T HE KHMER Journalist Association (KJA) has established a new department to try and increase the amount of advertising in local newspapers.

President of KJA Pin Samkhon told the Post: "I organized the advertising section of KJA [in early July] to try to improve peoples' living standards.

"I wanted to increase the revenues of local newspapers some of which I noticed had no advertising."

"I also wanted local companies to improve their sales revenue through advertising."

He said KJA would act as an agent in finding people who wished to advertise in newspapers.

Samkhon said both advertisers and news agencies would sign contracts with KJA who as middlemen would take a 15 percent commission - to encourage KJA staff to look for more business.

The president of KJA said: "This is a proud development for local newspapers who have the opportunity to raise their living standards through earning advertising revenue."

The KJA was founded in December 1993 to represent the working interests of journalists and help them achieve professionalism.

Members of KJA include 32 Khmer newspapers, three English newspapers and one French newspaper.

Samkhon admitted the department had made a slow start in its first month of operation.

But he added: "We are hoping things will pick up when it becomes more well known."