Cambodian Journalists and Use Multimedia Techniques

It is so interesting to read chapter 10 of Convergent Journalism. I really agree with what the authors said “Journalists need to educate themselves to think in terms of multimedia reporting.” (Page 148, par 3). It is a great opportunity to allow journalists to know how to perform multi functions while the global technology is booming so fast. With multi works, journalists can “present a different form of storytelling and a different form of narrative structure” (Page 149, par 2). In order to reach such goal and to successfully perform as convergent newspersons, journalists need to upgrade their knowledge of technology through training at the digital era. With the knowledge, journalists can grab every chance and absorb multi-skills in their profession.

What about Cambodia Journalists?
It’s hard for most of the Cambodian reporters. For the print, some journalists know how to report news and take pictures with digital cameras and video cameras. They know how to send stories and pictures through email but they do not know how to edit/rescue their poor images. They don’t know how to use satellite phone and most of them don’t understand English and don’t know how to use computers. Then, the provincial reporters send their stories and pictures to their main office in the capital by taxis. That’s why every print media has their computer typists to rewrite their reporters’ hand written articles. Most of the print media also have Websites but they do not update news. Why? Because there are few viewers. Six of the seven TV channels have their own radio stations and all of them have websites as well. Though the TV companies are multimedia, their journalists do not have multi-functions. They have reporters of both radio and TV sections. However, they have joint programmes such as live concerts and other talk-show.

There are long way to go for Cambodian journalists to be familiar with using “Multimedia Techniques”. They can do until their media owners offer them a series of training on the latest tool of technology while journalists themselves need to upgrade their knowledge. Sop far, most of the TV and radio journalists still use tapes, not digital.