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)
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)
| 50 |
| Vote |
Subscribe to this blog
Comment by TimmyH
Tech News
Can you HACK it?
Genyration
Apparently I'm going to come back with none of my shit and AIDS instead!!
Comment by Reality Check
It seems like you have some sort of vendetta that has nothing to do with informing the public. And if you really do care so much about Cambodians access to information, you should be reading and writing in Khmer. Then you'll realise there are more dangerous issues in play thant whatever the Phnom Penh Post is up to.
Honestly, grow up and show us some of that balance you rant about.
Comment by McGee
Cambodian News
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.