the regulation that the main multi-medium press agency has many types of press and affiliated press agencies; has a specific financial mechanism; is established in accordance with the Press Information Development and Management Strategy approved by the Prime Minister.

This law has expanded the space for press agencies to operate, which is publishing press on cyberspace.

According to the new law, the content channel of press agencies on cyberspace, the complete press content of the national digital press platform is a press product.

The law adds a provision that press agencies are allowed to link up to produce content, except for content on political news, security, defense, and foreign exchange.

The Government is assigned detailed regulations on linkages in press activities, transparency of responsibilities and rights of parties when participating in linkages to promote press development.

Also according to the provisions of the new law, the State will assign tasks, place orders, bid and support transportation fares, posting, transmission and broadcasting costs for the press to serve political, security, national defense, culture, policy communication tasks...

The Law adds regulations on new revenue sources for press agencies, including: Revenue from selling rights to read, listen, watch and permit the exploitation and use of press works; Revenue from financial activities and capital contributions to enterprises (if any).

Revenue from the provision of public service assigned tasks, orders, bidding; Revenue from the implementation of tasks, programs, projects, and works assigned and approved by competent authorities; Revenue from people who need to publish scientific research articles.

The law also stipulates that broadcasting agencies are allowed to export radio and television content and press agencies are allowed to import printed press.

The Law assigns the Government to stipulate the conditions for licensing import press distribution service establishments, ensuring transparency, promoting press agencies and enterprises providing import press distribution services.

Many provisions in the law aim at strictly managing press activities.

In particular, it supplements the regulation assigning the Government to specify in detail the conditions for granting press operation licenses for exchanging with social organizations, social - professional organizations to strictly manage magazine activities under social organizations, social - professional organizations, and improve operational efficiency.

Supplementing regulations on revoking the operating license of press agencies in cases of inactivity, failure to ensure operating conditions, repeated violations; press agencies terminate operations when their licenses are revoked.

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