Passasson is a weekly newspaper that was set up in 1950. It is the official publication of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party, the communist party that runs the Lao government.
Media assets
Publishing: Passasson
State Media Matrix Typology: State-Controlled (SC)
Ownership and governance
As a party publication operating in a single-party state, Passasson’s management has to be endorsed by the party.
Source of funding and budget
Like most of the media in Laos, Passasson has been trying in the past five years to generate revenues through advertising. However, the bulk of its budget is secured by the government, according to local journalists and experts. Specific financial figures are missing as the publication or the party do not release this type of information.
Editorial independence
Like all publications in Laos, Passasson closely follows the party and government lines. As a party publication, it reports consistently about the party affairs and acts as a link to other communist parties across the world, according to local journalists and experts.
No statute and no independent assessment mechanism to validate the editorial independence of Passasson have been identified.
October 2023