Cambodia China Journalist Association officially launched in Cambodia
Source: Xinhua| 2019-05-06 23:52:59

PHNOM PENH, May 6 (Xinhua) -- The Cambodia China Journalist Association (CCJA) was formally launched here on Monday with the aim of promoting media exchange and relations between Cambodia and China.

Cambodian Information Minister Khieu Kanharith said the Ministry of Information fully supported the CCJA and was confident that it would play an important role in promoting relations and cooperation between the two countries.

"This is a new achievement resulting from the comprehensive strategic partnership of cooperation between Cambodia and China," he said in a speech during the CCJA launching ceremony.

"I hope that the association will serve as a bridge to connect the peoples between the two countries," he added.

Cambodian government Spokesman Phay Siphan congratulated the establishment of the CCJA, saying that the media has served as a mirror to reflect realities in the society and has importantly provided inputs to the government.

He added that journalists have also played an important role in contributing to the maintenance of peace, stability and sustainable development.

"I strongly hope that this association will contribute to the free flow of information, ethical codes, professionalism, and objectivity in order to contribute to the development of all relations between Cambodia and China," he said at the event.

He was also confident that the CCJA would help the public to better understand the value of cooperation between the two countries in diplomacy, economics, culture, and other fields for mutual benefit.

Zuo Wenxing, political counselor of the Chinese embassy to Cambodia, expressed her confidence that the CCJA would work actively to promote media exchange and relations between China and Cambodia.

"I hope that the association will play an important role in promoting positive news about our two countries and will join hands to fight against fake news that causes negative impact on the relations between our two countries," she said.

CCJA's Co-President Soy Sopheap said the association was established by a group of Cambodian and Chinese veteran journalists with the aim of promoting friendship and cooperation between the two countries.
http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2019-0 ... 038519.htm

Cambodia-China Journalist Association Launched to Promote ‘Positive News’
The initiative, supported by both governments, marks another step toward replacing Cambodia’s once free press with China’s model of information, media experts say.
By VOA Cambodia -
May 22, 2019
On a recent afternoon at a glitzy conference room at the Sofitel, one of Phnom Penh’s high-end hotels, senior Cambodian officials, Chinese Embassy officials, and Cambodian and Chinese media representatives launched an initiative they hoped would influence local news coverage.

As confetti rained down and glasses of wine were raised in toast, Minister of Information Khieu Kanharith hailed the newly established “Cambodia-China Journalist Association” (CCJA), which he said would have as its main goal the publication of positive stories about the political and economic relations between his country and China.

“There are many Chinese nationals and Chinese investors who have done well in Cambodia, but there are media reports of bad deeds by a tiny number of [Chinese] people,” he said. “It doesn’t mean we hide the bad deeds, but there are so many good deeds we can report.”
In full: https://www.voacambodia.com/a/cambodia- ... 26568.html

Cambodian Media Delegation Learn about Cultural Life of Beijing
23/08/19 20:00
Beijing (FN), Aug. 21 - Media delegation from Cambodia, headed by Fresh News CEO Lim Chea Vutha, and other 12 countries including Canada, Indonesia, Iran, Germany, Kenya, South Korea, Myanmar, Pakistan, Russia, Serbia, Thailand, and Turkey had a chance to learn about the Inheritance of Beijing Hutong Culture and the Cultural Life of Beijing Residents: Past and Now, held in Beijing on Thursday.

Organized by Beijing Information Office and CRI Online to celebrate the 70th Anniversary of the Founding of the People's Republic of China, the delegations have chance to experience the culture and volunteer service of Ganjiakou Regional Volunteer Service Federation.

Ganjiakou Federation was formally established since March 2010. At present, there are 17,895 volunteers, and the total service hours of volunteers registered are 1,431,600. The volunteer service team has reached the elderly people in Beijing, teaching them how to use smart-phones and computers, skills in medicine, music, painting, and embroidery, and help them to keep up with their children's life.

The delegation also tasted the traditional Chinese Barbecue dated back to 170 years ago; and visited Shichahai Culture Exhibition Center - a base for promoting patriotism and traditional culture.
http://en.freshnewsasia.com/index.php/e ... 29-38.html

It's not Cambodia (yet), but thought this might be of interest on the subject of state media control.

Chinese journalists to be tested on loyalty to Xi Jinping
Exam will test journalists on president’s teachings on socialism and propaganda

Lily Kuo in Beijing
Fri 20 Sep 2019 13.09 BST
Last modified on Sat 21 Sep 2019 08.16 BST

Chinese journalists will soon be required to pass a test grading their understanding of Xi Jinping Thought, the socialist teachings espoused by the country’s leader.

A notice from China’s media regulator has been sent to more than a dozen state-owned news organisations in Beijing over the last month. It instructs employees to prepare to take an exam on the “study Xi” propaganda app, launched earlier this year, in order to have their press credential renewed.

Most believe the regulation will soon apply to Chinese reporters across the country. Journalists from three media organisations, two of which were outside Beijing, told the Guardian their publications had also received informal notices to register on the app.

“From the top down to the bottom, I don’t think anyone will be able to escape it,” said one reporter from a broadcaster in the eastern Shandong province who said he was not authorised to speak on the topic.

The on-site, closed-book exam, to be administered by news organisations in early October, will be divided into five parts, including two on Xi Jinping’s teachings on socialism for the new era and Xi’s “important thoughts on propaganda”, according to Media Reform, a self-published news account on WeChat.

News of the test, first reported by the South China Morning Post and the research programme China Media Project, comes as Chinese media face increasing restrictions. China is considered one of the least free countries to operate as a journalist, ranked 177 out of 180 in 2019 by Reporters Without Borders, above Eritrea and North Korea.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/ ... xi-jinping

Imagine the things you might start to say if mocking you was made a criminal offence, eh...

The thought consists of a 14-point basic policy as follows:[6][7]

• 1. Ensuring Communist Party of China leadership over all forms of work in China.
  2. The Communist Party of China should take a people-centric approach for the public interest.
  3. The continuation of "comprehensive deepening of reforms".
  4. Adopting new science-based ideas for "innovative, coordinated, green, open and shared development".
  5. Following "socialism with Chinese characteristics" with "people as the masters of the country".
  6. Governing China with Rule of Law.
  7. "Practice socialist core values", including Marxism, communism and socialism with Chinese characteristics.
  8. "Improving people's livelihood and well-being is the primary goal of development".
  9. Coexist well with nature with "energy conservation and environmental protection" policies and "contribute to global ecological safety".
  10. Strengthen national security.
  11. The Communist Party of China should have "absolute leadership over" China's People's Liberation Army.
  12. Promoting the one country, two systems system for Hong Kong and Macau with a future of "complete national reunification" and to follow the One-China policy and 1992 Consensus for Taiwan.
  13. Establish a common destiny between Chinese people and other people around the world with a "peaceful international environment".
  14. Improve party discipline in the Communist Party of China.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xi_Jinping_Thought


https://macropolo.org/analysis/in-xi-we-trust/

Another inspired idea to improve Cambodian journalism ?

Saudi Arabia to Help Train Cambodian Officials in Journalism
AKP Phnom Penh, February 19, 2020 --

Saudi Arabia has announced to assist Cambodian Information Ministry in training its officials in the fields of journalism and Arabic language, at the request of H.E. Khieu Kanharith, Minister of Information.

The announcement was made in the meeting here yesterday between H.E. Minister and H.E. Saud Fahd Al-Suwailem, Ambassador of Saudi Arabia to Cambodia, according to H.E. Meas Sophorn, Under Secretary of State and Spokesperson of the Ministry of Information.

H.E. Ambassador expressed his country’s intention to cooperate with Cambodia in various areas, including tourism, economy, culture, and information. He therefore asked H.E. Khieu Kanharith to coordinate the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the Cambodian news agency - Agence Kampuchea Presse (AKP) - and the Saudi news agency to exchange information in order to promote mutual understanding between the two peoples.

In reply, H.E. Khieu Kanharith accepted the request and suggested the Saudi side to extend its cooperation, not only with AKP, but also with TVK (National Television of Kampuchea).

According to the ambassador, 85 Cambodian students have been now pursuing their studies in Saudi Arabia in different majors.

Article in Khmer by Bunrith
Article in English by Phal Sophanith
https://www.akp.gov.kh/post/detail/26280

November 3, 2021
Journalists in Cambodia have improved in truth and accuracy
Mao Chanvireak / Khmer Times

With journalists in Cambodia adhering to the ethical provisions of their profession and improving day by day in their responsibilities and duties in ensuring accuracy in their work, there is no impunity for crimes against them.

Information Ministry spokesman Meas Sophorn refutes the Civil Society Organisation (CSO)’s statement as to allegations of the government stifling the rights of expression and freedom.

In conjunction with the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists, Sorphorn in a statement said it is not true about the impunity for crimes against journalists as it is just the reverse as Cambodia had never had crimes against journalists.

“We find journalists in Cambodia taking on their job responsibly and improving day by day to ensure they provide accurate and correct information to the public with no political trends,” he added.

He said journalists who do their job professionally are recognised by the government as they do so without fear or favour and no racial disparities.

“As compared to countries in the region, Cambodia is really open and promotes journalism by allowing foreigners to set up their own media organisations, not like some countries,” he added.

https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50963742/j ... -accuracy/

Providing journalists with information is no different than from American funded NGOs doing the same thing. Nobody is forcing these people to attend. It's essentially just a seminar.

But of course a lot of westerners here has a problem when the Chinese do it. I bet a lot of you miss the old colonial days. Must suck and be very frightening for you when some Asian people don't bow down to you anymore.

I mean imagine the horror. You have to view people as equals.