Lie Syna (left), a reporter for the Bayon radio station, during a call-in show. Photo supplied
On the occasion of World Radio Day 2021, Prime Minister Hun Sen said the work being done by reporters in all of Cambodia’s radio stations was a very important contribution to Cambodia’s sustainable national development.
World Radio Day is celebrated annually on February 13. This year marks the 110th anniversary of the invention of the radio and also the 75th anniversary of UN Radio, which was founded in 1946.
This year, the government celebrates World Radio Day under the theme “Innovations in Radio and the Evolution of the World”.
“Radio broadcasters, as well as all media outlets, have joined the fight against fake news created by opportunists who are trying to provoke social unrest and disrupt the peaceful revival of the Cambodian people,” Hun Sen said.
He emphasised that reporters made very important contributions towards the improvement of democracy and ensuring respect for human rights; keeping the peace; maintaining political stability; promoting sustainable national development and safeguarding the peaceful renewal of the nation.
He also noted that reporters were currently helping to provide information to people to help protect them from the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. He requested that all national and international reporters around the world further increase their cooperative efforts in fighting Covid-19 globally.
The prime minister also called on the reporters at radio stations as well as all other national and international journalists to strictly adhere to the code of ethics in the performance of all of their duties.
To do so, he said they must avoid the dissemination of fake news and only use clear and reliably sourced information.
Hun Sen affirmed that radio, a powerful communication tool for more than a century, still stood as a strong competitor to other forms of media even in the context of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, or Industry 4.0, and the advances made in digital media technology.
UNESCO in Cambodia also participated in the celebration of World Radio Day on February 13 with the theme “New World, New Radio”.
Lie Syna, a reporter for the Bayon radio station, told The Post on February 14 that he had worked for the radio station for about eight years and still thought the radio was important to Cambodians because it had a far reach and was relatively easy to access in all parts of the country.
“Listening to the radio is convenient and it saves time. Like when they are working, they can also listen to it. Though technology may be advancing, there is a lot of fake news on social media. But radio remains a good source that they can get verified information from,” Syna said.
He added that though radio is an older technology and a traditional form of media, it should not be abandoned despite there being many other media sources competing with radio for people’s attention.
