AKP Phnom Penh, May 03, 2025 -- Approximately 5,000 media leaders, spokespersons, information officers, and journalists from across Cambodia gathered this afternoon to commemorate the World Press Freedom Day 2025 under the presidency of Prime Minister Samdech Moha Borvor Thipadei Hun Manet.

Speaking at the 7th Annual Gathering with Journalists in Cambodia, held at the Chroy Changvar International Convention and Exhibition Centre (CCIC) in Phnom Penh, Samdech Thipadei highlighted the ongoing progress of press freedom in Cambodia. He noted improvements in ethical standards, quality journalism, and information security within the media sector.

The Prime Minister emphasised the critical role of the media in national development and democratic governance. He reaffirmed the government's commitment to safeguarding press freedom, ensuring the safety of journalists, and promoting dialogue across various platforms.

Samdech Thipadei Hun Manet also urged all media professionals and content creators to uphold journalistic professionalism and adhere to the code of conduct—especially in today’s digital era, which brings both opportunities and challenges to the media landscape.

H.E. Neth Pheaktra, Minister of Information, noted that according to a recent study based on the ministry’s scientific methodology and survey responses, 81.4 percent of participants rated the state of press freedom in Cambodia as "very good." Respondents cited good order in the media sector, enhanced respect for professional ethics, and improved information quality and safety.

Speaking to AKP yesterday, H.E. Tep Asnarith, Undersecretary of State and Spokesperson for the Ministry of Information said that media freedom and journalist safety in Cambodia have improved by 6.2 percent compared to the ministry’s 2024 findings, which reported a score of 79.8 percent.

The findings were based on a nationwide survey involving 500 questionnaires completed by 467 journalists and media stakeholders across all 25 provinces and the capital. The survey also found that more than 86 percent of respondents said they enjoyed full freedom and safety in carrying out their journalistic duties, including ease of access to information sources for reporting.

As of the first quarter of 2025, Cambodia has registered 1,620 media agencies. Of these, 745 are traditional media outlets—including television and radio channels, newspapers, magazines, and printing houses—while 875 are new media platforms.

By Heng Panha