Deputy Minister of Information suggests media to build healthy mass media influence

Integration has indeed brought more opportunities for development and has benefitted Laos by building closer ties with other countries.

In progress in terms of extensive improvement and development, the media and its personnel must exhibit and sustain high standards of journalism at all levels, remarked the Deputy Minister of Information, Culture, and Tourism. Marking the 68^th Mass Media and Publishing Day which falls on 13 August, Mr. Savankhone Razmountry, who also holds the position as the President of the Lao Journalists' Association and is responsible for media affairs asserted the comments during an interview on Friday.

He comprehensively remarked about the importance of the aforementioned comment stating that it will ensure more informed communication between Laos and the world along with the development of a deeper understanding of Laos by other countries. He wants the media to include more varied and colorful products. More columns are needed to be included in the newspapers and priority should be provided to the actual news while television and radio must showcase programmes related more closely to local lifestyles along with a much wider variety of programmes. All news should be interesting, relevant and useful to readers.

The Minister especially advised radio and television to widen their spectrum of contents on relevant issues involving preservation and promotion of national values and indigenous lifestyles, cultural events in ways that interest the audience. The mass media should exhibit more captivating content and alongside improve the art of professional news writing and presentation while all the digital platforms should be utilized to increase the deliverance rate. If achieved, the media has a solid future in the years to come, Mr. Savankhone added.

He also advised state-run and private media outlets to improve their management, administration, and marketing, adding that the media required a wide variety of abilities and personnel should continually broaden their knowledge and skills so they could be more professionally competent. The Lao media should be more keen on promoting integration through relevant content during the process of regional integration. Integration has indeed brought more opportunities for development and has benefitted Laos by building closer ties with other countries.

Media organizations now have wider access to latest equipment and the workforce, exposed to a greater range of workshops and other events in the region and beyond, have been able to develop their knowledge and skills. As the integration is speeding up, the media is all set to take an active part in communication between their home country and others in the region as well further afield.

Enhanced reporting and channelized communication by the media will positively provide other countries with an elaborate understanding of the developments taking place in Laos. As a part of this, the media also possess in it the capacity to respond to tarnishing reports, false advertising, misrepresentations and distortions of the truth thus acting as a bridge to ensure true understanding between Laos and other nations.

Mr. Savankhone also befittingly advised the reporters to deliver information more promptly and above all to ensure its validity.

This year, the Mass Media and Publishing Day observed in Laos will be a brief affair with just a handful of activities as many officials are involved in efforts to help with flood relief in southern Laos.