Presenting a paper titled "Protecting Media Rights and Interests in the Industry 4.0 Era" at the First National Media Conference on 14 July, Mr. Savankhone Razmountry, President of the Lao Journalists Association, said safeguarding journalists' rights and welfare is essential to strengthening professional, credible and independent media.
He said journalists must be equipped with modern skills, legal protection and adequate welfare to enable them to carry out their duties confidently as trusted communicators in an increasingly complex digital environment.
Mr. Savankhone proposed amending the Media Law to strengthen legal safeguards for journalists and establishing a dedicated Media Development Fund financed through state support, social contributions, advertising-related fees and revenue generated from large international digital platforms. He also called for expanded professional training in digital journalism, media management and emerging technologies, stronger partnerships with international media organizations, and the creation of legal advisory networks to assist journalists facing professional or legal challenges.
He further recommended updating media ethics and online media regulations to reflect technological advances while remaining consistent with Lao law, establishing a technical advisory body for media technology, and introducing annual national awards to recognize outstanding journalists.
Mr. Savankhone also warned that the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence poses new challenges for news organizations, noting that many AI systems reproduce journalists' work without authorization or compensation, undermining intellectual property rights and affecting the sustainability of professional journalism.
He urged journalists to embrace emerging technologies while maintaining strong ethical standards, professional responsibility and public trust in the digital age.