Vientiane Times vows quality improvement as it turns 26 

The Board of Editors of the Vientiane Times, the first English language newspaper in Laos, has pledged to strive to improve all aspects of the publication in order to deliver quality news content to meet the growing need for accurate information.

Marking the 26th anniversary of the newspaper, the Editor in Chief of Lao Press in Foreign Languages – publisher of the Vientiane Times - Thonglor Duangsavanh pledged that the newspaper would continue to provide accurate, reliable and useful information to the public in a timely and reasonable manner.

Established in April 1994, the Vientiane Times has consistently adhered to its vision to be the voice of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party.

The newspaper has served as an arena for members of the public and has adhered to media ethics and values when it comes to providing information, Mr Thonglor said.

The Vientiane Times would strive to increase the “value of its news, features and media products by making the content more comprehensive with diverse and educative information,” he added.

The Vientiane Times will continue to diversify its media products and service platforms in order to deliver news and media services, including via digital platforms, to reach out to more readers and a wider audiencs. These include traditional and new media products such as newspapers, photos, video and audio, which will be delivered via internet and smartphones.

The Board of Editors is optimistic that diversifying the newspaper’s products and delivery channels will enable the Vientiane Times to attract more readers, thus mitigating the damaging impacts of social media.

To diversify its content, the Vientiane Times will broaden its coverage and report on more events occurring in the provinces, as well as in countries in the region and the world at large. In this regard, the Vientiane Times is committed to enhancing cooperation with its media partners and sharing each other's material.

Today, the Vientiane Times is a partner with dozens of leading media organisations in various countries. Since 2005, it has been a member of the Asia News Network (ANN), whose members comprise 23 leading media organisations in 20 countries.

Last year, the Vientiane Times became a member of the Belt and Road News Network, which has more than 30 leading news organisations in 25 countries as members.

The first issue of the Vientiane Times was published on April 7, 1994, which was also the day that the first Laos-Thailand Friendship Bridge opened, linking Vientiane across the Mekong River to Thailand’s Nong Khai province.

The newspaper’s mandate was to promote relations, cooperation and integration between Laos and the international community following the Party’s introduction of the so-called “opening up” renovation policy in 1986. To begin with, the Vientiane Times was published once a week, then twice weekly in 1996 and becoming a daily newspaper in 2004. Three years later, the Saturday issue was introduced, so that readers received six issues a week. 

The newspaper has been diligent in disseminating the policies and guidelines of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party, as well as the passage of new laws, socio-economic development plans, and regulations formulated by the government.

In recognition of its work, the government has awarded the Vientiane Times a number of medals and certificates of achievement.

Currently, the Lao Press in Foreign Languages – the publisher of the Vientiane Times - publishes news reports in English, French, Lao and Chinese. It has news websites in English, Lao and French, news on Facebook in English and Lao, and posts on YouTube in Lao and English.

By Times Reporters
(Latest Update April 7, 2020)