Newspapers in Cambodia
There are over 100 registered newspapers in Cambodia, of which only a handful publish regularly. Perhaps less than 20 of these could be regarded as ‘real’ newspapers, with paid staff and a predictable publishing schedule. The leading Khmer daily newspaper is
Rasmei Kampuchea (Light of Kampuchea) Daily, established in 1993, which has a section on arts and culture.
Kampuchea Thmei Daily, another broadsheet, has emerged recently as its strongest competitor.
There is a large gap between circulation claimed by the papers and what is estimated by media buyers; there are no independently audited figures. However
Rasmei Kampuchea is well ahead of the pack with an estimated circulation of 18,000.
Despite the existence of numerous titles, most print publications are hampered by distribution problems, so their reach in the provinces is limited. Given this, and the low literacy rates outside of the urban centres, advertising in newspapers is fairly limited, reflecting advertisers’ preference for addressing the much wider audience of television. Rasmei Kampuchea, Kampuchea Thmei and Koh Santepheap are read aloud daily on radio, so have a wider reach than many of the smaller publications.
The press is inextricably linked with political patronage, so news coverage is often partisan, and little distinction may be made between the reporting of facts and opinions. Payments may be expected to ensure favourable coverage, or for keeping scandals – real or invented – off the pages. However many journalists do have a genuine public interest, and are simply trying to do their jobs.
Cambodia’s 1995 Press Law enshrines a high standard of press freedom, at least in principle. Press integrity and freedom are also enthusiastically supported by numerous journalism associations. The
Khmer Journalists Association (KJA) is one of the most long-standing organisations of its type, but the
Club of Cambodian Journalists (CCJ) probably has the most claim to broadly representing the industry at present, with some 80 members from print media, radio and television. Its new committee, elected in late 2004 for a three-year term, comprises veteran journalists from the Khmer-language press as well as a number of long-serving reporters for foreign wire services. They include Pen Samithy, editor of
Rasmei Kampuchea, who worked on Phnom Penh municipality’s newspaper
Phnom Penh in the 1980s
. The Club for the Protection of Cambodian Journalists has an explicitly human rights focus. Foreign journalists are represented by the Overseas Press Club.
The government’s official press agency is
Agence Kampuchea Presse (AKP), formerly known as
Sapordomean Kampuchea (SPK). Since Cambodian independence in 1954, propaganda has been highly valued as a tool of government, and Cambodia had well-supported official media organs during the time of the Khmer Rouge regime and the PRK regime that followed it.
The Chinese language press is also active and has a healthy following from local ethnic Chinese as well as expatriates; the combined circulation of the two Chinese newspapers, the
Cambodia Sin Chew Daily and the
Jian Hua Daily, is probably close to 10,000. The
Cambodia Daily, the fortnightly
Phnom Penh Post and
Cambodge Soir serve Phnom Penh’s international community, and there are also numerous tourism-related publications.
