Two news organizations announced a proposal to establish an independent “Cambodia Media Council” that could judge complaints around journalism ethics and conduct.
The Cambodian Journalists Alliance and the Cambodian Center for Independent Media, which is VOD’s parent organization, held a workshop on Friday on the plan.
Leng Len, a local journalist, said a media council could assess complaints against publications lodged by the public and affected parties, and provide an alternate dispute resolution mechanism.
“If we have such a media council in Cambodia, I think they could play a role … to serve the public,” Len said. “If any people file a complaint in relation to publishing, they can file a complaint or have the media council find a compromise.”
Currently, severe court actions against journalists can be the only path available for aggrieved parties, promoting legal pressure and leaving little room for judgments on matters of accuracy, balance, privacy or plagiarism.
CamboJA director Nop Vy said the council could deal with the priority issues of codes of conduct and professionalism, and said it was important that such work be independent: It did not need to be under the government’s umbrella, he said.
CCIM media development director Chhorn Sokunthea added that the council could set the standards of professionalism for the industry.
The seminar on Friday heard that media councils played important and broad roles in countries like the Philippines and Bangladesh.
The Information Ministry’s deputy director of information and broadcasting, Kin Vobol, said he did not have comments about the proposal, as he had participated in the workshop only to bring the ideas back to the ministry to consider.
