Cambodia
Media Environment | News Gathering | Practical Tips
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Media Environment
According to the constitution freedom of speech is upheld, and prime minister Hun Sen has publicly declared his belief in press freedom, though he has been accused of harassing Radio Free Asia journalists. He banned a 95-page report by London-based watchdog Global Witness, which suggested that senior government officials and business tycoons were illegally logging the country’s shrinking lowland forests. It claimed that the country’s most powerful illegal logging syndicate, the Seng Keang company, was headed by his relatives.
Hun Sen and his allies control a number of broadcasters, and many newspapers and private radio and television stations rely on support from political parties.
Public demonstrations of any kind are banned. English language publications enjoy greater freedom than those in the Khmer language. There are no restrictions on owning satellite dishes, and broadcasts from neighbouring countries can be readily received.
The fortnightly English-language Phnom Penh Post, first published in 1992, is Cambodia’s oldest independent newspaper. It is widely read by foreigners and Cambodians throughout the country, and has subscribers in 48 countries.
The Cambodia Daily is an independent non-profit newspaper published six days a week in Phnom Penh. It is available as a daily print edition in Cambodia and a weekly edition for overseas readers. Due to its public service objective, the Daily gets its foreign news from major wire services free of charge.
Cambodge Soir (email link) is an independent and neutral general information newspaper aimed at French-speaking Cambodians, mainly students, civil servants, ministries and politicians.
Business News (email link) covers Cambodian and Asian business and some local politics. Every issue features an overview of local Phnom Penh market prices for food and building materials as well as the dollar exchange rate.
Cambodian Scene (email link) is a bi-monthly magazine promoting positive aspects of Cambodian life and features articles on culture, history, arts and entertainment and tourism.
The Mirror (email link) is a weekly publication of the NGO Open Forum of Cambodia, which runs extracts of previously published articles collected from the Cambodian print media. It aims to give an overview of issues dominating the Khmer language print media in Cambodia.
Love FM (www.lovefm.ws), which has a seven percent audience share, broadcasts popular English songs and English speaking Djs 24 hours a day to listeners within a 150km radius of Phnom Penh. Its target audience is English-speaking locals in the 15- to 25-year-old age group.
Radio FM 96 (email director Tan Yan) is a Phnom Penh radio station run by National Radio Kampuchea, the oldest station in the country. Broadcasting since 1999, and with 23 percent audience share, FM 96 offers shorter news than its mother station and has additional music shows. The broadcast language is Khmer, with a 15-minute overseas programme broadcast in English, French, Thai, Lao and Vietnamese. Both stations are under the control of the Ministry of Information.
National Television of Kampuchea (TVK) (www.TVK.gov.kh), founded in 1966, is the oldest television station in Cambodia. Being state-owned, it focuses on the interests of the government and news coverage is dominated by government functions. Politically controversial content is avoided. TVK broadcasts nationwide in Khmer, French and English. Other stations include TV3, jointly run by Phnom Penh municipality and the private stations TV5, CTN, Bayon TV and CTV9.
BBC World Service and Radio France Internationale are also available on FM in Phnom Penh. The national news agency is Agence Kampuchea Presse (AKP).
News Gathering
As a working journalist in Cambodia, you will experience difficulties in speaking with government officials of the ruling parties. They are often in ‘meetings’, or simply unwilling to talk — there is no obligation to answer journalists’ questions. Many journalists make do with middle-ranking officials or the information minister. Perseverance and a Khmer translator will prove useful, if not essential. The opposition Sam Rainsy Party, however, is more than willing to comment on political issues.
Embassies can be helpful but selective about the people they give time to. Hundreds of international and local NGOs are based in Cambodia. They are often willing to provide information on aid projects and may have more reliable data than government agencies.
The website of the Overseas Press Club of Cambodia — www.opccam.org — carries an extensive historical account of journalism in Cambodia. The club began in 1993 and hosts journalists from many international news agencies and local newspapers. It is a good place to start for gathering contacts and invaluable advice about journalism in Cambodia. Annual membership for a foreign journalist is US$50.
The NGO community and civil society are constantly encouraging the government to improve its transparency and accountability, but this is a slow process. Corruption has found its way into almost every aspect of daily life — beware of police on the take who will issue an inflated fine of 10 times the local rate for a minor traffic infringement (at least until they are asked for a receipt).
Years after the end of fighting, Cambodia remains one of the world’s most heavily mined countries, with the Thai border especially dangerous. When visiting more remote temples and tourist sites in northern Cambodia, keep to the marked paths. Domestic air travel is limited, though poor roads and security concerns make flying the preferred means of reaching the north-eastern city of Ratanakiri. Air services to Mondulkiri and Stung have been suspended indefinitely.
Practical Tips
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Make sure you have two passport photos and apply for a business visa (US$25) when arriving at Phnom Penh International airport. The business visa can be extended for up to six months at a time without leaving the country, whereas the tourist visa (US$20) can only be renewed once, and lasts for one month.
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It is possible to stay at the Foreign Correspondents’ Club and to rent mobile phones there. Hotels can be cheap, but go a little upmarket if communications are important. Otherwise, rely on Internet shops.
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Internet access is now widely available, but generally slow. Wireless can be found at the high-end hotels in the city, including the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Phnom Penh. Most Internet cafés charge US$0.50 for one hour. Mobile phone connection is easy to obtain, but the Mobitel network, which has mobile numbers beginning with 012, is recommended for its connection reliability.
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Security — especially after dark — is an important consideration and armed muggings are not uncommon. Use reliable taxis or cars if travelling with much money or camera gear, and keep photocopies of passports, tickets, visas and other important documents.
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Both riel and US dollars can be used for any transaction and it is advisable to carry both currencies in small denominations at all times. It is a cash society and credit cards are not widely accepted, though credit card cash advances and travellers’ cheque cashing services are available at banks in the main cities.
Contributor: Janna Hamilton | Updated by: Vaughan Yarwood
Latest update September 2008
