Nearly 5,000 journalists from across the country will meet Prime Minister Hun Sen in his fourth media correspondents’ meeting in the capital’s Koh Pich on January 14.
“The Council of Ministers informs Minister of Information [Khieu Kanharith] that the government has approved the meeting,” the Council of Ministers said in a letter obtained by The Post on Wednesday.
Ministry of Information spokesman Phos Sovann said media associations and clubs, as well as journalists who wished to attend the meeting must register at the ministry’s General Department of Information and Broadcasting for a venue access card.
The number of expected participants will be similar to last year, Sovann said.
Kanharith “will allow journalist associations and clubs to submit suggestions to the ministry, which will then collect and forward them to” Hun Sen before the meeting
“Journalists can meet and receive advice from [Hun Sen]. It’ll be a direct meeting, like a public forum, with garment workers attending as well,” Sovann said.
Club of Cambodian Journalists president Pen Bona welcomed the meeting, saying it will strengthen the relationship between government officials and journalists. It is also a chance for local journalists to voice their concerns and challenges to government leaders.
“We approve of the meeting because it is very important for both journalists and government leaders. At the meeting, we consistently listen to government leaders’ recommendations to journalists, and their commitment to support and improve Cambodian media,” he said.
The prime minister’s correspondents’ meeting was held for the first time on January 14, 2017, with about 1,400 people attending. The second meeting held on January 21, last year, saw almost 4,000 attendees.
The third meeting on January 11, this year, saw more than 5,000 people attend.
