Unions back newspaper closures

Unions and media associations have expressed their support for the Ministry of Information’s closure of 330 inactive local newspapers. Huy Vannak, president of the Union of Journalist Federations in Cambodia, said he supported the ministry’s efforts to strengthen the media profession in the country.

“Repealing the licences of bloated and inactive media groups is not closure of operating companies nor an action against freedom of expression, but will help improve journalism in the nation,” he said. “We also urge the ministry to continue cleaning up media businesses to ensure that they comply with laws and ethics for journalists.”

Information Minister Khieu Kanharith yesterday deleted 330 newspapers from the government’s registered list because they had either not renewed their licences or failed to publish for several years. “Today we deleted 330 expired newspapers and newspapers with no publications,” Mr Kanharith posted on his Facebook page.

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