Press Release
As government control and influence over the majority of Cambodia’s mainstream, local- language media continues to restrict the flow of information to the public, a new trend is emerging, bypassing traditional media gatekeepers and turning everyday citizens into journalists. These “citizen journalists” (CJs) are rapidly changing the country’s media landscape, bringing forward first-hand accounts of rights violations and injustice that would otherwise go unreported by most media outlets. The Cambodian Center for Independent Media (CCIM) first began its work with CJs in 2012, training women and indigenous minorities to craft reports on the human rights issues facing their communities. Today, CCIM, together with the Community Legal Education Center (CLEC), boasts a network of 100 CJs, including human rights defenders and community activists, all of whom have received extensive training in information communications technology and journalism practices, and who issue regular reports about the issues affecting their communities. Their efforts are strengthening the independence of the Cambodian press and empowering Cambodian citizens with the information they need to make informed decisions on the issues directly affecting them.
Together, CCIM and CLEC will conduct a networking and experience-sharing workshop on Aug. 20, 2014. During the workshop, the two organizations will present the experiences of more than 80 CJs from the “Human Rights Defenders in the Cyber-Age” project funded by Sida. The workshop will include group discussions, sharing of experiences from media experts and presentation of a photo gallery of compiled CJ work. The event will also offer CJs, media professionals CSOs and governmental organizations a valuable opportunity to network, opening doors for future collaborations and expanding CJs networks for collecting and disseminating information on human rights situations. Further, this opportunity for CJs to meet professional journalists and social media users will inspire them to continue reporting on critical rights issues facing Cambodia today.
CCIM and CLEC invite fellow reporters to cover the event and to use the opportunity to build connections with CJs, who can serve as valuable sources on the ground. See the event agenda attached for more details.
When: 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2014
Where: #237 Group 16, Plov Lom, Phum Thmey, Sangkat/Khan Dangkor, Phnom Penh.
For more information, please contact:
Mr. Kaing Tongngy, CCIM Communications & Advocacy Officer
Tel: +855 (0)60 411 777
Email: tongngy@ccimcambodia.org
Mr. Srey Sopheak, CLEC Communication and IVR Officer
Tel: +855 (0)66 777 027
Email: sopheak@clec.org.kh
