World Press Freedom Day has been designated in 1993 by the UN’s General Assembly to commemorate and to show gratitude for journalists who have worked to serve the benefits of the global community.
In the workshop, panelists touched upon how technology expands the definition on who shall be considered as “journalist”.
With dissemination of technology and widespread use of social media where users can express their opinions, share photos and news, the definition of “journalist” is considered not to cover only professional journalists who have been trained but the meaning can also be expanded to cover Facebook users, bloggers and other social media users who are currently seen expressing their points of views through the sharing of comments, news and photos.
Facebook users and bloggers are able to express their thoughts and other subjects freely without restrictions.
However, for the professional journalists, they are governed by the 1995 press law and code of conducts. They are told to be responsible for what they write.
The law also raise the issue of punishment for journalists who broadcasts false news as well as news that insults others and affects national security.
Are Facebook users ready to accept their responsibilities as journalists? Do they know what should be posted or not posted in their Facebook pages?
If we take a look at current Facebook users in Cambodia, most of them violate journalism ethics which is an issue of grave concern.
Facebook users post photos and share information freely without worrying whether what they posted or shared are true or false and if it affects the honor and dignity of others.
However, they should not be blamed, for they have never been trained in journalism.
This is a time requiring all Facebook users to be more aware of their expressions.
What we need to focus on is freedom of expression which shall also goes along well with responsibilities.
While responsibility is needed to ensure that the Facebook users will not cause any grave problem to the society, the government shall not turn “Responsibility” to an excuse to limit freedom of expression through social media, especially Facebook which is widely used by young Cambodians.
The government shouldn't expect users of social media to act like professional journalists. Instead, they should know and recognize that information shared by citizen journalists are of lower quality than what is covered by professional journalists.
It is perhaps more acceptable if we can only consider Facebook users as only citizen journalists whose freedom shall not be restricted. And free flow of their ideas shall not be interrupted in the name of responsibilities.
At the same time, Facebook users or the citizen journalists shall also know about what shall be posted and what shall not be posted. The freedom of expression shall not be translated into freedom to invade privacy, to insult or defame other people. More importantly, they shall avoid posting something which can provoke racial or religious conflicts which can turn peace into war.
Let the freedom of expression flourish with responsibilities.
