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United News of Bangladesh

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United News of Bangladesh (UNB) is Bangladesh’s first fully digitalized private wire service, founded in 1988 as one of the first news agencies in South Asia. The organization claims to maintain correspondent networks across all 64 districts of Bangladesh and says it serves “over 20 million readers” locally and internationally through its principal partnership with Associated Press (AP), the world’s largest wire service. Originally serving print media subscribers, UNB has adapted to digital transformation by launching its interactive website unb.com.bd, which aggregates both domestic news from its extensive Bangladesh network and international content through its AP partnership. The agency describes itself as Bangladesh’s “most dependable and credible source of news and information,” evolving from traditional print distribution to embrace mobile and internet platforms as electronic media revolutionizes news creation and distribution in an increasingly paperless media environment.

Government of Papua New Guinea

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Papua New Guinea operates as a Westminster-style parliamentary democracy within the Commonwealth realm, with the British monarch serving as head of state through a governor-general who uniquely gains appointment via parliamentary election rather than direct royal selection. The prime minister leads the government from Port Moresby, chosen by the 111-member National Parliament following general elections held every five years. The legislature comprises 89 single-member constituencies and 22 provincial representatives who simultaneously serve as regional governors, reflecting the nation’s decentralized structure across 22 province-level divisions, including the autonomous Bougainville region. A constitutional judiciary operates through tiered courts, while coalition politics and frequent party-switching characterize the volatile political landscape that has produced numerous government changes since independence in 1975. Freedom House rates the country “partly free” due to electoral irregularities and media constraints affecting press freedom.

Prothom Alo

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Prothom Alo is Bangladesh’s largest-circulation Bengali-language daily newspaper, founded November 4, 1998, and published from Dhaka by Transcom Group’s Mediastar Ltd. The newspaper claims daily readership of 6.6 million for its print edition and 7.6 million across all platforms, with its online portal described on its X profile as “the most visited Bengali website in the world.” Prothom Alo has distinguished itself through investigative reporting on acid attacks, violence against women, and campaigns against drugs and religious terrorism. The publication has faced government pressure, including the 2021 detention of senior reporter Rozina Islam under the Official Secrets Act and a 2007 cartoon controversy that resulted in a supplement ban. Sister concerns include ABC Radio FM 89.2, Prothoma Prokashon publishing house, and several magazines covering science, politics, and youth topics. The newspaper organizes Bangladesh’s Mathematics Olympiad and won the 2025 “Best in South Asia” award from the International News Media Association.

The Daily Star

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The Daily Star is Bangladesh’s largest circulating English-language daily newspaper, founded by Syed Mohammad Ali on January 14, 1991, as the country transitioned to parliamentary democracy. As of 2025, Mahfuz Anam served as editor and publisher, with the newspaper owned by Mediaworld Limited, where Transcom Group holds major shares. The BBC described it as having a “reputation for journalistic integrity and liberal and progressive views – a kind of Bangladeshi New York Times.” The publication gained popularity for outspoken coverage of politics, corruption, and foreign policy. The newspaper has faced government pressure, including suspended advertisements in 2015 and website blocking in 2018 after reporting an extrajudicial killing. Controversies include Anam’s 2016 admission on ATN News of publishing military intelligence-fed stories during 2007-2008 and Executive Editor Syed Ashfaqul Haque’s February 2024 jailing on child abuse charges following domestic worker Preeti Urang’s death.

Athens Macedonian News Agency

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The Athens-Macedonian News Agency or AMNA (Αθηναϊκό – Μακεδονικό πρακτορείο ειδήσεων) is Greece’s national news agency, operating as a public entity. Founded in 2008 through the merger of the Athens News Agency and Macedonian Press Agency, AMNA has roots extending back over a century. The Athens News Agency originated as the private Stefanopoli Telegraphic Agency in 1895, with the Greek state assuming its subsidization in 1905, when it acquired its present name under first director Ioannis Parren. The Macedonian Press Agency was founded in Thessaloniki by the state in 1991. The agency is governed by a nine-member board including representatives from journalists’ unions, newspaper owners, universities, and staff. AMNA operates news desks in Brussels, Nicosia, and Berlin, with correspondents across major international cities, serving media outlets in Greece, Cyprus, and the Greek diaspora while collaborating with major international news agencies, including Reuters, AP, and AFP.

Saudi Research and Publishing Company

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Established in 1972, Saudi Research and Media Group (SRMG) is a state-backed media conglomerate headquartered in Riyadh’s King Abdullah Financial District. As Saudi Arabia’s largest publishing enterprise, SRMG operates over 30 publications with a combined monthly reach of 172 million readers across seven languages and four continents. The group’s portfolio includes prestigious titles like Asharq Al-Awsat, Arab News, Al Eqtisadiah, and Al Majalla. Originally established as Al Madina Printing and Publishing Company in 1963, the company was renamed Saudi Printing and Packaging Company in 2007. SRMG was listed on the Saudi stock exchange (Tadawul) in May 2006. With close ties to the Saudi government, the company operates five divisions: media, international, events, research and polling, and innovation. In April 2022, SRMG announced its new headquarters in Riyadh’s King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD). The company recorded strong financial performance in 2023, with net profits declining 14% year-on-year to SAR 559.62 million but maintaining its dominant position in Middle Eastern media.

National Radio and Television Administration of China

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The National Radio and Television Administration, or NRTA, was established in March 2018 as a ministry-level agency controlled by the Chinese Communist Party’s Central Propaganda Department. Headquartered in Beijing, it succeeded the State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television, with Director Cao Shumin (曹淑敏) appointed as its current head in May 2023. The organization maintains direct control over state broadcasters, including China Central Television, China National Radio, and China Radio International, while issuing content guidelines that have restricted everything from reality TV shows to historical dramas. The agency has expanded its international reach, signing a cooperation agreement with Russia’s Ministry of Digital Development, Communications, and Mass Media in July 2021 on news coverage and media narratives. In June 2022, the NRTA and Ministry of Culture and Tourism issued a code of conduct for online content creators that banned material that “weakens, distorts, or denies the leadership of the CCP.”

Vietnam Television

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Vietnam Television, operating as VTV, is Vietnam’s national state broadcaster established in 1970 with Cuban assistance. Officially tasked with “propagating the views of the Party, policies, laws of the government,” VTV runs multiple channels including news, education, entertainment, and ethnic programming. The network has faced significant controversies, including criticism from Vietnamese emigrants for its pro-communist stance, copyright infringement resulting in its YouTube channel termination in 2016, and government fines for broadcasting false information. VTV maintains 17 international bureaus and produces programming through its film production company, Vietnam Television Film Centre.

The Dawn

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The Dawn, an English-language daily newspaper founded in 2016 and based in Juba, South Sudan’s capital, is described as “largely perceived as a pro-government newspaper” by media analysts. The publication, led by editor-in-chief Emmanuel Monychol Akop (艾曼努爾·蒙尼喬·阿科普), regularly features content from Chinese state media sources, particularly Xinhua News Agency (新華社). Recent examples include Xinhua’s December 15, 2024 commentary titled “China’s pro-growth policies deliver comfort in turbulent world,” which reported China’s transition to “moderately loose” monetary policy. Another featured piece, “CEWC a blueprint for China’s sustainable and inclusive growth in 2025,” described the Central Economic Work Conference as setting “the economic tone for 2025 amidst global uncertainties.” Sports columnist Akuot Goor contributes regularly to the newspaper. In December 2024, the newspaper’s Editor-in-Chief Emmanuel Monychol Akop was detained by suspected National Security Service officers, raising concerns about press freedom in the country.