On 13 August, Laos celebrated the 74th Anniversary of Mass Media and Publishing Day with a collection of discussions geared toward inspecting the evolving position of media within the nation. The occasions, which included conferences and seminars, addressed key points corresponding to combating pretend information, the impression of social media, and the leveraging of synthetic intelligence within the trendy newsroom.
In preparation for the occasion, the Ministry of Tradition, Data, and Tourism (MCIT) together with the Lao Journalists Affiliation hosted a seminar on 8 August centered on combating misinformation on social media, with goals to domesticate a extra knowledgeable press corps able to successfully countering pretend information. The purpose was to develop a extra knowledgeable press corps able to successfully countering pretend information. Deputy Minister Phosy Keomanivong, who attended the seminar, emphasised the necessity for higher public-private sector cooperation and nearer ties with worldwide media to draw funding and keep stability within the media sector.
Previous to this seminar, the MCIT organized one other discussion board on 2 August, hosted by the LJA and MCIT with help from the European Union and the Worldwide Care Group, discussions included the position of synthetic intelligence in journalism, together with AI’s potential in information verification, translation, and content material creation, aiming to equip journalists with mandatory expertise and techniques for digital monetization
Talking on the discussion board was Savankhone Razmountry, President of the Lao Journalists’ Affiliation (LJA), who acknowledged the twin nature of social media. Whereas it enhances the pace of data dissemination, it additionally brings dangers associated to the unfold of misinformation.
The LJA president urged Lao journalists to remain up to date with trendy media programs, confirm sources, and guarantee alignment with authorities pursuits.
Different audio system featured Aditta Kittikhoun, Senior Companion at RDK Group, who highlighted the essential want to understand Fb’s algorithms, given the platform’s dominant position in distributing information in Laos. He identified that though Lao media makes use of Fb for distribution, the platform additionally presents vital competitors.
“If you wish to use AI instruments like ChatGPT, Gemini, or Claude successfully, first perceive the first AI impacting you each day—Fb’s evolving algorithms. For media to embrace digitalization, they need to suppose like Fb, aligning with its machine studying logic that captures consideration by way of person knowledge,” he mentioned. “Although many see Fb as a tech firm, it’s extra precisely Laos’s largest media firm. Whereas Lao media depends on Fb for distribution, it’s additionally their greatest competitor.”
Including depth to Aditta’s emphasis on AI, Thanousone Phonamart, President of the Lao ICT Affiliation, explored the foundational applied sciences behind AI and their purposes on a global scale. Bounheng Southichack, Managing Director of Lao Youth Radio, offered insights into how varied AI instruments are being built-in into completely different features of newsroom operations, enhancing effectivity and content material creation. Minaxay Philavong, Director Common of the Lao Nationwide Web Heart, mentioned the authorized frameworks surrounding pretend information, emphasizing the challenges and duties that include regulating data within the digital age.
Somsavath Phongsa, Director Common of the Mass Media Division on the MTCI, famous the numerous impression of social media on data dissemination, resulting in misinformation and public confusion. He emphasised the necessity for the media to deal with these challenges by bettering practices and educating the general public.
The mass media director additionally said that many media professionals in Laos are nonetheless grappling with challenges such because the efficient use of digital instruments and understanding goal audiences. He instructed bettering human assets to fulfill the calls for of the digital period and highlighted some great benefits of digital media, together with its pace and cost-effectiveness in comparison with conventional media.
The discussion board concluded with a name for media professionals to uphold excessive requirements, frequently broaden their expertise, and cling to media legal guidelines and rules.
Media and Publishing Day is a major event for the media, publishing, and distribution sectors, highlighting their important contributions to the nation’s progress. All through the journey towards independence and the event of the Lao Folks’s Democratic Republic, the Lao Folks’s Revolutionary Occasion has acknowledged the essential position of data in driving social and financial development. On this context, media, publishing, and distribution—significantly by way of the Occasion’s newspaper and varied types of print and digital media—have performed an important position in selling nationwide unity and supporting the nation’s growth objectives.
