By:
• Meng Seavmey
• Lay Sopheavotey

• August 7, 2024 , 7:29 PM

PHNOM PENH – The Information Ministry has officially set out a Journalism Charter to maintain professionalism and order in the media.

Information Minister Neth Pheaktra said on Aug. 6 that the charter will act as the foundation of professional ethics.

He said nearly 300 journalists from press outlets, press associations, UNESCO and other stakeholders took part in drafting the charter which has four chapters and 27 articles.

Participants had taken part in discussions, exchanges of views and suggestions since April after the ministry held a workshop to gather input. In July, the ministry held another workshop for consultation and additional input.

Seoung Nimol, a reporter from newsroom CamboJa, said there should also be an amendment of the existing press law since there is now a charter with new parts that are not covered by the law.

"The ministry should accelerate the amendment of the press law and the enforcement of the law on access to information, rather than establishing the Journalism Charter, as both laws also address the profession of journalism, including strengthening the right of journalists to access information comprehensively," she said.

Nimal was also concerned about the wording in the charter and urged the ministry to clarify definitions to "avoid affecting the rights of journalists in producing stories related to weakness of public institutions."

Another concern was the short notice from the ministry for consultation and getting input. "The ministry gave us only ten days to review and discuss the draft, which was too short,” she said.

“The inputs were given on Aug. 2, and the charter was established on Aug. 6 without holding another meeting to tell us which inputs had been included and why some inputs had not.”

In response, the minister said, “Some comments already exist in the charter but there were some others integrated into it because those comments were helpful. Meanwhile, some were submitted later than the deadline on Aug. 2.”

The charter was needed to maintain order in the journalistic profession, responding to the increase of information technology — including the transformation from traditional reporting such as television, newspapers, and publishers — on internet platforms and social media.

“The challenge to journalistic professionalism comes from an increase in modern media reporting that causes a loss of public trust.”

There were requests for licenses for websites but only a Facebook page or online TV was created.  This meant they were not meeting requirements, Pheaktra said.

So far, there were about 2,000 registered newsrooms, including more than 1,000 websites and online TVs. Others were unregistered.

“The modern media is increasing in quantity, but the quality is declining,” Pheaktra said. “It is a concern when the people working in journalism do not have professional training or are not skillful in their jobs.”

Responding to criticism that the charter restricts freedom, Pheaktra said it will not affect freedom of expression because it was based on the Constitution, the press law and human rights law. 

“The charter is not a force on journalists, but it is a basic principle for everyone to have a common direction,” the minister said.

“There are no punishments by this charter, but the journalists who violate it will face other punishments that are stated in the press law and other laws which this charter was based on.”

The charter requires people working in journalism and television to participate in the prevention of fake news and misleading information; report only true information with clear sources and source-checking; fact check and edit in case the information is false or misleading; keep sources confidential; and ensure the information balance with truth, justice and non-bias.

They must also avoid reporting news without clear sources or accusing any certain individual(s) without enough or clear evidence; distorting information in any form that twists the original meaning; revealing personal comments based on pre-judgement; mixing fact with opinion; and, changing the information, pictures or videos, deleting any important parts of the news, or faking documents.

The minister said the charter was for press outlets, press associations, and other stakeholders to base their professional ethics on, to be obeyed by their members.