In order to operate an electronic press, those who are allowed to set up a press agency must carry out procedures for applying for an electronic newspaper operation license. Hong Bang Law would like to consult as follows:

Legal basis

• Press Law 2016
• Circular No. 41/2020/TT-BTTTT dated December 24, 2020, of the Ministry of Information and Communications detailing and guiding the issuance of licenses to operate printed newspapers, printed magazines, and electronic newspapers and magazines. Electronically, publish more publications, carry out two types of journalism, open specialized pages of electronic newspapers and e-magazines, publish supplementary materials, publish newsletters, publish special journals.

Conditions

Subjects eligible for electronic newspaper activities

• Party agencies, state agencies, socio-political organizations, socio-political-professional organizations, social organizations, socio-professional organizations, religious organizations from the province or equivalent or higher, operating legally according to the provisions of Vietnamese law, may establish a press agency.
• Higher education institutions in accordance with the Law on Higher Education; scientific research organizations, scientific research and technological development organizations organized in the form of academics, institutes under the provisions of the Law on Science and Technology; Provincial-level hospitals or equivalent or higher established scientific journals.

Conditions for applying for an electronic newspaper operation license

• The principles and purposes are consistent with the functions and tasks of the governing body; for those serving; domain name, where the server is located and the connection service provider.
• Have a plan on organization and personnel to ensure the operation of the press agency; having a person who fully meets the criteria specified in Clause 2, Article 23 of the Press Law to take up the position of head of a press agency.
• Having the name and form of presentation of the name of the press agency.
• Having a head office and physical and technical facilities; financial plan; have technical solutions to ensure information safety and security; have at least one registered domain name “.vn” in accordance with the press name and use the server system located in Vietnam.
• In accordance with the national plan on press development and management approved by the Prime Minister.

The dossiers

• An application form for an electronic newspaper operation license
• The project of electronic newspaper operation (signed by a competent person and stamped or digitally signed by the agency or organization applying for the license) and accompanying documents, including the following contents: (1 ) Necessity and legal basis; present full satisfaction of the conditions specified in Article 17 of the Press Law; (2) Structure and main content of specialized pages, categories of electronic newspapers, and categories of specialized pages; (3) The domain name matches the name of the electronic newspaper; (4) The domain name ownership is still valid for at least 06 months from the time of applying for a license; (5) Publishing process and content management.
• Expected list of electronic newspaper personnel
• Curriculum vitae of the person expected to be the Editor-in-Chief.
• The form showing the home page interface of an electronic newspaper must display the information specified in Article 46 of the Press Law, certified by the agency or organization applying for the license. The form showing the interface of the homepage of the specialized site, certified by the agency or organization applying for the license. The homepage of the specialized page must display the information as prescribed in Article 46 of the Law on Press, in which: The title of the specialized page clearly shows the phrase “special page” with a font size of at least 1/2 of the font size of the name of that special page. The page name and the title of the electronic newspaper must have a font size of at least 1/2 of the font size of the page name.

The competent authority

The Authority of Press

The procedures

• Agencies or organizations specified in Article 14 of the Press Law, fully satisfying the conditions prescribed in Article 17 of the Press Law, and wishing to operate online newspapers, shall make 1 set of dossiers of application for a license to operate online newspapers. electronically sent directly, via the postal system, or through the electronic environment to the Ministry of Information and Communications.
• Within 90 days from the date of receipt of complete and valid dossiers, the Ministry of Information and Communications is responsible for granting and re-granting the license to operate online newspapers; In case of refusal, a written notice must be given, clearly stating the reasons therefore.

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