Cambodia Strengthens Provincial Information Websites as Official News Channels

The Ministry of Information of Cambodia has urged the websites of information offices in all 25 provinces and cities to strengthen their roles as key official and primary information dissemination channels. This initiative aims to enhance the efficiency of public opinion management and ensure the provision of accurate information to the public. First Deputy Secretary of State and Spokesperson for the Ministry of Information, Tep Asnarith, emphasized this directive during a meeting on "Management of Provincial and Municipal Information Office Websites" held on July 29. The meeting was attended by technical officials from the Ministry of Post and Telecommunications, as well as leaders and relevant officials from the 25 provincial and municipal information offices. Mr. Asnarith instructed the officials of the provincial and municipal information offices to formally announce to the provincial/municipal leaders and journalists the operational status of their respective websites, which have been active for two months. This is to ensure they have a clear and official source of information regarding the activities of provincial leaders, local achievements, responses to public needs, and the resolution of various issues for citizens within their respective communities. In the last two weeks alone, these websites have published over 7,000 articles, encompassing content and perspectives related to the aforementioned areas. The spokesperson clarified that the information office websites serve as official repositories for data, articles, images, or videos that have been published, offering efficient storage and retrieval without the risks of loss associated with other social media platforms. He further added that to garner greater support from all sectors, information officials must develop weekly plans and hold meetings to identify topics relevant to the needs and concerns of the public. This proactive approach to content creation and dissemination aims to prevent certain issues from escalating into negative phenomena within local communities, thereby improving information management and public opinion control, and contributing to the maintenance of national peace and social stability. Simultaneously, information offices are encouraged to produce more original content, focusing on quality. This includes interviewing provincial experts on priority sectors such as agriculture, agricultural product prices, health, tourism, employment opportunities for workers, and land issues. Additionally, regular dissemination of accurate information regarding the efforts of the government and provincial administrations in local development, as well as public security and order, should be increased. All content produced will be published on the official websites of the information offices and shared across social media platforms like Facebook, Telegram, and TikTok. Furthermore, dissemination through traditional media such as the information offices' radio and television stations will be strengthened to boost the effectiveness and reach of information management and dissemination. During the meeting, technical experts presented the progress of the information office websites' adjustments to the attendees, who were encouraged to implement these improvements for success. The meeting also featured active discussions and Q&A sessions aimed at further enhancing the quality of information dissemination through these websites, transforming them into official information gateways for each province and city. It is noteworthy that on June 22, 2026, H.E. Net Phakthra, Minister of Information, decided to establish the "Working Group for the Management of Provincial and Municipal Information Office Websites," chaired by H.E. Tep Asnarith, the Undersecretary of State and Spokesperson for the Ministry of Information. The establishment of this working group is intended to elevate the quality and standards of information dissemination via digital platforms, making them official information channels that reflect the achievements and development activities at the local level, as well as contributing to the dissemination of national information. This working group is tasked with developing plans and directions for the orderly and coherent development of all provincial and municipal information office websites, in accordance with the established regulations and standards for information management.