Vientiane Mai, which means “New Vientiane” in Lao, is a weekly newspaper published by the Government of Laos. The publication serves the capital city of Vientiane. According to estimates from local experts, Vientiane Mai had a circulation of 6,500 in the mid 2010s. In recent years, the publication has mostly focused on its online operations.
Media assets
Publishing: Vientiane Mai
State Media Matrix Typology: State-Controlled (SC)
Ownership and governance
As a government publication, the management of Vientiane Mai is appointed by the government.
Source of funding and budget
Vientiane Mai used to draw on funding from the Vientiane local government. The publication has been significantly increasing its advertising revenues in recent years, but still it is widely believed among local journalists in Laos that most of its budget is secured through a state grant. No specific information about its annual budget is released publicly.
Editorial independence
Like all publications in Laos, Vientiane Mai follows the party and government editorial rules. Its editorial line is dictated by the government, according to local journalists and experts.
No statute and no independent assessment mechanism to validate the editorial independence of Vientiane Mai have been identified.
October 2023