We want the news please!!
August 6th 2008 06:26
PHNOM PENH POST MISSES THE CRUX OF THE NEWS AND PROVIDES THE MOULDY CRUST OF THE NEWS
Once again, the Phnom Penh Post has not felt it important to actually inform their readers about the source of their proclamations. This time, the article FBI to help in case of slain journalist* reported that Cambodian authorities have accepted the US Embassys offer to provide Federal Bureau of Investigation assistance in the investigation of a murdered journalist, Khim Sambo, but failed to say when this decision was made and who announced it. Not only did they fail to report these main details of the story, the Post didnt bother to talk to either a representative from the US Embassy or the FBI about Cambodias decision to accept their assistance (assuming we are to simply the believe the Post that this decision was actually made). On top of that, from the two sources the Post actually did use for the article, one was an anonymous source** and the other was an almost word-for-word repeat of what was reported in a previous article on the subject***. So basically, within one article, the Post made an unsubstantiated proclamation with no background information and then tried to back it up using an anonymous source and re-stating old news. It leaves me asking the question does Phnom Penh Post staff do any reporting at all in a days work?
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* FOOTNOTE * The article in question can be found online at Really Long Link
** FOOTNOTE ** Not only did the article quote an anonymous police officer, his statement supposedly represented Several senior security officials [that] made clear they did not want the FBI involved in a Cambodian investigation.
*** FOOTNOTE *** In this article, Government Spokesperson and Information Minister, Khieu Kanharith, was reported as saying: We never rejected the assistance. It is good to collaborate with the FBI, so when we find the killers, the opposition party will not claim they are fake. In a previous article written on this subject, (see FBI could probe journalists murder) the Post reported Khieu Kannarith as saying It would be good if we could cooperate with the FBI in investigating this case. We could trade experiences. Either way, we would not be blamed if we could not find the killers, or if we found them [critics] would not say [the suspects] are the fake killers.
Once again, the Phnom Penh Post has not felt it important to actually inform their readers about the source of their proclamations. This time, the article FBI to help in case of slain journalist* reported that Cambodian authorities have accepted the US Embassys offer to provide Federal Bureau of Investigation assistance in the investigation of a murdered journalist, Khim Sambo, but failed to say when this decision was made and who announced it. Not only did they fail to report these main details of the story, the Post didnt bother to talk to either a representative from the US Embassy or the FBI about Cambodias decision to accept their assistance (assuming we are to simply the believe the Post that this decision was actually made). On top of that, from the two sources the Post actually did use for the article, one was an anonymous source** and the other was an almost word-for-word repeat of what was reported in a previous article on the subject***. So basically, within one article, the Post made an unsubstantiated proclamation with no background information and then tried to back it up using an anonymous source and re-stating old news. It leaves me asking the question does Phnom Penh Post staff do any reporting at all in a days work?
______________________
* FOOTNOTE * The article in question can be found online at Really Long Link
** FOOTNOTE ** Not only did the article quote an anonymous police officer, his statement supposedly represented Several senior security officials [that] made clear they did not want the FBI involved in a Cambodian investigation.
*** FOOTNOTE *** In this article, Government Spokesperson and Information Minister, Khieu Kanharith, was reported as saying: We never rejected the assistance. It is good to collaborate with the FBI, so when we find the killers, the opposition party will not claim they are fake. In a previous article written on this subject, (see FBI could probe journalists murder) the Post reported Khieu Kannarith as saying It would be good if we could cooperate with the FBI in investigating this case. We could trade experiences. Either way, we would not be blamed if we could not find the killers, or if we found them [critics] would not say [the suspects] are the fake killers.
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Comment by McGee
on Phnom Penh Post Spreads Rumours
Cambodian News
Firstly, I dont see what is bad about expecting a high-quality output from an English-language newspaper in Cambodia. The Phnom Penh Post has only recently launched a very impressive website that allows international access to Cambodian news now all that is needed is good-quality news. They definitely have the potential to be the main international focal point for Cambodian news, all they have to do is fine-tune their journalistic practices. Im just trying to encourage them to do that. Internationally, the Cambodia Daily is being left behind because Bernie Krisher is too much of a luddite to understand that the internet is useful and other wire coverage of Cambodian news lacks any sort of detail. Unlike you (and Myanmars Junta), I do actually see benefits in people outside of a country knowing whats happening inside that country. I appreciate the Posts attempt to make that possible for Cambodian news.
Secondly, while improving Cambodians access to information is a novel and admirable idea (and its great that you think a blog may have the potential to do that), youre right why would I be critiquing an English-language newspaper that does not get translated into Khmer if that was my main focus? Well its not (although it would be an advantageous by-product if it were possible). My main focus is more that I want the Post to improve the quality of their reporting so that I have a good source for Cambodian news (a goal not quite as righteous but worthy none-the-less). Key staff of the Post know who I am and know that I am critiquing the Post because their website is my first contact point for Cambodian news and that, being back in Australia and reasonably bored, I find spending time critiquing the Post quite enjoyable. Some Post staff have mentioned that they enjoy reading my blog and have encouraged me to continue writing my critiques.
Lastly, of course I know there are more harmful things in Cambodia than what the Phnom Penh Post does. Um Derr! Im not claiming to solve Cambodias problems I just want the Post to report better. I dont think its too much to ask.
P.S. Being told to grow up is funny.