Translation of PM Sonexay Siphandone’s Remarks on the Role of Mass Media in Society

Translator’s Note

The following is a translation of an article published by Pasaxon (“The People”), newspaper of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party, regarding remarks made by Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone1 on the occasion of the 75th Media and Publishing Day of the Lao PDR, celebrated at the National Cultural Center on 12 August.

It is the hope of the translators that by translating and distributing this article, we will help to play a small part to help raise the awareness of progressive people around the world to the Lao PDR’s ongoing commitment to building a better future for the Lao people, of all ethnic groups, guided by the dedicated leadership of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party, and the great vision of Marxism-Leninism.

The Mass Media Must Promote a Deep Understanding of the Party’s Policies to all Strata of the People

The mass media must intensify their work of propaganda, dissemination, and political–ideological education for Party cadres and members, soldiers, police, and the people of all ethnic groups and classes, so that they may gain deeper knowledge and understanding of the Party policies. At the same time, the mass media must maintain four essential characteristics: “the character of struggle, the character of education, the character of organizing and mobilizing the masses, and the character of truth.”

Comrade Sonexay Siphandone, member of the Central Committee of the Party’s Politburo and Prime Minister, stressed this in his address to the gathering commemorating the 75th Anniversary of the Lao Media and Publishing Day (13 August 1950 – 13 August 2025), held on 12 August at the National Culture Hall. He emphasized that, over the past 75 years, the work of the press and publishing has expanded in scope, quality, form, and type, with enriched content able to provide information to society in a broad and comprehensive manner. The press has fulfilled its role in propaganda, dissemination, and political–ideological education, in building up cadres and officials both in quantity and quality. The management of the press and information sector nationwide has increasingly come under strict regulation by law.

Under the direct and comprehensive leadership of the Central Committee of the Party and the Secretariat, the press and publishing have demonstrated their position and role as the mouthpiece of the Party, the State, and society in propagating, educating, and disseminating the Party’s policies and the laws of the State, in fostering patriotism, and in providing information on politics, the economy, society, science, technology, general knowledge, and more, while expanding cooperation and exchanges with foreign countries and both regional and international organizations. At the same time, they have contributed to resisting negative phenomena in society and combating slander, attacks, and attempts to divide internal and external unity by hostile forces. The Lao press and publishing sector has paid close attention to building and improving its organizational structure, working methods, and the development of personnel and infrastructure to keep pace with the times, in order to fulfill the political tasks assigned by the Party and the State. As the beloved leader Comrade Kaysone Phomvihane affirmed: “Our Party has always regarded the press as a political–ideological instrument, a sharp weapon for propaganda and dissemination of the Party’s line and policies, as well as the policies, laws, and regulations of the State.”

Alongside the proud achievements of the past, our country still faces many difficulties. Comrade Sonexay Siphandone stressed that the press must intensify propaganda, dissemination, and political–ideological education for cadres and Party members, soldiers, police, the people of all ethnic groups and classes, to develop a deep and timely understanding of the Party’s policies, as well as the changes unfolding throughout the world and the region. The media must strengthen unified awareness and understanding throughout the nation, consolidate the forces of unity within the Party and the nation with firmness and determination, and advance under the Party’s ideals. It must build a strong media management system capable of serving as a General Staff for the Party and the State.

At the same time, the media must guarantee the four essential characteristics: “the character of struggle, the character of education, the character of organizing and mobilizing the masses, and the character of truth.” Only then can the media fulfill its role in strengthening the great national unity of the people; in propagating, mobilizing, and encouraging the development of the national economy and society, transforming the economy; in political–ideological education, instilling firm viewpoints, belief in the ideals, and confidence in the leadership of the Party; in encouraging the people to perform their duties in national defense and safeguarding stability; in publicizing and attracting cooperation, assistance, and investment from abroad; and in combating negative phenomena in society, step by step.

In this work, the media must continuously improve and expand itself in both scope and quality, ensuring it is modern, timely, and responsive. The media must continue to ensure that information reaches the localities in a comprehensive and timely way, must strive to build itself into a platform for patriotic propaganda and mobilization, and to provide society with broad and reliable information on politics, economy, society, science, technology, knowledge, culture, and other fields.