Minister of Information Khieu Kanharith urged officials to strengthen the profession of journalism after the ministry found that some journalists had violated professional ethics. The minister made the comments during a weekly meeting with officials on July 19.

Meas Sophorn, the ministry’s undersecretary of state and spokesman, told The Post on July 20 that the ministry has recently reviewed comments from the public about misconduct by journalists, abuse of the profession’s code of ethics and lawbreaking.

He said the ministry had also received information from officials and relevant institutions about professional misconduct and the use of inappropriate words or gestures in the media.

Kanharith advised the ministry’s legislative and training and development committees to provide information and organise workshops to strengthen journalists’ understanding of their profession in accordance with professional ethics and the law.

“In connection with this case, the ministry has also contacted the press unit to check and correct any mistakes,” he said.

Sophorn said the ministry always encouraged journalists to practise their profession ethically as well as respect the law.

Nop Vy, executive director of the Cambodian Journalists Alliance (CamboJA), told The Post on July 20 that helping to strengthen the code of ethics, professionalism and training is the role and responsibility of relevant institutions, associations and the government.

Vy said that to ensure freedoms and improve democratic society, the participation of the media and journalists is warranted.

“To let journalists carry out their work more effectively, it is necessary to be involved in the training and promotion of journalists. I think it should be one of the information ministry’s duties to do this work.

“We should conduct regular training to ensure that journalists, especially new ones, have the knowledge and a broader understanding of ethics in the practice of their profession,” he said.