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Entity Type: Domestic State-Affiliated Media

Agence Kampuchea Presse

Agence Kampuchea Presse (ទីភ្នាក់ងារសារព័ត៌មានកម្ពុជា) is Cambodia’s state-owned national news agency, established in 1978. The agency operates under the Ministry of Information as the “sole official State-owned and non-profit news agency” of Cambodia. Local journalists interviewed in March 2024 confirmed that AKP is fully government-funded and does not publish financial reports. The agency’s editorial strategy is subject to close government control, with research showing there are no statutes safeguarding journalist autonomy or independent editorial oversight processes for AKP staff.

MCOT Public Company Limited

MCOT Public Company Limited (บริษัท อสมท จำกัด มหาชน) is Thailand’s state-owned public broadcaster, established as Thai Television Company Limited on November 10, 1952, and reorganized as the Mass Communication Organization of Thailand in 1977. MCOT operates under the Ministry of Finance, running four main business segments: television broadcasting through MCOT 9 Television Station and 35 provincial network stations; radio operations via 47 central stations covering 92.4 percent of Thailand; digital terrestrial television under DVB-T2 standards; and digital/new media services including on-demand content through internet platforms. MCOT reported a net loss of 316.7 million baht ($8.98 million USD) in 2024 on revenues of 1.17 billion baht ($33.15 million USD), a sharp reversal from 2023’s profit of 587.4 million baht ($16.65 million USD) on 2.38 billion baht ($67.5 million USD) revenue, according to company financial statements, reflecting significant challenges facing traditional state broadcasters in Thailand’s evolving media landscape.

Thai News Agency

Thai News Agency is the national news service of Thailand and a subsidiary of MCOT (Mass Communication Organization of Thailand), the country’s state broadcaster. Founded on June 16, 1977, the agency serves as Thailand’s primary wire service, responsible for producing, gathering, analyzing and distributing news content across multiple platforms including radio, television, digital media, internet and social media channels. Operating under state media oversight, Thai News Agency functions as the official voice of the Thai government, providing domestic and international news coverage while supporting MCOT’s broader broadcasting operations.

Narodnaya Gazeta

Narodnaya Gazeta (Народная газета) is the state-run newspaper of the Republic of Tajikistan, published weekly in Russian. Founded in 1925 as Sovetsky Tajikistan (Советский Таджикистан), it adopted its current name following Tajikistan’s independence in 1991. The newspaper covers general news, government policy, foreign policy, economics, and national development initiatives. The outlet should not be confused with the Russian-language Narodnaya Gazeta based in Belarus, which has close ties with the Russian regime of Vladimir Putin.

Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation

Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation (PBC), operating as Radio Pakistan, serves as Pakistan’s largest state media network under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting with approximately 80 broadcasting units housed in 32 broadcasting houses across the country. The corporation reaches 96 percent of Pakistan’s population and covers 90 percent of the nation’s territory through its extensive AM, SW, and FM stations, broadcasting in 29 national, regional, local and foreign languages with 119 daily news bulletins totaling 684 minutes. Established under the PBC Act-1973, the network functions as the government’s primary medium for disseminating policy initiatives while promoting Pakistan as a progressive Islamic democracy. PBC maintains significant digital presence with over 2.5 million Facebook followers, active Twitter and Instagram accounts, and a YouTube channel, positioning itself as the “Voice of Pakistan” both domestically and internationally.

Radio Television Senegalaise

Radio Télévision Sénégalaise (RTS) is Senegal’s principal public media organization, operating five television channels (RTS1-RTS5) and nine radio stations covering national, international, and regional audiences. RTS was established under Law No. 92-02 of 1992, replacing the former state broadcaster ORTS, which had operated since 1973. The broadcaster operates under the Ministry of Culture and Communication, with governance resting with a 12-member Management Council representing various government ministries. The Director General is appointed by the President of Senegal. Pape Alé Niang became Director General on April 24, 2024, replacing Racine Talla. RTS receives funding through license fees collected via electricity bills, state subsidies, and advertising revenues, with an estimated annual budget of XOF 11.3 billion (approximately US$20.8 million). The broadcaster’s editorial stance reflects its close government relationship, with no formal legal framework guaranteeing editorial independence.

Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha

Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS), the country’s national news agency, was launched on January 1, 1972. The Dhaka bureau of the Associated Press of Pakistan was turned into the national news agency of the new country following the Bangladesh Liberation War. Beginning with a small staff in the head office in Dhaka and a bureau in Chittagong, BSS now has bureaus in Rajshahi, Rangpur, Bagura, Khulna, Barishal, Rangamati, and Sylhet, with correspondents in all 64 administrative districts. The agency functions almost around the clock to disseminate national, international, political, economic, development, and other news to nearly 50 subscribers across the country. BSS subscribes to international wire services AFP and exchanges news with Press Trust of India, Associated Press of Pakistan, Xinhua, Bernama of Malaysia, and TransData of Australia, and introduced a Bangla news service in 1999.

SOPECAM

SOPECAM (Société de Presse et d’Éditions du Cameroun/Cameroon News and Publishing Corporation) is Cameroon’s state-owned media corporation established in 1974. The corporation publishes multiple media outlets, including its flagship Cameroon Tribune bilingual daily newspaper, Cameroon Business Today, Cameroon Insider (an English-language publication launched in 2019), and magazines Nyanga and Weekend Sports et Loisirs. SOPECAM operates through regional agencies across Cameroon’s ten regions and has modernized its operations with digital platforms and online subscriptions. Led by General Manager Marie-Claire Nnana since 2002, the corporation transformed from a government enterprise to a public capital company in 2017. Beyond publishing, SOPECAM organizes initiatives like the CBT Champions Awards to promote youth entrepreneurship and “Made in Cameroon” products.

Tanjug News Agency

Tanjug News Agency, founded on November 5, 1943, as Yugoslavia’s official state news agency, operated under government control until 2015 when authorities announced its closure and officially stopped funding it. Despite this announcement, the agency continued functioning in what it is described as a “legal vacuum” with funds from undisclosed sources. In 2021, the Belgrade-based private company Tacno acquired rights to Tanjug’s intellectual property and trademarks for a 10-year period. Tacno is owned by Radoica Milosavljevic of RTV Pancevo, characterized as “an openly pro-government station,” and Minacord Media. Local journalists interviewed in 2023 and 2024 claimed the government continued financing aspects of the agency’s operations despite denials from both Tanjug and state authorities. Critics characterized the agency as “notorious for its government-supportive content,” with its editorial policy reportedly unchanged following privatization.