My Observation on Current Journalism: In general, journalists working for local newspapers are most not formally trained, their

wages are often not enough for daily life and pushing them to depend on earnings from taking gifts, asking for gas money or for coffee. They also often take direct payments for covering news events; usually this comes in envelopes containing some US$ 10-20. I would say at the moment there are so many fake journalists (newborn journalist) who use their media pass from the Ministry of Information to gain favour or to bribe their sources, whereas some newspapers have only name, but rare published or never published. I note three types of journalists in Cambodia Today: 1. The independent journalists working for foreign media like The Cambodia Daily, Phnom Penh Post, South East Asia Globe, Voice of America, Radio Free Asia, Voice of Democracy and Cambodge Soir. These journalists are well paid [US$400-1000 a month] and have taken professionally training courses abroad or in local university. 2. The pro-CPP journalists reporting for local media. Some of them report good things or positive activities of the CPP officials, to make sources happy, and then claim bribes or government position from the officials. These journalists sometimes criticized other political officials. 3. The pro-opposition journalists who work for local newspapers backed by the party, such as the Moneaseka Khmer and Samleng Yuvakchun Khmer. These journalists also take bribe at events, seminars, workshops their articles criticize CPP officials or government activity. Note: Normally, only the reporters who are pro-government or close to the ruling parties can easily get access to information, whereas those who are working for independent and opposition parties are usually excluded. Press conferences are normally broadcast by state-owned stations. Therefore, the independent channels rarely or almost never report on government press conferences. In countries around the globe, journalists risk their lives on a daily basis, when they shine a light into dark corridors of government corruption, expose intolerance, or otherwise displease powerful figures with something to hide. The ugly and unacceptable reality is that those who murder journalists those who silence voices vital to democracy and freedom far, far too often are getting away with it. Only a third of journalists deaths were linked to the dangers of covering war; the majority of victims were local reporters covering topics such as crime, corruption, and national security in their home countries. No journalists have actual freedom. Its almost same from developed to underdeveloped countries, western society to radical society. Some times only the media owners can enjoy very limited freedom. Media is directly or indirectly controlled either by the governments or the various nonstate actors. Its cant even survive if the highly influential advertisers fade up on any specific media. When we, journalists have to fighting continuously for our rights, World Press Freedom Day is totally meaningless. However, with my profound respect I remember the brave journalists who died while discharging their novel profession or in jail and tortured. Successive Special Representatives of the Secretary-General for human rights in Cambodia have concurred in their analysis that impunity is the single most important obstacle undermining the rule of law in Cambodia. In the majority of the cases where journalists have been killed, the authorities have stated that investigations are continuing; yet little or no progress has been made to date, and to the knowledge of the media, no one has been brought to justice for any of these crimes.

The Cambodian government controls all broadcast media and regularly suspends, threatens, or takes legal action against journalists or news outlets that criticize the government. In addition, reporters risk dismissal, physical attack, or even death for coverage of controversial issues. I agree code of ethic is the most important thing that the journalists have to remember. An article can lead an individual lost his/her job, honor, so we shouldnt write any article aimed at destroying the others. One word in an article we use weights one ton, but one page of it weights only one grams. I propose the following: 1. The government must not take any direct or indirect action to interfere with the media's duty or block the flow of information through any means such as the Internet, satellite television and community radio. Any media outlets found violating the law shall be dealt with in accordance with due legal process and in a transparent, fair and non-discriminatory manner, without resorting to any illegal means to limit freedom of opinions. 2. The government must be sincere in reforming the laws that pose obstacles to the freedom of expression of the people and in accepting pluralism in the media as providing different perspectives in news and information and opinions that benefit the public's right to information. 3. Politicians, members of the NA and the Senate and adherents of opposing political camps must understand the role and the duty of the media in seeking news and the truth for the benefit of the public. All sides must stop inciting people to go against the media by all means, including halting the use of the media to propagate and incite violence or exacerbate the conflict. 4. The public must be considerate in receiving news and information and be open-minded to listen to the different views of media outlets. They should exercise great caution in receiving information from the media, especially those used as tools by political groups and those issuing biased and prejudiced reports with the intention of creating rifts and instigating the use of violence for resolving conflicts. 5. All media outlets, especially those used as tools of political groups, must not slant their reports this would only result in more conflicts and violence. They must uphold professional ethics and take into account the principles of accuracy and fairness to all sides, and not resort to competition in order to avoid confusion and misunderstanding among the public. For any question or contact, please write me (yos.katank@yahoo.com). Me, a Nationalism journalist who is not for sell!