In many countries around the world, reporters become “backpack journalists” who go out to the fields to do multi functions in terms of mass media. In the field, a journalist can act as a reporter, videographer, and a photographer at the same time. S/he can gather news stories with photos and video images and sound clips. S/he can edit the products s/he gets from the fields and send to the desk through satellite phone and email. Such backpack journalist is really flexible and familiar with the evolution of modern technology. S/he often goes out the field to fish news for printing and broadcasting and posting on website. Her/his news desk can get reporter-driven story – a story generated by reporter without any instruction from their assignment editors.
What about Cambodian Journalists?
It is hard to say but generally speaking most of the Cambodian reporters are not backpack journalists. Of course some of them can file stories with their own photos and video images taken from the fields but their products are not good enough. They do not know what are the best news images or quality for their stories. On the other hand, most of the local media organisations get only editor-/producer-driven stories. Journalists rarely go to the fields to take news until they get assignments from their assignment editors and TV/radio producers. Cambodian journalists rarely do investigative stories while the country’s judicial system is still weak. Journalists can be threatened and sued and always lose their cases at the court when they face with high ranking officials and the rich. Additionally, most of Cambodian media seem to support the strong ruling party and its government in both direct and indirect ways. Therefore, Cambodian media organizations accept to get editor-/producer-driven stories rather than reporter-driven news.
No comments:
Post a Comment