Cambodia’s New Ethics Committee Troubles Media

PHNOM PENH, CAMBODIA - In a move that local journalists and rights analysts believe could further curtail press freedom, Cambodia’s government has formed a new journalism ethics committee to monitor the media.

Details of the 15-member Monitoring Committee for Journalism Ethics were announced in an Information Ministry directive this month. The body will be made up of 10 government officials, the president of a press union who is also a government official, and four media representatives. “The committee is tasked to monitor and evaluate ethical conduct among journalists and media outlets and to allow the ministry to appraise or punish the media outlets or reporters,” the directive says. “The committee will also examine all complaints by the public against journalists and media outlets.”