Regulatory hurdles stay main challenges for Cambodia’s media, native journalists stated on Thursday at an occasion forward of World Press Freedom Day.
The feedback got here as Reporters With out Borders launched its annual index, maintaining the nation within the “very critical” class. For the primary time, greater than half the world’s nations now fall into the “troublesome” or “very critical” brackets.
The occasion in Phnom Penh introduced collectively almost 200 representatives from media teams and civil society, together with journalists, college students, content material creators, citizen reporters, youth teams, embassies and authorities our bodies, to debate press freedom and the working atmosphere for media.
It served as a platform for dialogue between journalists and state actors, permitting either side to change views, increase considerations and discover methods to foster a extra supportive local weather for the press.
Throughout the discussions, journalists raised considerations over new qualification guidelines, saying they add limitations to accessing info. The Ministry of Info stated the measures are supposed to serve the general public curiosity and enhance the standard of journalism.
“Citizen journalists like me would not have a license,” Chhen Leakena stated through the dialogue. “I attended coaching with civil society teams to learn to report, however after I go into communities [to report], they usually ask about it [my credentials]. This new regulation is one other problem for us.”
Late final 12 months, the ministry launched stricter guidelines for journalists, together with necessities for “good conduct” studies, a clear grievance file and ministry-approved journalism certificates to acquire a press card or function legally. Press freedom advocates say the transfer tightens the vise on what little unbiased media stays within the nation.
Tep Asnarith, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Info, stated the foundations are designed to serve the general public curiosity and apply equally.
He stated journalists, like others, have obligations to society and the regulation, and that the necessities goal to strengthen professionalism and credibility in an period of rising misinformation.
He added that related rules exist in different ASEAN nations and that the ministry has not obtained formal complaints.
Opposite to different studies on press freedom in Cambodia, a ministry report stated circumstances stay “good,” with round 81% of 570 journalists surveyed sharing that view. It stated about 70% had not confronted threats or harassment and almost 85% had by no means been sued over their reporting.
Freelance journalist Phon Sothyroth stated the ministry had “good intentions” in attempting to convey order to the sector, however warned the foundations create obstacles, notably necessities equivalent to a bachelor’s diploma or formal certification given the restricted variety of media colleges.
Ith Sothoeuth, president of the Communication and Media Promotion Group, stated the foundations threat excluding citizen and unbiased journalists. Some provisions could battle with Cambodia’s structure and worldwide requirements, he added, whereas necessities equivalent to well being certification might result in discrimination.
Whereas journalists stated rules have gotten extra restrictive, RSF reached an analogous conclusion. Cambodia ranked 151st out of 180 nations on this 12 months’s index, up from 161st in 2025 however nonetheless close to the underside.
Arthur Rochereau, RSF’s Asia-Pacific advocacy officer, stated new guidelines are complicating journalists’ work and authorized threats are rising.
CamboJA documented 61 violations affecting 57 journalists in 2025, all linked to their reporting. Authorized motion accounted for 45 circumstances, or 74% of the entire, a 61% improve from 28 circumstances in 2024.
CamboJA govt director Nop Vy stated the federal government ought to seek the advice of stakeholders, together with civil society and journalists, when drafting new legal guidelines.
“All insurance policies or rules shouldn’t additional limit or shrink the house for journalists,” he stated. “We wish to see journalists work with high quality, professionalism and full freedom to advertise freedom of expression.”
