In Laos, state control of media is no match for the rise of social ‘news’ channels

Rappler

Lean Left

High Factuality

In Laos, state control of media is no match for the rise of social ‘news’ channels

VIENTIANE, Laos – The news media in this country is severely restricted, from who is allowed to own it to what it’s allowed to publish. But the growth of social media platforms has led to the proliferation of self-declared news outlets and self-proclaimed journalists who challenge government narratives and inform the public – yet also produce unverified and exaggerated reports. Only members of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party, the only polit…