The Phnom Penh Post is a daily English-language newspaper published in the capital city of Cambodia, Phnom Penh. The publication was established in 1992 and initially released twice a month in full color as a tabloid. Subsequently, the publication underwent a redesign, and as of 2008, it was issued on a daily basis. Following its sale in 2018 to a businessman with close ties to the government, the newspaper has become increasingly politicized. In March 2024, the newspaper ceased production of its print editions and transitioned its operations exclusively to an online format.
Media assets
Publishing: Phnom Penh Post
State Media Matrix Typology: Captured Private (CaPr)
Ownership and governance
In May 2018, the Phnom Penh Post was sold to Malaysian investor Sivakumar S. Ganapathy, who is known to be a staunch supporter of the former Prime Minister Hun Sen, father of the current prime minister in Cambodia.
Source of funding and budget
The owners of the newspaper have stated that the publication is funded exclusively through commercial sources, primarily advertising revenue. The publisher has not made any financial reports available that would provide insight into its funding sources.
Editorial independence
Following the sale of The Phnom Penh Post to a government-supportive investor two years ago, the company has lost its previously independent status. The paper’s chief editor, Kay Kimsong, was dismissed for publishing an article about the new owner.
The article has since been removed from the paper’s website. The article detailed the activities of Ganapathy’s public relations firm, ASIA PR, which represents the Cambodian government. The newspaper’s editorial management was assumed by Ly Tayseng, who has been affiliated with the ruling Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) for an extended period. At the same time, dozens of journalists resigned or were terminated from their positions.
There is no evidence that the Phnom Penh Post has any statutes in place, nor is there an independent assessment mechanism in place to validate the editorial independence of the publication.
August 2024