The move of Cambodia’s former prime minister, Hun Sen, to shut an independent media, Voice of Democracy (VOD), ahead of the 2023 general elections reflects the 2017 media crackdown playbook. Along with the intimidation and harassment against independent journalists, it erodes Cambodia’s press freedom and democracy.
Tag: Media Freedom Voices
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Journalism in Vietnam: Walking the Tightrope Between Communism and Capitalism
Media and journalism in Vietnam are facing a challenge when it comes to publishing stories about the government. On the one hand, the single-party government has absolute power to control the news outlets’ publications. On the other hand, the media still has to struggle to find a way to make money and survive.
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The Red Zone: Threats and Murders of Journalists in North Sumatra
North Sumatra sees the highest number of cases of violence, including murders of journalists in Indonesia. Most media companies are reluctant to provide appropriate aid, while the police remain the largest group of perpetrators of violence against journalists.
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Queerphobia in the Newsroom: Beyond the News on LGBTQIA+
Indonesian national media outlets often opt not to publish news on LGBTQIA+ issues. When they do, they tend to perpetuate the stigma on the queer community. This condition is worsened by a number of policies that explicitly forbid publishing news on LGBTQIA+ issues as well as queerphobia among the newsroom staff.