A Change of Guard

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Sunday 5 May 2013

Media Freedom is Vital to a Strong Democracy [U.S ambassador concerned about press freedom in Cambodia]

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William E. Todd, U.S. Ambassador to the Kingdom of Cambodia 
I have been honored to have some of Cambodia’s finest journalists accompany me on many of my travels around Cambodia.  Reporters work long hours, usually for very little pay and sometimes at great personal risk, to ensure that their readers have a true and accurate picture of events and developments in their society.  Each year on May 3 we celebrate World Press Freedom Day to mark the critical contributions that journalists make to the free exchange of information and ideas.  In honor of this important day, I’d like to share with you my response to a reporter who recently asked me about my thoughts on media freedom in Cambodia.

President Obama has said that a free press holds the promise to foster innovative, successful, and stable democracies, and he called “upon all governments to seize that promise by recognizing the vital role of a free press and taking the necessary steps to create societies in which independent journalists can operate freely and without fear.”  The importance of media freedom in Cambodia, or any other country for that matter, cannot be overstated.  The unharnessed flow of information is vital to the functioning of a free, healthy, vibrant, and prosperous society.  It’s what allows civil society to be effective and is crucial for businesses to help the economy grow.  A free media serves as a check and balance to the government – which is indispensible to a true democracy.

Because of the sacrifices journalists often must make in pay and personal safety, the profession is truly an avocation – a calling – for those who want to make a difference in the world.  Unfortunately, many governments attempt to censor the media, directly or indirectly.  In too many places, investigative journalists are being silenced, many for exposing corruption within governments.  Journalists are routinely threatened and attacked, and sometimes even murdered, just for trying to report the news.  When faced with these threats, other journalists self-censor.  They stop reporting stories.  They tone down stories.  They omit details.  Sources stop helping them.  Their editors hesitate to print stories.  Fear replaces truth.  When the free flow of news and information is cut off, however, it is the greater society that suffers.  When a free media is in jeopardy, all other human rights are threatened.

Since Cambodians are preparing to go to the polls in July, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the benefits of media freedom to a fair and credible election.  As the media plays a critical role in providing information to the public, citizens depend upon news outlets in order to make an informed choice on election day.  The unfettered ability of media to cover the electoral process is a key element of democracy.  It should be a great concern to anyone who values a free media when governments ban coverage of sensitive topics or stop the broadcast of certain shows because they disagree with the message.  A commitment to a strong and enduring democracy embraces free media, which in turn strengthens and builds confidence in the government.

Being democratically elected, the Royal Government of Cambodia is accountable to the people, and the key to this accountability is the free exchange of information and ideas.  Around the world, the media fosters active debate, exposes wrong doing, and provides a forum for people to express different points of view.  A diverse and independent media offers Cambodians the best assurance that what they read in the newspapers, hear on the radio, and view on television is accurate and unbiased.  In the “marketplace of ideas,” citizens need balanced information about issues in order to form independent views.  Similar to a Ph.D. candidate having to defend his dissertation before a review panel of experts, free and open media coverage holds candidates’ and parties’ ideas up for debate to allow voters to assess the choices and choose what they believe is best for their families, communities, and country.

Of course, the Cambodian media is still evolving and faces many challenges.  The U.S. government fully supports efforts to ensure that information reaches the Cambodian people.  We recognize the contributions that journalists make to the struggle for human dignity, liberty, and prosperity around the world, and we echo those values in our support of media freedom in Cambodia.

I look forward to working with the Royal Government of Cambodia, civil society, and media organizations to promote and strengthen a free and vigorous media that reports the truth.  On this foundation, a prosperous and stable democracy can be built through free and fair elections that reflect the will of the people.  The future is in the hands of the Cambodian people.

Thank you very much for reading this week’s column.  I encourage you to keep sending me questions in English or Khmer to AskAmbToddPP@state.gov and leave comments on my blog at http://blogs.usembassy.gov/todd.

William E. Todd is U.S. Ambassador to the Kingdom of Cambodia

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