Summary of VOD’s 10-year History: Work to Grow

January 16, 2003 – January 16, 2013

Created by the Cambodian Center for Human Rights (CCHR) and with funding from USAID/IRI, Voice of Democracy Radio (VOD) opened on January 16, 2003 with just two journalists. Our aim was to promote CCHR’s activities, educate the public about human rights and advocate for freedom of expression in Cambodia. Up until 2005, VOD’s journalists were actually trained by the Indonesia-based radio news agency KBR 68H, after which, VOD started to focus more on news production. In June 2007, VOD formally separated from CCHR following a decision taken by the organization’s Management Committee in order to make VOD more independent and to allow it to grow. The Cambodian Center for Independent Media (CCIM) was registered at the Ministry of Interior as a fully independent legal entity. Around the end of 2009, CCIM began operating two radio stations named Sarika, in Phnom Penh on 106.5FM and in Siem Reap on 95.5FM. Through these two stations, VOD was able to provide hourly breaking news and broadcast other programs all day long.

In late 2010, CCIM adopted a strategy to diversify its media outlet through multiple approaches. Subsequently, in early 2011, VOD began producing and airing its programs not only through radio but also via the internet (on www.vodhotnews.com) and in newspapers.

To meet the goal of providing fresh, up to date news, VOD recently started training citizen journalists and recruiting freelance journalists. By the end of next year (2014), VOD plans to have reporters based in 12 different provinces or cities.

HOW HAS VOD DEVELOPED?

VOD has been driven under the leadership philosophy – No Risk No Change!

This 10-year period has provided many challenges and many ups and downs for VOD. We have learned from many different experiences. The most important thing we have learned is that “the more challenges we face, the more progress we make.” The only way to overcome these obstacles is to take action based on our leadership philosophy, and I’d like to highlight two particular incidences from 2003 and 2009 as excellent examples of this. When VOD was first established, no existing radio station, other than Beehive radio (FM105) owned by Mr. Mam Sonando, dared to sell airtime to VOD due to the tense political environment, and Beehive radio then ran at a capacity of just 1kw so could only reach people based in Phnom Penh. Despite this, VOD continued to produce and air sensitive programs every day and the situation slowly began normalize with peoples fear slowly beginning to fade. In 2004, other radio stations started to sell us airtime.

In late 2009, another remarkable situation arose when IRI ran out of funds to support us. We received this news just a month before the end of the fiscal year, however we decided to continue operating VOD even though we didn’t know where we would receive future support and funding from. Despite this, we began to focus our thoughts on how VOD might survive in the long term. Our team started to put together a rescue plan, initially by applying for three-month bridge funding grants from the Open Institute Foundation (OSF) and East West Management Institute (EWMI), and then by devising and establishing a successful self-income generation plan. This is how we overcame two of our greatest challenges to date. Let me now provide a few statistics to highlight VOD’s remarkable development from 2003 to the present day. We have grown from:

Producing 20 minute broadcasts per day to 16hours and 30minutes of broadcasts per day;
From employing 6 to 50 staff
From 2 journalists to 28 journalists
From 100% analogue to 100% digital
From buying airtime to selling airtime
From 0% self-dependence to 46% self-dependence
From radio production to radio & online production
From professionalism learning to professionalism sharing

ACHIEVEMENTS

During this period, a number remarkable achievements were accomplished by the VOD team, by the people of Cambodia and by the country as a whole:

Cambodia now has national radio coverage with over 2.3 million listeners (ART survey, 2012)
A local, independent and professional media
A media industry providing independent and trusted news
A media industry providing non-restricted and pluralist information
A media strongly committed to protecting human rights

This was achieved through decisive actions taken by VOD throughout our 10-year history. From early 2004 up to the end of 2008, VOD made daily broadcasts charting the number of days that Mr. Born Samnang and Sok Sam Oeun had served in prison for the alleged killing of Chea Vichea- the former President of the Free Trade Union of Workers of Kingdom of Cambodia (FTU). Local human rights NGOs believed that the two men had been wrongly convicted. No media organisation other than VOD dared to air the suggestion that they might be innocent. In February 2006 and during February and March 2007, VOD provided hourly updates on the development of the 40km Rights March from Phnom Penh to Udong and on the 300km Rights March from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap. Those participating were mostly human rights activists, led by CCHR, marching to advocate for free speech in Cambodia and for the removal of the charge of defamation from the Cambodian Penal Code which carried the penalty of prison. These were very sensitive events that no other local media organisation dared to cover. I am very proud of the coverage VOD was able to provide.

FACTORS FOR SUCCESS

External support from donors, NGO colleagues, and other partners has been extremely important in sustaining VOD and allowing it to grow. However, it is the internal support provided by VOD staff that is most important in keeping VOD alive and ensuring our continued development. We are very proud of our staff’s continued participation and strong commitment, best evidenced by the following facts and practices:

A number of existing staff started working with VOD when it was first established in 2003 and have remained with VOD through many difficult and demanding times. So please allow me to call upon those staff who have been with VOD for the full 10 years: Mr. Meas Kheang, Mr. Em Sakheun, Mr. Nuon Borin, Ms Suor Mory, and Ms Long Vanna;
I am proud to say that most VOD staff show a strong commitment to the cause whilst taking on significant responsibilities;
VOD staff often make considerable and personal contributions to our work by using their own computers and equipment and by working during their private time;
Our regular team meetings provide one of the many avenues in which VOD staff can actively exercise their right to free speech. Our tolerant culture allows staff the freedom to challenge each other in a professional way; something regularly practiced by VOD staff at all levels.

Last but not least, let me end by briefly providing you with information on some of our current activities and our vision for the future.

OUR PRESENT ACTIVITES INCLUDE

Strengthening independent media and professionalism by cooperating with partners;
Creating more professional and citizen journalists;
Continuing reporting on human rights via radio and online; and
Building a nationwide radio network which will be known as “MePro”

OUR VISION FOR FUTURE INCLUDES: