Media participation in power control in current cadre work

ASSOC. PROF., DR. NGUYEN THANG LOI
Journal of Political Theory,
Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics

Cadre work is under the comprehensive leadership of the Party; the power in the Party’s cadre work is associated with responsibility and authority according to the hierarchy of party committees and organizations and the leadership relies on collective trust. Power in cadre work is a very important issue, but it is also easily influenced, exploited, and distorted if not tightly and effectively controlled.

If power in the Party’s cadre work is not effectively controlled, it can lead to many very dangerous consequences, leading to many long-term and unpredictable harms to the organizations and activities of the political and social system, which can harm all aspects of social life, disrupting values and reducing the people’s trust in the Party and the regime.

Cadre work is the “root work”, the “core of the key” in the work of building a clean and strong Party and political system; At the same time, it is an aspect and method of leadership of the Party, which bears a particularly important meaning for implementing the Party’s mission and leadership role in practice. In the context of a single party in power, the Party needs to have many mechanisms for self-monitoring, supervision, and social criticism to ensure that the Party is clean and strong and that our Party is moral and civilized. The press’s participation in monitoring and social criticism of the Party’s cadre work is to perform its social function, thereby contributing to building the Party and political system, while also enhancing the position of the press in political and social life.

1. The Party’s policy on controlling power in cadre work and the participation of the press

Controlling power in the Party’s cadre work has a particularly important meaning, directly related to the survival of the Party, the regime, and the exercise of the Party’s leadership and authority over the State and society, and to the capability, effectiveness, and efficiency of the political system’s leadership and management. Therefore, our Party has issued many documents addressing this issue. The 12th Politburo issued Regulation No. 205-QD/TW dated September 23, 2019 “on controlling power in cadre work, combating position and power manipulation”. Next, the 13th Politburo issued Regulation No. 114-QD/TW dated July 11, 2023 “on controlling power and preventing and combating corruption and negativity in cadre work”.

Regulation No. 114-QD/TW of the Politburo clearly states: “Power in cadre work is the authority of organizations and individuals in all aspects related to cadre work, including: recruitment, evaluation, voting of confidence, planning, training, fostering, selection, placement, assignment, appointment, reappointment, nomination of candidates, re-election, designation, transfer, rotation, secondment; bestowing, promoting, demoting, and stripping of military rank; Relieving them from holding positions or performing duties as National Assembly deputies and People’s Council representatives; Temporary suspension, suspension from office, resignation, dismissal, removal from office; reward and discipline; inspecting, monitoring, and resolving complaints and denunciations; Implementing regimes and policies for officials and internal political protection”(1).

From that concept, the Politburo determines: “Controlling power in cadre work is the use of mechanisms and measures to ensure strict implementation of principles, regulations, processes, and decisions on cadre work and to prevent, detect and handle corrupt and negative acts in cadre work”(2).

Like other aspects of Party building and rectification, in cadre work, our Party always emphasizes the role of political, social entities, and people’s participation in contributing, supervising, and controlling. In particular, the press participates in power control in the Party’s cadre work is fulfilling its social function by being the subject of social supervision and criticism.

Resolution of the 6th Central Committee (2nd) session, term VIII in 1999 on a number of basic and urgent issues in the current Party building clearly pointed out that Public opinion (press) is one of four social monitoring systems (party organizations, people, people’s representative agencies, public opinion).

Resolution No. 26-NQ/TW dated May 19, 2018, of the 7th Plenum of the 12th Central Committee “on focusing on building a team of officials at all levels, especially at the strategic level, with sufficient qualities, capacities, and prestige, on par with the tasks” has set out the task of “strictly control power in cadre work; fight against jockeying for position and power”(3). The resolution also stated that the cause of limitations in cadre work is that the role of supervision and control of cadre work has not been promoted, “Assignment, decentralization, and empowerment are not yet linked with binding responsibilities, with enhanced inspection and supervision, and there is no mechanism strong enough to strictly control power”(4) and “ the effective roles and responsibilities of press agencies, media have not been fully utilized”.(5).

The resolution of the 7th Central Conference of the Party clearly stated a consistent viewpoint in cadre work and required “strengthening inspection, supervision, control of power and strict handling of violations”(6). Controlling power in cadre work shall be carried out at every stage, step, and aspect of cadre work, anytime, anywhere; requires the participation of many subjects, in which the press and media participate in its function, tasks of monitoring, and social criticism.

The press participates in power control in cadre work from the perspective of its social functions, as stipulated in the 2016 Press Law. Article 4, the Press Law clearly states that the press has the task of “Reflecting and guiding public opinion; serve as a forum for exercising the People’s right to freedom of speech”; “Combating to prevent and combat illegal acts and negative phenomena in society”(7).

Regulation No. 101-QD/TW dated February 28, 2023, of the Party Central Committee Secretariat “on the responsibilities, powers and appointment, dismissal, reward and discipline of press agency leaders” has shown the approach to the issue of authority and power of the head of the press agency and the power of public opinion and the press when it is stipulated that the head of the press agency cannot concurrently hold the position of editor-in-chief of the press agency: “The head of the press agency cannot concurrently hold the position of leader of the press agency; The leader of this press agency may not concurrently hold the position of leader of another press agency”(8).

Regulation No. 114 - Decision/TW of the Politburo “on controlling power and preventing and combating corruption and negativity in cadre work” also clearly states: “It is strictly forbidden to directly or through other people, mass media, or social networks, to spread untrue information and false accusations to promote oneself and discredit the cadre work of others”(9).

2. The press participation in power control in the Party’s cadre work as shown is reflected in the following content:

Firstly, the press and public opinion are a method and a tool of the Party’s ideological and theoretical work, performing the role of “collective propagandist” and “collective organizer” (as V.I. Lenin affirmed), propagating, and communicating the Party’s guidelines and policies, disseminating, and educating the State’s policies and laws to subjects in society.

Among them, an important aspect is propagating the Party’s policies and regulations on cadre work, so that officials and party members can promptly understand guidelines and policies regarding this work, thereby properly implementing their responsibilities and authority. At the same time, letting the people understand and supervise the Party’s cadre work.

Secondly, the press is a part of mass media, with the primary social function of conveying information, messages, connecting society, and being a major source of information for society. At the same time, the press plays the role of orienting and leading public opinion. Thereby, the press enhances the level of awareness of social law, so that each citizen understands policies and laws regarding cadre work, respects and upholds the rule of law, complies with the law, and contributes to cadre work in accordance with regulations, without violating the law on state secrets and personal privacy.

Thirdly, the press is the voice of the Party, the State, and the people’s forum. The press indirectly and directly monitors and criticizes cadre work by vividly reflecting the situation of the Party’s cadre work, policy implementation, and compliance with laws on cadre work at all levels and sectors.

The press introduces, propagates, and spreads positive examples, creative methods, and experiences in policy implementation. At the same time, it contributes to clarifying inadequacies as well as limitations and shortcomings in the Party’s policies on cadre work to thereby improve the policy.

Fourthly, the press, especially investigative and informational journalism, objectively reflects the situation of the Party’s cadre work, particularly reflecting manifestations of violations of cadre guidelines and policies and abuse of power in cadre work.

Through messages on cadre work, press, and public opinion, clearly expressing approval or disapproval of specific phenomena, warnings, and deterrents to prevent wrongdoing, contributing to orienting public opinion, creating new values consistent with positive and progressive trends, and combating against negative and wrong manifestations in all stages of cadre work.

The press’s participation in social supervision and criticism contributes to healthy social relations so that cadre work complies with the Party’s guidelines, policies, and mottos. At the same time, ensure fairness and prevent violations. Thus, the press contributes to controlling power in cadre work to deter, dissuade, and disincline people from violating it.

3. Current status of social supervision and criticism by the press regarding cadre work

Understanding the role of the press in monitoring and social criticism of cadre work, in recent times, our Party has developed many policies and measures, issued many regulations, demonstrated renovation, and strengthened mechanisms to create conditions for the press to carry out its functions and tasks, effectively perform the role of supervision and social criticism of the Party’s cadre work. Specifically:

Firstly, the press is identified as a method of “collective propaganda”, “collective organization”, and a tool for the Party’s ideological and propaganda work. Press work is always led, directed, and regularly oriented by our Party. Resolution No. 26 requested “expanding forms of propaganda, replicating advanced examples, creative and effective ways of doing things”, and at the same time, “communicating the Party’s guidelines and policies, the State’s policies and laws to the people and listen to the people’s thoughts and aspirations; firmly grasp the basic situation; At the same time, thereby allowing the people to supervise cadres and party members, especially in terms of ethics and lifestyle”(10).

All levels and sectors are interested in providing and responding promptly to information of interest to the press and public opinion; satisfactorily explaining the issues raised by the press; and directing the handling of pressing social problems. At the same time, promptly correcting inaccurate information, violations of regulations on state secrets, and violations of regulations on personal information rights.

Secondly, it is to implement regulations on providing press information. The press is a force that does ideological work and is also a method of implementing democracy for the people. The responsibility of organizations in the political system is to disclose information to the people, implementing the motto “the people know, the people discuss, the people do, the people check, the people monitor, the people benefit”. Regarding power control in the Party’s cadre work, in recent times there have been many regulations on publicizing the content of cadre work, such as regulations on asset disclosure, standards for positions, cadre work processes, appointment, dismissal, transfer, reward, and discipline of officials and cadres, and publicizing on organizational arrangements - apparatus, and so on.

Thirdly, we must truly value the role of the press in monitoring and criticizing society. There have been specific regulations and requirements at all levels to pay attention to listening to press opinion to do good cadre work, to pay attention and consider the cases mentioned by the press and not to issue decisions on cadre work when there is public opinion that has not been satisfactorily explained.

Fourthly, gradually improve institutions to ensure that the press performs its functions and tasks according to regulations; renovate policy mechanisms for the press to develop, meet society’s needs, exercise freedom of the press, and freedom of speech, and facilitate journalists’ activities.

Various journalism awards are organized at different scales to honor and recognize the contributions of the press to the work of Party building, the fight against negativity, and control of power in cadre work. A typical example is the annual Press Award for the work of building the Golden Hammer and Sickle Party; National Press Award; the Writing Contest for Political essays defending the Party’s ideological foundation, the Journalism Award for fighting against corruption and negativity, the Journalism Award for the Great National Unity Bloc, and so on. Among journalism awards, many journalistic works on the topic of cadre work have won awards.

Giving attention to building the Vietnam Journalists Association - a political - social - professional organization, protecting the legitimate rights and interests of the press. Additionally, there are many forms of honoring the contributions and dedication of the press in the cause of building and protecting the Fatherland.

Fifthly, always pay attention and focus on building a system of press agencies and building a team of press officers to meet task requirements. Pay attention to training, fostering, and honoring team of officials doing comprehensive journalism work, including political theory, professional ethics, expertise, and professionalism to effectively meet task requirements in the new situation. In particular, we focus on raising the political awareness of the press team regarding Party building and all aspects of Party building work.

In addition to the results achieved, in order for the press to perform well its functions of monitoring, social criticism, and participating in power control in the Party’s cadre work, it is necessary to continue to pay due attention to perfecting the mechanism. Some manifestations that highlight the need to renovate and improve the mechanism are:

Our Party is focusing on strongly implementing the work of preventing and combating manifestations of abusing positions and powers for personal gain, wastefulness, and negativity. It emphasizes that preventing and combating the root of this disease is overcoming limitations, weaknesses and preventing and combating negativity in cadre work. However, there are not many journalistic works and press agencies that have organized journalistic works about cadre work and power control in the Party’s cadre work that resonate or have a major social impact, both in the political, scientific, reportage, and investigative genres.

In many newspapers, on the investigative level, articles about power control in cadre work are almost absent. Meanwhile, some newspapers show signs of commercialization, focusing too much on information about negative issues, focusing on limitations, weaknesses, and shortcomings in cadre work; Posting sensational stories and disturbing information about cadre work to attract customers. There have also been many journalists violating regulations on protecting state secrets in cadre work, violating the law on citizens’ private life information, information when a special case is under investigation, and even taking advantage of it to blackmail officials, and so on.

There are many reasons why the press has not been effective in monitoring and social criticism in the field of cadre work, such as: editorial boards are “afraid” of collision; The editorial capacity is limited, lacking committed or qualified reporters to write articles about cadre work, especially investigative articles.

The topic of power control in cadre work, including the genres of political commentary, reporting, and investigation require a lot of diligence, care, and meticulousness, consuming a lot of time, effort, and intelligence to investigate and collect information and data. This is also dangerous work, even dangerous for journalists and their families, etc. Meanwhile, journalists’ income is not commensurate with the nature of their work; There is no mechanism to protect journalists from “accidents” while working.

Regarding the capacity and qualifications of journalists, according to current regulations, the standard is for them to have a university degree, and the majority are trained in journalism or science and technology. However, a portion of journalists, especially young journalists, have not been trained or fostered knowledge about Party building, state management, legal knowledge, and experience, so it is often difficult to compose articles on the topic of the Party’s cadre work.

In addition, a segment of journalists has not been trained in journalistic skills, leading to difficulties when writing and editing news articles about power control in the Party’s cadre work.

4. Solutions to strengthen the role of the press in power control in cadre work

Firstly, Resolution No. 26-NQ/TW of the 7th Plenum of the 12th Central Committee sets provides the direction: “Improve the mechanism for receiving and handling feedback, recommendations, complaints and denunciations from the people, especially from reputable people in the community, sent to party committees and organizations, heads of localities, agencies, units and through the mass media in appropriate and effective forms”(11).

To implement this policy well, party committees and agencies advising party committees on organization and cadre work need to have uniform regulations on receiving information from the mass media. It’s important to pay attention to listening to the people’s opinions, social opinion, and public opinion to improve cadre work and meet the requirements of the new situation.

Secondly, press agencies need to allocate appropriate coverage to the topic of Party building, which is identified as a key focus today, including strengthening the topic of cadre work, which is “the core of the key”.

To promote the expansion of coverage on Party building and rectification, anti-corruption, negativity, and power control, including power control in the Party’s cadre work, along with the direction and orientation of steering agencies, press management agencies need to have more awards to honor and encourage journalists in charge of these topics. It is necessary to study the mechanism for ordering and supporting journalistic works on the topic of supervision, social criticism, and participation in power control in the Party’s cadre work to encourage and motivate the press to carry out this task.

Thirdly, focus on training, fostering, and honoring to build a comprehensive team of journalists in political theory, professional ethics, expertise, and professionalism. In particular, the team of journalists covering politics, current affairs, and Party building needs to be trained and fostered in political theory and party-building expertise. In order to effectively perform in the field of Party building and political system building, including controlling power in cadre work, journalists are required to have in-depth professional knowledge, including political and legal knowledge, and practical experience in this field to receive, process and handle relevant information. Thereby, the press plays a crucial role in supervision and social criticism of the Party’s cadre work.

Fourthly, it is necessary to deeply grasp the Party’s viewpoint in Directive 01-CT/TW dated March 9, 2021 “on research, study, thorough understanding, propaganda and implementation of the Resolution of the 13th National Party Congress”, that is: “Researching, studying, thoroughly understanding, propagating and implementing the Resolution of the 13th National Party Congress is a regular task that shall be done seriously, methodically and scientifically throughout the entire term”(12). In particular, the Central Propaganda Department and relevant departments “organize conferences to research, study, and thoroughly grasp the Resolution of the 13th National Party Congress for leaders of press and publishing agencies; leaders of literary and artistic associations, scientific and technical associations, artists and intellectuals; political theory lecturers at academies, universities and colleges throughout the country”. This is the main team of journalists and press contributors in our country.

The press, especially in the genre of political journalism, has great power in perceiving and reflecting life, especially in the mission of orienting public thought and action, building and opposing, etc. By analyzing, explaining, and summarizing current issues in social life, the press expresses its stance, viewpoint, and political attitude toward life’s issues, including the Party’s cadre work, helping all levels, sectors, and the public to be able to perceive complex relationships, approach the nature of the problem and find appropriate solutions. Therefore, promoting the role of the press in power control in the Party’s cadre work is an urgent and long-term requirement.

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Received: November 2, 2023; Revised: November 6, 2023; Approved for publication: November 22, 2023.

Endnotes:

(1), (2), (9) https://tulieuvankien.dangcong....

(3), (4), (5), (6), (10), (11) https://tulieuvankien.dangcong....

(7) https://thuvienphapluat.vn/van...

(8) https://tulieuvankien.dangcong....

(12) https://tulieuvankien.dangcongsan.vn/he-thong-van-ban/van-ban-cua-dang/chi-thi-01-cttw-ngay-932021-cua-bo-chinh-tri-ve-viec-nghien-cuu-hoc-tap-quan-triet-tuyen-truyen-va-trien-khai-thuc-hien-nghi-7242.