Media Systems, Access to Information and Human Rights in China and Vietnam

In Norway’s human rights dialogues with China and Vietnam, working groups on the media were introduced in 2010 in which access to information (ATI) is one of several issues under discussion. This article outlines the media systems of China and Vietnam before considering recent ATI legislation in both countries. China’s OGI Directive and Vietnam’s draft ATI law affect both the media and the possibilities of fostering better informed citizenships. Finally, the two media systems and ATI laws are linked with the broader issue of the universality of human rights. A multidisciplinary and multimethod approach is used, drawing on comparative media theory, international relations and human rights studies and using content analysis of legal conventions, websites as well as participatory observation in the human rights dialogues. The analysis suggests that although Chinese and Vietnamese media remain under Communist party control, the forces of globalisation, commercialisation and increased internet penetration are weakening party control of the media, thereby strengthening the principle of universality of human rights.¹An early version of this article was presented at the Norwegian Media Researcher Conference, Ålesund, 28-29 October 2010. I would like to thank the two anonymous NJHR reviewers for helpful comments and suggestions.

Keywords: Media; China; Vietnam; Transparency; Globalisation; Human Rights.