National broadcaster Vietnam Television (VTV) has been given a fine of over USD2,000 for airing false information in a recent show.
The Ministry of Information and Communications on Friday issued a decision to impose a fine of VND50 million (US$2,330) on VTV for giving false information about the vegetable farmers in Thanh Hoa Province in a morning show on May 3.
VTV was also required to apologise to the farmers in Vinh Thanh Commune, Vinh Loc District for the negative information in the programme which has badly affected the vegetable sales of local people.
In the Morning Coffee Show on May 3, VTV3 channel broadcast a news report on vegetable cultivation in Vinh Thanh Commune, which featured a farmer using a broom to sweep over the vegetables. The farmer then explained that would make the vegetable look like having been eaten by insects and make her customers believe that her vegetables were free of insecticide. The report said that all the farmers here were doing the same thing.
VTV has been strongly opposed and criticised by the local farmers after broadcasting the news, who said it was completely wrong and groundless.
In a document sent to Vinh Loc District People's Committee on May 11, VTV admitted that it was a serious mistake and that the reporter, Pham Thi Phuong, who was on probation, had failed to do her work to a sufficient standard and had violated their regulations on news production.
VTV then said that they sacked the reporter after the incident.
