He made the comments at a ceremony to mark 40th anniversary of the Confederation of ASEAN Journalists on Friday in Hanoi. The deputy prime minister said trust in the press was based on the provision of accurate, rapid and objective information, which was a major difference between the role of the press information and informal news sources.
Dam added that the media should be at the vanguard in shaping public opinion, and contributing to development and prosperity in ASEAN and further afield. Dam said that the ceremony, as well as the 18th General Assembly of the Confederation of ASEAN Journalists could offer a specific action programme for the organisation and the journalists associations from each country.