Department of Communications (DOC) minister Faith Muthambi has called for a formalised communications relations agreement with Vietnam.
Muthambi's call follows a meeting with Vietnamese minister of information and communications, Nguyen Bac Son, about strategic communication relations between the countries.
In terms of the communications agreement, South African journalists would be subject to a training support programme; although Muthambi was unclear about the details of the programme.
"We need to formalise our bilateral cooperation on communications because we would like to sign an agreement with you [Vietnam] on the training support programme of both our communicators and journalists," said Muthambi.
Media freedom
Muthambi is not the first official to call for the training of journalists as well as propose patriotism in the way news about government is reported.
South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) COO Hlaudi Motsoeneng has been vocal about journalists needing to be licensed. Motsoeneng previously stated journalists need to be regulated.
During the state visit, the Vietnamese minister echoed Muthambi's suggestion of a training programme for communicators and journalists.
Vietnam's history in terms of media freedom has often been criticised, with the country's government officials frequently found to stifle the flow of information through censorship, surveillance, and imprisonments.
In 2012, a report compiled by US press freedom watchdog, the Committee to Protect Journalists, revealed Vietnam's central propaganda department directs the news agendas of all mainstream print publications and blacklists journalists who report on politically sensitive topics.
Toothless watchdog
The DOC is unclear about the details of the training programme for journalists and media practitioners. Instead, a statement from the department says Muthambi met with her Vietnamese counterpart to discuss a range of issues.
"These issues include possible bilateral cooperation on e-government service, training of government communicators and ICT. The Vietnam government is impressed with SA's broadcasting digital migration policy and looking to learn more from South Africa," reads the statement.
ICT veteran Adrian Schofield says the government is seeking ways of making the media more compliant and less critical.
"This seems to be their solution to resolving the failures of performance, instead of addressing the root causes of those failures. I believe the expression is, "Don't shoot the messenger," says Schofield.
Sunshine journalism
Meanwhile, president Jacob Zuma has urged the media to "produce products that inspire and build the country and provide the youth with role models".
Zuma was addressing editors and senior journalists as part of the commemoration of National Press Freedom Day.
Zuma emphasised the importance of information by saying it is powerful and citizens need information to go about their daily lives.
"They need to know about government services, and where and how to access them," Zuma said.
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