In Cambodia, independent media close as Chinese content moves in

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Abc123
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In Cambodia, independent media close as Chinese content moves in

Post by Abc123 »

Excerpt from the article. Apparently FreshNews gathers a lot of its sources from Chinese state run media. Add it to the list of what the Chinese are doing in Cambodia, and what Cambodia gets in return I guess.


In Cambodia, independent media close as Chinese content moves in. :roll:

https://beta.theglobeandmail.com/news/w ... e37464168/

Earlier this year, the two countries agreed to a "memorandum of understanding on information co-operation" that will see Cambodians offered scholarships to study journalism in China, which is ranked fifth from the bottom in the Reporters Without Borders world press freedom index.

In September, Cambodia's Interior Ministry also partnered with Chinese firm NICE Culture Investment Group to launch a new television station, NICE TV, in Cambodia.

The station's programming includes local content alongside dramas and films from South Korea, Thailand and China.

But "we often purposely select more Chinese culture-related programs when sorting through the imported TV resources. We want people to watch more good Chinese documentaries, dramas and programs with historical themes," said Fan Yuhua, assistant to the chief executive officer at NICE, which is based in the southern Chinese province of Guangxi.

The company is already planning to expand its Cambodia service. It has received a radio licence, plans to construct billboards and has built its own fibre-optic system in the country. It's all part of One Belt One Road, a national initiative led by President Xi Jinping to spread Chinese influence and corporate capital. NICE can help improve Cambodian media by importing Chinese expertise in technology and live online streaming, Ms. Fan said.

But, Ms. Fan said, "as a member of the Belt and Road News Alliance, we will strive to tell Chinese stories and promote Chinese culture."

STORY CONTINUES BELOW ADVERTISEMENT

Cambodian audiences are already reading Chinese stories about the rest of the world, through a local news site that has risen to prominence for its ability to break news – some of it favourable to the HE government.

Fresh News was launched in 2014 with one central idea: to get news out fast. It now boasts nearly 2.5-million likes on Facebook and a series of scoops that have included exclusive interviews with Mr. HE and the publication of leaked documents, some of which have cast CPP opponents in a bad light.

Activists deride Fresh News as a propaganda outlet infecting the country's discourse.

"They are a government mouthpiece, a tool of the government to provoke problems in Cambodia by providing fake news or frightening people – as a way to threaten activists or the opposition," said Pa Nguon Teang, founder and executive director of the Cambodian Center for Independent Media. Branded a "foreign agent" for accepting international funding, he runs Voice of Democracy in the country, which has been reduced to a Facebook service after it was taken off the air.

Fresh News co-founder Lim Chea Vutha insists he operates independently, offering as proof a prepared list of articles he has published on government corruption, illegal logging and problems at the country's borders.

"We broadcast everything," Mr. Lim said, and then shows off the company's ad-laden website as proof that it pays the bills the way any commercial media would. People turn to Fresh News, he said, because its 24-hour operation churns out reports at a speed no one else can match.

But Fresh News has also succeeded in part by being a studious stenographer of utterances by high-ranking government officials. The tone of its coverage can resemble that of state media in countries such as China.

In fact, Fresh News relies on Xinhua, China's central state-run news agency, for coverage of foreign affairs, which it publishes in Khmer and English. Mr. Lim is also planning a Chinese edition that would cater to the growing number of wealthy Chinese businessmen in Cambodia.

But it's not a question, he said, of spurning the West. "We want the economy to grow, we want investment from China so it can generate many jobs for Cambodia."

And Cambodia's government laughs at the suggestion that it is constricting the space for media expression.

Media forced to close were the outlets that failed to pay taxes, said Sok Ey San, spokesman for the CPP. "We welcome every media, critical or supportive, but they have to follow the rule of law," he said.

Moeun Chhean Nariddh, editor-in-chief of the Phnom Penh Post, also downplayed the demise of some outlets, likening it to the loss of a few flowers in a bouquet that remains beautiful. Cambodia "remains one of the outstanding places for free press in the region," he said.

He also played down China's influence. Countries such as Japan, Sweden and the United States have long supported local media, as has the United Nations. He sees China as little different.

The Cambodian government is "willing to take any donations from any country," he said.
Last edited by Abc123 on Sat Dec 30, 2017 7:33 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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that genius
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Re: In Cambodia, independent media close as Chinese content moves in

Post by that genius »

One independent media, The CD was closed because it thought it was above the law and was arrogant enough to assume it could designate itself as an NGO. It shot itself in the foot by screwing with the tax system. That is fact.

The US targeted RT without any proof, and forced it to register as a foreign network, no other foreign media based in America was asked to do the same

Rupert Murdoch has huge control over media

https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/bu ... /71089066/

6 corporations control 90% of the US media:

http://www.businessinsider.com/these-6- ... ica-2012-6

But...but...OMG! Those Asian guys want to do business with Asian guys? After all that bombing we gave them for free (oh, wait, we still asked for $500 million for the Lon Nol proxy warmonger loan)? Those ungrateful bastards!

Pathetic hypocrisy and kowtowing to MNCs and MSM...Abc 123, can you do a similar article on western media and their reluctance to cover Yemen and Palestine? Nice office near Sunway, btw? :D
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Re: In Cambodia, independent media close as Chinese content moves in

Post by chorlton »

"Branded a "foreign agent" for accepting international funding"

says the government taking billions from abroad
:lol:
"Tolerance towards intolerance is cowardice"
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Re: In Cambodia, independent media close as Chinese content moves in

Post by pczz »

chorlton wrote: Sat Dec 30, 2017 8:11 pm "Branded a "foreign agent" for accepting international funding"

says the government taking billions from abroad
:lol:
pretty much same as USA getting all its debt funded by china then
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