Press Freedom in Cambodia is Good, Report Says

The Ministry of Information launched on Tuesday a report on the State of Press Freedom in Cambodia, showing better index of the freedom of expression in the Kingdom. A total of 341 journalists in the 25 capital and provinces have participated in the survey, 6.5 percent of them are women. According to the survey results, 79.8 percent of the 341 respondents rated the press freedom in Cambodia 'very good' while 95 percent agreed that the diversity of the media in Cambodia today is contributing to the promotion of press freedom and the freedom of expression in the country. About 79.8 percent of the total surveyed journalists claimed to have the full freedom to pursue a career as journalists, with convenient and safe space to gather information from various sources for their writing, production and reporting. Almost of the survey respondents endorsed the importance of adhering to the professional ethics of journalism. The report was launched to mark the World Press Freedom Day (May 3), said Minister of Infor mation H.E. Neth Pheaktra. 'The launch of this report reflects the Ministry of Information's commitment to improving and strengthening the media sector in Cambodia,' he said. The report will be a vital document for all actors, operators, and stakeholders in the media industry in Cambodia to serve their respective missions and activities, contributing to the promotion of media as the fourth estate that supports and actively participates in the sustainable development, and safeguarding peace in Cambodia, H.E. Minister stressed. The ministry's data showed that 3,201 press cards were issued in 2023. Among the registered journalists, 269 were women, accounting for 8.7 percent of the total number of journalists and 113 were foreign journalists. Mr. Leang Delux, Publisher of Thmey Thmey Digital News, said Cambodia has a broad press freedom space including favourable modalities for establishing media outlets, the freedom of expression on social media and public networking space, the wide flow of information from the government to the people and vice versa. 'The space or freedom of the press in Cambodia is however disturbed by a few undesirables that are undermining the value of press freedom,' the report quoted Mr. Leang Delux as saying. Currently, there are more than 2,000 registered traditional and new media outlets in Cambodia, including 933 websites and online TVs, 447 newspapers, 194 magazines, 21 bulletins, 52 press associations, 113 printing houses, 22 book publishers, 27 foreign new agencies and representative offices, 2 advertising agencies, 283 FM radio stations, 1 AM radio station, 19 main TV stations and 165 relay stations, 12 digital TV stations, 44 cable TV stations in Phnom Penh and provinces, 143 analog TV stations, 8 OTT (Over The Top) and 2 satellite TV stations. Meanwhile, the ministry has continued its census campaign to register media organisations and provides press identification cards to journalists in order to maintain the order in this sector. Source: Agence Kampuchea Presse