Cambodian journalist club names new head
THE Club of Cambodian Journalists (CCJ) has appointed Puy Kea as its new president, replacing Pen Bona who has resigned to take up a government post as secretary of state with the Ministry of Information.
Khieu Kola, a member of the CCJ board, now succeeds Kea as CCJ secretary-general.
In a December 5 notice, CCJ said the appointments are in line with its statutes and internal policies.
Information ministry spokesman Meas Sophorn supports Kea’s appointment, saying he is a capable journalist with years of experience.
“The CCJ board’s decision to appoint Puy Kea as president is appropriate. He is an experienced journalist, and has played a very active role in the club for a long time,” he said, expressing hope that Kea will lead the club to further growth in the future.
Chhorn Sokunthea, director of media development at the Cambodian Centre for Independent Media (CCIM), echoed Sophorn’s remarks.
“I hope that as the new president, he [Kea] will find time to help journalists from different media outlets facing problems or challenges,” she said.
She added that in the present environment, some journalists who report on sensitive stories are likely to face difficulties, sometimes even legal action.
Sokunthea noted that CCJ presidents in all mandates were known to be capable and experienced, but more importantly, they were always prepared to defend journalists who were challenged over reporting on sensitive topics like land disputes, natural resource crimes and political issues.
The CCJ was established in August 2000, with the goal of “strengthening capacities and promoting the profession of journalism”.
It said it is an independent organisation that brings together Cambodian journalists who wish to protect their rights and freedoms, while strengthening their professionalism and ethics. It supports journalists by providing training intended to enhance the quality of journalism in Cambodia so that it will be on par with the rest of the world.
The organisation said it does not conduct any activities for economic benefit, but relies on transparent donations to support its operations.
Kea, also a correspondent for Kyodo News, said it important to appoint a new president to preserve the sustainability of the media sector. Although news was now shared faster than ever, there were still obstacles to the profession. Many of these challenges could be addressed by the CCJ. He told The Post.
“What I intend to do is focus on the problems of professionalism and ethics among journalists. I want to see all Cambodian journalists improve,” he added.
“As CCJ president, I want to focus mainly on strengthening professional and ethics. I want the general public – and all state and private institutions, along with organisations – to see journalists as important partners. They should not be intimidated by the media,” he concluded.