Editors in newsrooms across the globe have an old saying that reflects the priority often given to violent news stories: If it bleeds, it leads.

But Cambodia’s Information minister thinks that if it bleeds, it needs to stay off the front page.

That’s the word from Khieu Kanharith, Minister of Information, who recently cautioned publishers to resist the urge to run the kind of photos that cause readers to push away their breakfasts.

In a statement last week, Kanharith said he observed newspapers have paid scant attention to previous recommendations against publishing violent pictures, an action contrary to codes of conduct and press law.

“Moreover, all the pictures affect the feelings of victims’ families,” he said.

Nhem Noy, director of the Department of Information, told the Post that while the ministry hoped a sense of professionalism would dissuade papers from publishing such pictures, there were no penalties attached to the recommendation.

To contact the reporter on this story: Kim Yuthana at [email protected]