Information Minister: Monitoring Commission Formed to Promote Journalistic Ethics

The recently-established Monitoring Commission is mainly aimed to promote the journalistic ethics, not to sanction any journalists, reaffirmed H.E. Khieu Kanharith, Minister of Information, at the ministry’s weekly meeting held here this morning in hybrid format.

The commission was also created to enhance the role of journalists in society as well as the value of each article, he underlined.

Moreover, H.E. Minister called on those who are against the establishment of the commission to read thoroughly the ministry’s decision before making any criticism.

Recently, H.E. Phos Sovann, Delegate of the Royal Government in charge of Director General of General Department of Information and Broadcasting, has reacted against Reporters Without Borders (RSF)’s comments over the Monitoring Commission’s effectiveness, urging the organisation not to prejudge the newly-formed commission, but to wait and see its work performance and achievements.

The Ministry of Information of Cambodia issued a proclamation dated Aug. 2, 2021 to set up a commission in its attempt to monitor, evaluate and praise the implementation of journalistic ethics.

Through the establishment of the commission, the Ministry of Information expect to foster “the honor, value and prestige of journalists as well as the agency they represent”.

The commission is led by H.E. Buth Bovuth, the ministry’s Secretary of State, with three deputies and eleven members who are senior officials and advisors to the ministry and journalism experts from various media networks and associations in Cambodia.

This commission is responsible for chairing the meeting on arrangement-and-necessity basis to examine the potential reports and complaints from the general public or organisations, to resolve complaints related to journalistic ethics between journalists, media units with individuals or ministries, institutions and to observe their performances as well.

 

Source: Agency Kampuchea Press