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McGee

Brisbane, Queensland, AUSTRALIA


Joined July 18th 2008

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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 Embassy’s 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 didn’t bother to talk to either a representative from the US Embassy or the FBI about Cambodia’s 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 day’s 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 journalist’s 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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Phnom Penh Post Spreads Rumours

August 5th 2008 13:16
THE POST CONTINUES TO MAKE UNSUBSTANTIATED STATEMENTS

The Phnom Penh Post continues to feel no need to substantiate or credit important statements they make in articles relating to tensions between Cambodia and Thailand. In their latest article Ties will outlast temple feud, say Thai officials ** the Phnom Penh Post claim that “rumours have circulated that Thais are fleeing Cambodia or are freezing their investments” without providing any background information on these “rumours”. Not bothering to source these “rumours” is not only problematic because it carelessly re-circulates them***, it is also another display of lazy journalism by the Phnom Penh Post.

The whole point of the article Ties will outlast temple feud, say Thai officials is that there are supposedly two opposing groups of people: those saying that the temple feud is affecting non-temple related Cambodia-Thai relations (ie. the side that says Thais are fleeing and freezing investments); and others saying that it is having no effect because of their long-running relationships in these areas. Out of only two opposing groups portrayed in the article, one whole side is represented simply by an unsubstantiated statement – ie “rumours have circulated that Thais are fleeing Cambodia or are freezing their investments” – without mentioning who the “rumours” are coming from and why.

To simply state the existence of one side without sourcing it or proving it appears as though the journalist is either:
1. making up a conflicting view in order to create a story;
2. unable to actually attain proof of the conflicting view; or
3. is too lazy to attain proof of the conflicting view.

The use of an unsubstantiated statement in this article is lazy journalism (at least, I would hope the Post isn’t so unethical for number 1 to be a contender and, quite frankly, I scarcely believe that number 2 could be possible). The Phnom Penh Post seemingly couldn’t be bothered to actually do reporting in order to provide their readers with the full story. If Post staff can only present half a story now, I am concerned about the quality of articles that will be produced when they go daily.

_____________________________ __________
** FOOTNOTE ** The article in question can be found online at Really Long Link

***FOOTNOTE*** There are many examples where re-circulating “rumours” results in responsive action causing the “rumours” to become true (see ‘self-fulfilling prophecy’ theory)
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Phnom Penh Post's Use of Unsubstantiated Sources is Negligent and Potentially Harmful

July 21st 2008 09:05
PHNOM PENH POST’S USE OF UNSUBSTANTIATED SOURCES IS NEGLIGENT AND POTENTIALLY HARMFUL

The Phnom Penh Post commonly and irresponsibly use quotes from unidentified sources, but amidst rising tension between Thai and Cambodia troops over Preah Vihear Temple their most recent use of a statement made by an unidentified “senior Cambodian military commander” is negligent and potentially harmful. According to the article Tensions Rise Ahead of Crisis Talks* an unidentified military official claimed that “the Thais were massing troops across the border from Anlong Veng in northern Cambodia”. This yet-to-be substantiated claim made by the Phnom Penh Post could further inflame tension between Cambodia and Thailand.

As the Phnom Penh Post has in the past reported on events such as the “Thai Riots” in 2003, migrant shootings along the Thai-Cambodian border and other incidents reflecting the intense tension between these two countries, staff of the Phnom Penh Post should well know the real risks involved in the current situation. Inflammatory claims such as that apparently made by the Phnom Penh Post’s “senior Cambodian military commander” could fuel tension between the involved parties and may even be the point that instigates violence. If this so-far unsubstantiated statement is true, I would hope that the Phnom Penh Post would be respectful enough of the situation to properly verify the statement and report on it with an appropriate understanding of the real risks involved.

Knowing the role the media had in propagating the statements causing the Thai riots in 2003, I plead to the Phnom Penh Post to reconsider flippantly including such unsubstantiated statements in future articles, especially those associated with relatively volatile situations. The Phnom Penh Post needs to report on the news, not cause the news.

_____________________________
* FOOTNOTE - The article in question can be found online at
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Phnom Penh Post - Making up Interesting Information When They Can't Be Bothered to Find the Facts!

July 20th 2008 13:01
PHNOM PENH POST - MAKING UP INTERESTING INFORMATION WHEN THEY CAN'T BE BOTHERED TO FIND THE FACTS!

The Phnom Penh Post's story claiming "more parents are moving their children from public to private schools because they are fed up with teachers collecting money from their children to supplement their public school salaries" provided no proof to this statement throughout the whole article ['Parents balk at paying teacher bribes', 17 July 2008 - accessible online at http://www.phnompenhpost.com/index.php/2008071720264/Online-Edition/Parents-balk-at-paying-teacher-bribes.html]. They talked to two parents who planned to move their children from a public to a private school but had not yet done so. They confirmed that one public school teacher takes funds from her student to supplement her salary. They talked to one private school principal who said the enrollment in his school has increased - but did not give the reason. None of the supposedly supporting graphs in the article actually in any way supported the opening statement


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Phnom Penh Post's Friends Get Their Story Told!

July 20th 2008 11:36
PHNOM PENH POST'S FRIENDS GET THEIR STORY TOLD

The Phnom Penh Post is clearly friends with Theary Seng (controversial Executive Director of the Centre for Social Development in Cambodia) as it has, for a while now, allowed her to write un-edited rants in every issue of their paper. Based on this, it was clearly going to be a difficult task for the Phnom Penh Post to attain neutrality on the recent saga surrounding the Centre for Social Development's "Executive Director" and it's "Board of Directors" (See footnote for background to CSD saga). It is for that reason that I reluctantly forgave them for the full-page and extremely biased rant on the CSD saga written by Theary Seng and published by the Phnom Penh Post in their previous issue. But the Phnom Penh Post stepped way over the line in their latest issue which included an "interview" with Theary Seng. (To read the interview follow the link: http://www.phnompenhpost.com/index.php/2008070920212/National-news/Interview.html). Is the Phnom Penh Post trying to inflame this saga for tabloid purposes? This one-sided portrayal of a very real and unfortunately not-as-trivial-as-it-should-be situation is unquestionably unethical of the Phnom Penh Post. I am truly glad that this type of tabloid rubbish is not translated into Khmer


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Recent Comments

Comment by McGee
on Phnom Penh Post Spreads Rumours

August 8th 2008 18:06


Cambodian News
Thanks for your “Reality Check”!

Firstly, I don’t 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. I’m 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 Myanmar’s Junta), I do actually see benefits in people outside of a country knowing what’s happening inside that country. I appreciate the Post’s attempt to make that possible for Cambodian news.

Secondly, while improving Cambodians’ access to information is a novel and admirable idea (and it’s great that you think a blog may have the potential to do that), you’re right – why would I be critiquing an English-language newspaper that does not get translated into Khmer if that was my main focus? Well…it’s 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! I’m not claiming to solve Cambodia’s problems – I just want the Post to report better. I don’t think it’s too much to ask.

P.S. Being told to “grow up” is funny.

Comment by McGee
on Phnom Penh Post's Use of Unsubstantiated Sources is Negligent and Potentially Harmful

August 2nd 2008 07:14


Cambodian News
Dear Anonymous - While I agree that major decisions and “official statements” in Cambodia are predominantly made by a relatively small cadre of the Cambodian Government I do not agree that it provides an excuse to lower journalistic standards and accept the constant use of un-substantiated anonymous sources. The use of anonymous quotes in English-language papers in Cambodia are, in most circumstances, not due to the officials being restricted from speaking to the press but more due to lazy or intentionally inflammatory journalism and editing.

For example, the Phnom Penh Post did manage to find a source for the unsubstantiated and anonymous statement in question in their follow-up article Border Crisis Spirals posted on their website the day after my above critique**. Apparently “Council of Minister spokesman Phay Siphan” had said that troops are massing all along Preah Vihear and Anlong Veng but the Phnom Penh Post simply couldn’t be bothered to have included the source in the first article (despite the potentially inflammatory repercussions of the statement). This was simply lazy journalism.

I agree that it is relatively difficult to get “real news” in a country that has an unscrupulous ability to censor news (evident in the unsolved murders of various people from opposition party media). However, I think it is possible for “real news” to be uncovered in ways other than using unidentified sources. I believe finding these ways is the job of a journalist – even in Cambodia. For example, while no government officials would have voluntarily uncovered the awful human rights violations happening in Koh Kor and Prey Speu government-run detention centres, photos and eye-witness reports from human rights organisations obtained by journalists were able to uncover the “reality” and force the government to respond to hard evidence.***

I encourage journalists to validate unsubstantiated claims when they feel the need to use them in order to expose “real news”. For example, if there is an anonymous official saying that troops are massing near Preah Vihear, journalists should validate it with photos or a non-anonymous source in Preah Vihear who has seen the troops. I don’t think this is too difficult or too much to ask from Cambodia’s media. I think accepting less than this is giving too much power to tabloid media and has the potential to be more damaging than good for the people of Cambodia.

______________________
** FOOTNOTE ** to read the article click on the following link: Really Long Link

***FOOTNOTE*** see the Cambodia Daily’s article Abuse Reports Spur Calls for Centers’ Closure at: Really Long Link and the Phnom Penh Post’s article Poorhouse Purgatory at: Really Long Link

Comment by McGee
on CAMBODIA NEWSPAPER WAR: INFORMATION MINISTER FIRES ROCKET AT ROGUE PUBLISHER

July 25th 2008 01:38


Cambodian News
The author of this blog spot, JJ McRoach, actually works for the Phnom Penh Post. To uphold the ethical journalism standards that JJ McRoach purports to monitor, JJ McRoach needs to disclose that he works for the Phnom Penh Post every time he comments about his direct competitors.
For an ongoing critique of the Phnom Penh Post and other Cambodia news sources written by a source independent to the Cambodian media industry, please see www.orble.com/cambodian-news/.

Comment by McGee
on Phnom Penh Post's Use of Unsubstantiated Sources is Negligent and Potentially Harmful

July 22nd 2008 14:43


Cambodian News
Thank you for drawing my attention to the letter in today’s Cambodia Daily. As I stated in my previous comment, I no longer reside in Cambodia. Due to Bernie Krisher’s luddite perspective towards all things of this day and age, the Cambodia Daily is not available online and is therefore very difficult for me to access outside of Cambodia. I have recently subscribed to the Cambodia Weekly but I do not receive it until at least a week after the news has been written – thus making the Phnom Penh Post website my initial contact point for English-language Cambodian news. It is predominantly for this reason that my initial posts have focused on the Phnom Penh Post.

After receiving your comment, I did manage to get access to both the letter printed in today’s Daily and the article in question. I agree with your comment, the Daily’s incessant use of an unidentified donor source toward the end of the article Progress May Seem Elusive in KR Trials’ First Year was intentionally inflammatory and inappropriate. It is an unfortunate practice of the English-language Cambodian newspaper industry to use unidentified sources to incite news. Please feel free to continue to use this blog to draw attention to any other unethical or negligent practices you may notice in Cambodian news.

Comment by McGee
on Phnom Penh Post's Use of Unsubstantiated Sources is Negligent and Potentially Harmful

July 22nd 2008 00:02


Cambodian News
I am certainly not from the Mekong Times! Publicly criticising your competitor without disclosing your affiliation with the news industry would be unethical. Just ask JJ McRoach who works for the Phnom Penh Post but also doubles as a media watch-dog. See Really Long Link

I am not affiliated with the media industry in Cambodia but have lived and worked in Cambodia for long enough to see the potential harm caused by negligent and unethical reporting. I no longer reside in Cambodia. Thank you for reading my blog.

Comment by McGee
on INDOCHINA NEWSPAPER WAR HOTS UP WITH CAMBODIAN PUBLISHER LAUNCHING THE BURMA DAILY

July 20th 2008 14:01


Cambodian News
Sorry about the above posting... I didn't realise it automatically converted to the words "Really Long Link" when you post a link. If you'd like to read more information about the misreporting of the Phnom Penh Post, please click on the following: Really Long Link

Comment by McGee
on INDOCHINA NEWSPAPER WAR HOTS UP WITH CAMBODIAN PUBLISHER LAUNCHING THE BURMA DAILY

July 18th 2008 13:15


Cambodian News
JJ McRoach - Thank you for your honesty in your last comment. I was being honest in my May 20th (16:03) comment when I said that I enjoyed your posting but was disappointed to hear that you weren't an independent source. Your full disclosure is much appreciated.

I apologise for not being able to post under the title of anything more than anonymous in my previous comments (May 20th 16:03 and May 21st 10:59) but, unlike your employer who allows you two hats, my employer at the time (the United Nations) does not allow staff to make any sort of public statements without their approval. I have been previously severely reprimanded when I wrote a letter to the editor to the Cambodia Daily in an expressly personal capacity about Mr Krisher's crazy "Radio Free Asia is Irrelevant" rants. Since posting my anonymous comments on this blog I have finished my contract and have hung up the United Nations hat, so to speak, and can thus now "expose" myself.

I am still genuinely surprised that you could be "JJ McRoach the Media Watch Man" and also work for a newspaper that displays a lack of any sort of neutrality with issues such as the ongoing CSD saga.

The Phnom Penh Post is clearly friends with Theary Seng as it has, for a while now, allowed her to write un-edited rants in every issue of their paper. Based on this, it was clearly going to be a difficult task for the Phnom Penh Post to attain neutrality on the CSD issue. It is for that reason that I reluctantly forgave them for the full-page and extremely biased rant on the CSD saga written by Theary Seng and published by the Phnom Penh Post in their previous issue. But the Phnom Penh Post stepped way over the line in their latest issue which included an "interview" with Theary Seng. (To read the interview follow the link: Really Long Link ). Is the Phnom Penh Post trying to inflame this saga for tabloid purposes? This one-sided portrayal of a very real and unfortunately not-as-trivial-as-it-should-be situation is unquestionably unethical of the Phnom Penh Post. I am truly glad that this type of tabloid rubbish is not translated into Khmer.

Theary Seng has been working for CSD for a little over 2 years and is now overthrowing her employers! I'd like to hear what Ross Dunkley and Michael Hayes would have to say if after two years of working with PPPost JJ McRoach declared them irrelevant, replaced them and decided he was now in charge.

A suggestion to the PPPost on reporting, using the CSD case as an example: if you want to know what the donors think.... ask the donors; if you want to know why someone wants to get rid of their employee... ask the employer; if you want know why the employee thinks they've been hard-done-by... ask the employee. Gathering this information is called reporting and when it is compiled into one place it is called a story. It's quite simple really - especially when you have two weeks to do it.

Thank you JJ McRoach for providing a space to bring attention to these types of unethical practices. I understand your reluctancy to "bite the hand that feeds you", but I sincerely hope that you are subtly trying to address these types of practices under both of your hats. Having worked for the UN for many years I understand the difficulty in bringing institutional flaws to the attention of the institution "that feeds you"... but sometimes it is outright unethical complicity if you don't.