Lao Press in Foreign Languages – State Media Monitor

The Vientiane Times was launched in 1994 as a weekly English-language newspaper and has since become one of the principal sources of English-language news in Laos. Over time, the publication increased its frequency and was, at various points, issued biweekly. Today, it operates under the aegis of Lao Press in Foreign Languages, a government-run agency overseen by the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism.

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

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