Lack of female journalists stifles the voice of Cambodian women

A recent study showed Cambodian Center for Independent Media (CCIM) The number of women journalists in Cambodia is still very low, making up only 10-13 percent of registered journalists, depriving half of the population of representing women’s voices and experiences on issues such as domestic violence, labor exploitation, health and motherhood, political participation, and human trafficking.

She said Shan SukantiaExecutive Director of the Center, said that female journalists are subjected to verbal and physical harassment from local authorities and officials, and are often forced to go to remote areas to cover sensitive issues such as land disputes, the environment, and politics, which puts their safety at risk.

She added that women are more vulnerable to psychological pressure and may give up their duties due to risks or lack of family support, calling on the government to enhance the value of female journalists and train authorities on media law, the role of journalists, and how to deal with their requests.

And he said Tib Asnarethspokesman for the Ministry of Information, said that the percentage of women among registered journalists reached 13 percent as of the end of October, stressing that the government is working to increase this number through cooperation with local administrations, and encouraging women to develop their skills and contribute to modern, high-quality media.

But a veteran journalist in Phnom Penh said that the number of female journalists in Cambodia is declining, noting that many of them are leaving the field to work in private businesses or as content creators on the Internet, or due to family restrictions and the risks of the profession, discrimination or lack of support from male colleagues, low salaries, poor working conditions and harassment.

The journalist added that her most prominent experience was covering the factory workers’ protest in 2013, where violence broke out between workers and the police, which sometimes made her feel that female journalists were not respected and were seen as less competent.

The CCIM poll indicated that 67 percent see a lack of women in leadership positions, 27 percent believe women get “softer stories” compared to men, and 23 percent say men have better promotion opportunities, leading to limited representation of women’s voices in the media.

The journalist pointed out that there is progress in gender awareness and respect for women’s abilities, but challenges still exist. She advised young women who want to work in journalism not to give up and feel that they are less competent than men, stressing that skills, passion and perseverance are the key to success.