PHNOM PENH, 10 July 2024 — International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Director for Asia-Pacific, Atsuko Okuda, expressed strong support for the Cambodian Ministry of Information’s efforts to improve the quality of information and broadcasting. The support was expressed during a recent visit organized by the Asia-Pacific Institute for Media Development (AIBD) to explore collaborative efforts to transition the country’s media from analogue to digital formats.
Minister Okuda, during his meeting with Minister Neto Piaktra at the Ministry of Information on July 9, 2024, stressed the importance of joint training programs to improve the skills and professional ethics of those involved in information dissemination. Such efforts are crucial in the fight against the spread of disinformation.
Minister Piaktra discussed the dynamic progress of media development in Cambodia, especially with the proliferation of real and fake news on social media platforms. He noted that some media operators are resorting to deceptive practices and misleading the public in order to gain likes, money and other benefits.
During his seventh term, the ministry has prioritized training media professionals to ensure that information dissemination is not only useful to the public but also safe. “Our focus is to protect the right to quality information and ensure that that information is safe and truthful,” Piaktola said.
In addition, the Ministry of Information is drafting a charter for the journalism profession. The document will serve as a legal framework for journalists and media professionals in Cambodia and aims to promote values and integrity in the journalism profession.
Okuda added that ITU and AIBD are committed to supporting Cambodia’s media training efforts. In a significant move to promote regional media cooperation, the AIBD representative called on the Cambodian Ministry of Information to host the Asia Media Summit in 2025.
The partnership highlights an important step towards improving the standards and capacity of Cambodian media professionals in line with global best practices on information security and media integrity.
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