Title of the Project: Enhancing Independent Media in Cambodia

Project Duration: 24 months (January 1, 2009 to December 31, 2010)

This project is funded by the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR) of the European Union.

Project Objectives

The specific objectives are:

To raise the awareness of Cambodian journalists on responsible and professional journalism practice.

To set up an organizational mechanism that will unite the journalists and the journalist’s associations in promoting and protecting their rights and in  improving their capacities to practice professional journalism.

To establish a common standard code of ethics for Cambodian journalists reflecting professionalism, independent media, and respect for the rights of journalists in accordance to international standards.

To strengthen legal framework for free media activities particularly broadcast radio through policy or legislation by the government.

1. Research on media situation in Cambodia

A research on the media situation in Cambodia will be conducted to gather more information related to the growth and development of media environment in Cambodia. The research will include, among others, tracing the history of Cambodia’s media before, during, and after the UN intervention, profile of Cambodian journalists and media practitioners, existing applicable laws on media, profile of media institutions, government policies and programs related to media development, civil society actions on media, business media industry, and recommendations based on the analysis. The result of the research will be printed and launched during the consultative conference of journalists planned sometime in April 2009.

The report is also planned to be disseminated to various target groups in Cambodia such as the government ministries, embassies, UN agencies and other diplomatic organizations, Cambodian NGOs, and civil society groups. The contents of the report will be also tackled in various information campaign activities of the project such as the radio programs and the website.

2. Radio programs

A regular weekly one-hour radio program will be broadcast on Radio Sarika at FM 106.5 MHz in Phnom Penh and will be relayed simultaneously to Radio Sarika FM 95.5 MHz in Siem Reap. The radio program will invite Cambodian journalists, government officials, and individual experts on media issues in Cambodia.

The radio program entitled “Salapaka Santhipheap” (Pen for Peace) is a live discussion which will be held on-air and off-air studio.Off-air broadcasts are those that are held outside the radio studio and this will give opportunity to those who would like to observe and participate in the process.  The radio program is under the name of the Voice of Democracy (VOD), which is the department of CCIM that produces radio programs.

3. Consultative conferences of Cambodian journalists

Two consultative conferences will be held. The first one is a consultation with Cambodian journalists and representatives of media institutions on the issues affecting the media sector in Cambodia. The result of the research on media situation will be launched and distributed during this conference. The second conference will tackle how the Cambodian journalists can work together on these issues.

4. Capacity building of Cambodian journalists

The project will facilitate in organizing activities to build the capacities of the Cambodian journalists. These activities include organizing trainings and seminars on media issues, and assisting Cambodian journalists association agreed by the different Cambodian journalist’s associations as their representative association.

The project will support advocacy activities of the Cambodian journalist’s association on media issues such as the amendments of the press law, legislation of broadcast law, law on access to information, and other laws related to media.