The Law News Agency (Khaosan Pathet Lao, KPL) is the official news agency of the Lao government. The agency was established in 1968 and became an official agency following the communist party’s assumption of power in 1975. Additionally, KPL has published KPL News, a daily newspaper.
Media assets
News agency: KPL
State Media Matrix Typology: State-Controlled (SC)
Ownership and governance
Local journalists and experts interviewed for this report in December 2023 have confirmed that decisions regarding the staff and management of KPL are made exclusively by the government.
Source of funding and budget
The agency KPL is funded in a proportion of 70%–90% from state subsidies, according to estimates from local journalists and experts interviewed for this report in December 2023. Like other news media in Laos, KPL has implemented an advertising sales strategy in recent years. However, due to the undeveloped economy, advertising revenue remains limited.
Editorial independence
As an official agency of the Laotian government, KPL operates under strict editorial rules, primarily serving as a promoter of the government’s policies, views, and programs, according to local journalists and experts interviewed for this report in December 2023. The agency exerts significant influence, as its content is utilized by the majority of media outlets in Laos.
To date, no statute and no independent assessment mechanism to validate the editorial independence of KPL have been identified.
September 2024