Phnom Penh, June 27, 2014: the second Lunch Media Meeting co-organized by The NGO Forum on Cambodia (The NGO Forum) and Cooperation Committee for Cambodia (CCC) was once again organized with the participation of various local, national and international media representatives at the Hotel Sofitel Pokeetra Phnom Penh.
The smooth corporation between media and the CSOs in the development work is considered as a powerful weapon with the burly potential to create the change in one society. Otherwise, the miscommunication between each party can be a barrier and slowing down the operational progress amid both sides. Hence, the major objective of this occasion was aimed to improve the working relationship from both sides and visibility including roles and key achievements of CSOs in Cambodia.
“This is a very important occasion that the CSOs and media are able to meet and update about our working progress, sharing one another the experience, expectation and challenges we have amongst each other. We are also very appreciate the media for giving us time to meet and learn from one another. I truly appreciate this chance and we are going to keep posted and communicate to fulfill the media needs that can produce fruitful results in our development work,” Mr. Tek Vannara stated his thought during the meeting.
After few hours of a productive discussion, CSOs and the media team were able to point out some challenges and solutions as below:
Challenges
- Late submission of press release to media.
- Submission of press release in English and not available in Khmer
- Insecurity of media agents during the media trip to some dispute areas.
- Inappropriate/overlap time of making events/workshop (i.e. at the same time other main/hot event happening)
- Over 1,315 active NGOs, but less hot issues for media.
- Unclear topic on press release which makes less value for media due to the capacity of communications staff.
- Do not provide enough information for the events. For example, the name of the speakers in the press conference, the supporting document to the discussion topic or field visit
- There are late corrections, once the media is making mistake with their publication
- The submission of press release must be made in one or two days before the event and the time of submission
- Do not send the information too late during the day. Best time is in the morning
- Press release should be made in Khmer and English.
- Media trip should be well-organized with good collaboration with local authority. Media agents must take their ID for their own security.
- Communications staff of NGOs should be smart in advising their team to organize events at the right time to attract more media.
- Umbrella NGOs should be able to help its members to invite media if they have any good/hot issue for media.
- Some training courses facilitated by experience journalists/editors for communications staff or relevant staff of NGOs could be organized by umbrella NGOs with available budget.
- News correction from NGOs should be done as soon as they can if there is any mistake on the media.
- To assure the security and flexibility of the media team during the sensitive trip, the media institution should send the professional member who has experience in investigation and flexible enough to attend the trip.
Solutions
The media representatives involved in the lunch meeting are Women Media’s Center of Cambodia (WMC), Hang Meas HDTV, Voice of Democracy (VOD), Cambodia Daily, Phnom Penh Post, Thmey Thmey website, Radio France International (RFI), Radio Free Asia (RFA), ABC Australian Radio, Voice of America (VOA) and SEA TV.
