Speech

Remarks by Ambassador Joseph A. Mussomeli
Awards Ceremony for CCJ Investigative Reporting Competition

Cambodiana Hotel, Phnom Penh
June 28, 2008

Good evening ladies and gentlemen:

The American journalist and critic Mark Glaser said, "Investigative reporting is to journalism what theoretical research is to science, having the potential to present new realities and shatter old paradigms -- how people see and understand the world around them -- which, in turn, can transform politics.  That is why investigative journalism is so important to the health of a democracy."  I would only add to his observation that the true nexus between investigative journalism and theoretical scientific research is courage.  It isn’t easy to stand up like Darwin and offer a theory on evolution that dismisses thousands of years of conventional wisdom.  It isn’t easy to be Einstein and stand up and offer a new theory about gravity that overthrows hundreds of years of scientific “truths.” And it certainly is not easy for a journalist to stand up against the authority of a government and the power of the wealthy to tell the people the truths others would seek to keep hidden.  And because investigative journalism is so important, we are here tonight to honor 10 Cambodian journalists for their outstanding accomplishments in this field.

Holding government and politicians to account is one of the important roles the press plays in a vibrant democracy.  Democratic societies are not infallible, but they are supposed to be accountable, and it is often investigative reporters who are the first to uncover corruption and to highlight missteps by governments.  I commend the journalists in this room for your commitment to the free exchange of ideas and for the important role you are playing in ensuring the health of Cambodia's democracy. 

I also salute those in the press who courageously do their work at great risk.  The press is often a target of retaliation by those who feel threatened by freedom of expression and transparency in democratic processes.  Investigative reporting often places journalists in danger, and it is the duty of governments and citizens worldwide to speak out for their protection and for their vital role in open societies.

This is not to say that there shouldn't be a certain level of tension between government officials and journalists -- because there should be -- but both sides, while not necessarily adversarial, have a role to play in defending freedom.  Good governance and integrity of public officials is absolutely critical to democratic government.  But journalists have a responsibility too: to be fair and balanced; to not engage in corruption by accepting bribes or engaging in self-censorship; and of course to always consider accuracy the touchstone of their profession.

During my three years in Cambodia, I have been pleased to see positive developments in press freedom in this country.  The decriminalization of defamation was an important improvement, and there have been markedly fewer cases of arrests and intimidation of journalists or reports of violence against them -- all of which led to Cambodia being ranked as "Partly Free" by Freedom House in 2007, one of only four ASEAN nations to receive this designation and a notable achievement for the country. 

But of course, as we have seen in recent weeks, it is easy to slip back into old ways.  The country needs to end the practice of criminal disinformation lawsuits by high government officials.  After all, government officials are servants of the people, and as such they should never sue their masters.  Such lawsuits restrict free speech, inhibit the watchdog role of the media, and contribute to the cover-up of misdeeds and corruption.  And for one reason or another, some Cambodian journalists still practice self-censorship, a tendency they need to overcome in order to root out corruption and to strengthen investigative reporting -- though not forgetting the necessary demarcation between opinions and straight news.

Before I conclude, I would like to commend the Club of Cambodian Journalists for organizing this competition, which honors the rigor and importance of investigative journalism. 

I would also like to commend all the journalists who participated in the competition.  As most of you know, Jerry Kammer was one of the final co-judges for this competition, and he told me that he was very impressed by the quality of the work that was submitted.  As Jerry won a Pulitzer prize -- America's highest journalistic award -- for investigative reporting that led to the arrest and conviction of a U.S. Congressman for corruption, his words are high praise. 

By bringing the issues you have written about to the attention of the Cambodian public, you are helping Cambodia to achieve the promise of democracy.  Remember that you are the custodians of conscience for your country.  As Thomas Jefferson said, "Were it left to me to decide whether we should have a government without newspapers, or newspapers without a government, I should not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter."

Thank you.