Media assets

Television: National- LNTV1, LNTV3; Regional- LNTV Attapeu, LNTV Bokeo, LNTV Borikhamsai, LNTV Champassak, LNTV Houaphan, LNTV Khammouane, LNTV Luangnamtha, LNTV Luangprabang, LNTV Oudomxai, LNTV Phongsali, LNTV Saiyabouli, LNTV Saravane, LNTV Savannakhet, LNTV Sekong, LNTV Xiengkhouang

State Media Matrix Typology

State-Controlled (SC)

Ownership and governance

LNTV is a government-owned and operated broadcaster that was under the direct authority of the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism.

On 18 June 2025, the Lao government officially transferred oversight of five key national media outlets—including LNTV—to the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party Central Committee’s Propaganda and Training Board, moving them from the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism into direct party control.

The Propaganda and Training Board of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party Central Committee directs the Party’s ideological messaging and political education. Created in its current form in 1964, the Board is tasked with disseminating party policies, overseeing media and educational content, and ensuring strict alignment with the Party’s official line.

This shift is intended to centralize editorial and ideological control and reflects a broader administrative restructuring: the ministry was renamed the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, removing direct supervision from media entities.

Governance of LNTV is now under more direct Party authority. This cements the broadcaster’s transformation into a tool for party messaging, rather than state‑service media.

The station’s leadership is politically appointed, with key managerial roles typically filled by individuals closely aligned with the ruling Lao People’s Revolutionary Party (LPRP). According to internal sources at LNTV interviewed for this report in May 2024, editorial and administrative decision-making is strongly influenced—if not dictated—by party directives. A large share of the newsroom staff are themselves members or affiliates of the LPRP, further entrenching political control over output.

Simmany Keokaen serves as the General Director of LNTV. Keokaen is a senior Laotian media official with a long-standing career in state broadcasting and information services. Prior to becoming LNTV’s General Director, he held various posts within the country’s state media sector and was actively involved in Lao–Vietnamese media cooperation. His tenure has been marked by continuity with the Party’s ideological agenda, with a particular emphasis on strengthening bilateral propaganda collaborations and reinforcing party-aligned messaging.

Source of funding and budget

LNTV does not publish financial statements or operational reports, reflecting the broader opacity of Laos’s media sector. According to local media experts and journalists interviewed in December 2023, LNTV remains entirely state-funded.

However, Chinese financial support has played an increasingly pivotal role over the past decade, with grants and in-kind donations forming a substantial part of the broadcaster’s capital improvements. One LNTV insider estimated in 2018 that Chinese funding had reached up to 40% of the station’s total expenditure in select years—a figure that, according to new anecdotal evidence from early 2025, may have remained consistent or even increased amid closer bilateral ties between Vientiane and Beijing.

Editorial independence

LNTV operates within one of the most tightly controlled media environments in Southeast Asia. Editorial autonomy is virtually nonexistent, with all broadcast content subject to prior oversight by the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism. Senior editors and producers are required to consult regularly with ministry officials to align programming with government narratives and development goals. Critical or dissenting voices are systematically excluded from coverage, and journalists who deviate from the official line risk disciplinary action or criminal prosecution under broad national security or defamation laws.

The Lao Constitution explicitly states that the media must serve the objectives of “national protection and development,” a phrase often invoked to justify pervasive censorship. No statutory safeguards exist to protect journalistic independence, and no independent regulatory authority is tasked with overseeing the broadcaster’s adherence to editorial ethics or impartiality.

July 2025

For many Laotians, particularly those in rural and remote areas where access to newspapers and television remains limited, LNR has long been the primary source of information. According to local estimates, more than 70% of the country’s population continues to rely on the station for daily news and state messaging.

Media assets

Radio: LNR Program 1, Phoenix Radio, MEDIAONE Radio

State Media Matrix Typology

State-Controlled (SC)

Ownership and governance

LNR has for years operated under the direct authority of the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism, which held full oversight over its governance and operations. Senior management appointments are made by the government, reflecting the station’s status as an instrument of state communication. These appointments are typically political in nature, with limited transparency regarding selection criteria.

As of 16 June 2025, the Lao government officially transferred oversight of key state media—including LNR, Lao News Agency, Lao National Television, and the Ministry’s press functions—to the Party Central Committee’s Propaganda and Training Board. This institutional shift dissolves the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism’s prior supervisory role and consolidates media control under the ruling party’s ideological apparatus. LNR now reports directly to the party’s propaganda machinery rather than the government ministry. This marks a significant restructuring aimed at centralizing ideological control and streamlining media coordination.

Source of funding and budget

LNR does not publish annual financial reports or disclose operational budgets, in line with broader practices among media institutions in Laos. Based on interviews conducted with local media professionals in December 2023, the station is wholly state-funded, receiving its budget directly from government allocations. There is no public documentation of advertising revenue or alternative income streams.

Editorial independence

Laos continues to operate under a rigid system of state media control, and LNR is no exception. Content broadcast by the station is subject to strict censorship protocols. Journalists at LNR routinely receive editorial directives from the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism. Several journalists interviewed in late 2023 noted that reporters are summoned regularly to ministry offices for briefings that shape the editorial agenda.

Following the transfer of the LNR’s operations to the Party Central Committee’s Propaganda and Training Board, the government control is likely to further intensify.

To date, there is no independent legal framework or institutional safeguard in place to guarantee or assess the editorial autonomy of Lao National Radio. No ombudsman, audience council, or external oversight body exists to evaluate its journalistic standards. Editorial decisions remain tightly supervised by the state, ensuring that LNR continues to serve as a mouthpiece for official policy.

July 2025

Alongside it, Le Rénovateur stands as the only French-language periodical in the country, published weekly and likewise managed by Lao Press in Foreign Languages. Established in 1998 as part of the government’s broader strategy of opening Laos to the international community, the newspaper aimed to engage French-speaking audiences within and beyond the country. However, in the early 2010s, Le Rénovateur ceased its print edition due to declining readership and falling revenues. At the time of its closure, its print circulation barely reached 2,000 copies, with most issues distributed in hotels in Laos and among the Francophone diaspora in former French Indochina. It has since operated exclusively as an online publication.

Media assets

Publishing: Vientiane Times, Le Rénovateur

State Media Matrix Typology

State-Controlled (SC)

Ownership and governance

Both newspapers fall under the full control of Lao Press in Foreign Languages, a state entity ythat for years has been governed by the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism. The agency directly manages all aspects of editorial and administrative operations for its outlets. All staff members working at the Vientiane Times and Le Rénovateur are salaried employees of the Ministry, reflecting the publications’ close institutional alignment with the Laotian government.

In June 2025, Laos implemented a major government reshuffle: control over media affairs—including Lao Press in Foreign Languages—was formally transferred from the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism to the Propaganda Committee of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party (Party Central Committee). This shift means LPFL now falls under direct party supervision rather than ministry oversight, tightening ideological alignment and reducing ministry-level autonomy.

As of mid‑2025, Phonesavanh Thikeo remains listed as Director-General and Editor-in-Chief of Lao Press in Foreign Languages.

Source of funding and budget

The Lao Press in Foreign Languages does not disclose operational or financial reports publicly. While its publications are expected to earn income—primarily through advertising and limited commercial partnerships—independent sustainability remains elusive. Testimonies from local media observers indicate that both newspapers continue to depend heavily on state subsidies to remain operational.

Editorial independence

The Vientiane Times functions as a prominent mouthpiece for the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party (LPRP). According to its official website, the paper “consistently adheres” to its vision of being the voice of the Party, with editorial content centered largely on government legislation, economic initiatives, official speeches, and regulatory announcements. Its coverage rarely strays from state-sanctioned narratives, with no record of dissenting or investigative journalism.

Despite its cultural ties with French institutions, Le Rénovateur is similarly seen as an extension of the state’s ideological apparatus. Interviews with Laotian media professionals conducted in late 2023 reveal that all editorial output is subject to direct or indirect censorship. Any attempt to publish material without prior Ministry approval has reportedly been curtailed, reinforcing the view that the newspaper operates within tightly controlled ideological parameters.

Editorial oversight tightened in 2025 due to the shift under the Party’s Propaganda Committee, reinforcing state-aligned narratives and discouraging even mild independent reporting.

As of mid-2025, there are no known legal guarantees, statutory protections, or independent oversight mechanisms in place to ensure or evaluate the editorial independence of either publication.

July 2025

Media assets

Publishing: Vientiane Mai

State Media Matrix Typology

State-Controlled (SC)

Ownership and governance

Vientiane Mai is a state-owned publication. Its operations fall under direct government oversight, with appointments to senior editorial and managerial posts made by the authorities.

Source of funding and budget

Historically, Vientiane Mai has relied on financial support from the Vientiane municipal government. While the outlet has reportedly seen a rise in advertising revenue in recent years—particularly from state-affiliated companies and public campaigns—local media analysts continue to believe that most of its funding comes from state grants. The publication does not release detailed financial statements, and there is no publicly available breakdown of its annual operating budget.

Editorial independence

Like all media entities operating in Laos, Vientiane Mai functions within a tightly controlled information environment. Its editorial line is closely aligned with government narratives and policy messaging. As of June 2025, there are still no known legal safeguards or institutional mechanisms in place to ensure the editorial independence of the publication. Local journalists and media observers interviewed in late 2023 confirmed that the publication’s content continues to be shaped by party and state directives.

July 2025

Media assets

Publishing: Passasson

State Media Matrix Typology

State-Controlled (SC)

Ownership and governance

Passasson is wholly owned and operated by the LPRP. As a party-run organ in a single-party system, its leadership and editorial board are directly appointed by the party’s Central Propaganda and Training Board, with all staffing subject to party vetting and approval. Editorial priorities are tightly coordinated with the party’s strategic communication goals.

Source of funding and budget

Like many state-affiliated outlets in Laos, Passasson has made modest attempts to diversify its income streams over the past five years, primarily by courting domestic advertising. However, according to interviews with local media experts and journalists conducted in December 2023, the publication continues to rely heavily on government allocations for the bulk of its operational budget. No official budgetary breakdown has been made public, and neither the party nor the publication discloses audited financials or annual reports.

Editorial independence

As an explicitly partisan outlet, Passasson operates with no pretence of editorial autonomy. Its content mirrors the official stance of the LPRP, featuring extensive coverage of party congresses, ideological education, state initiatives, and regional communist diplomacy. According to multiple local sources interviewed in late 2023, the newspaper plays a key role in reinforcing ideological conformity across both government and society.

To date, there is no statutory provision guaranteeing editorial independence at Passasson, nor does any external oversight body exist to monitor its content or assess its independence. The paper’s function remains deeply intertwined with the LPRP’s broader propaganda and political messaging strategy.

July 2025

Media assets

News agency: KPL

State Media Matrix Typology

State-Controlled (SC)

Ownership and governance

KPL is wholly state-owned and operates under the direct authority of the central government. According to interviews conducted with Lao journalists and media experts in December 2023, the appointment of KPL’s leadership and editorial staff remains entirely within the remit of government officials, with no independent oversight or formal public service mandate.

On 16 June 2025, the Lao government announced a major restructuring of media governance: press management functions for KPL and four other key state media agencies were formally transferred from the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism to the Propaganda and Training Board of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party Central Committee. This shift places KPL under direct party oversight, reinforcing ideological guidance and centralized control of messaging.

In October 2024, Vannasinh Simmavong (also spelled Vannasin) was appointed Director General of KPL, succeeding Khampheuy Philapha, who moved on to a senior role in personnel at the Information Ministry.

Source of funding and budget

The agency is heavily dependent on government subsidies, which are estimated to account for between 70% and 90% of its annual operating budget. In recent years, KPL has pursued advertising revenue as a supplementary income stream. However, due to the underdeveloped nature of the Laotian advertising market and the limited reach of independent commerce, these efforts have yielded only modest returns. No official budgetary figures or audited financial statements are publicly available as of mid-2025.

Editorial independence

As the government’s official mouthpiece, KPL plays a central role in shaping the national information environment. Its output is widely reproduced by provincial and local media, many of which rely on KPL as their primary content provider. The agency’s editorial line is tightly aligned with party doctrine and government messaging, serving to reinforce official narratives and policy goals.

There is no statutory framework ensuring editorial independence at KPL. Likewise, no independent mechanisms—such as an ombudsman, media council, or external review body—exist to assess or safeguard the agency’s journalistic integrity. Interviews with local experts in December 2023 confirmed that KPL’s content continues to prioritize state promotion over critical reporting or investigative journalism.

With the shift in governance to the Party’s Propaganda Board, editorial control has tightened further, aligning KPL’s output even more closely with party doctrine and ideological training goals.

July 2025