Reporters Without Borders (RSF) ranked Cambodia 161 out of 180 countries in the 2025 World Press Freedom Index, which is a further drop from 151 in 2024, reflecting a deteriorating media landscape, according to its report released a day before World Press Freedom Day.

However, the Ministry of Information rejected the assessment, saying that it does not reflect the situation on the ground, which it described as “very good”.

The decline in the industry is characterized by the tragic death of a journalist who was covering a forest issue in Siem Reap, and the arrest of award-winning journalist Mech Dara for a social media post, but was granted bail last October.

The closure of Voice of Democracy (VOD), one of the last few remaining independent media in Cambodia, in 2023, also impacted the country’s media landscape.

Responding to RSF’s findings, Information Ministry spokesperson Tep Ansarith said the collective input by media associations, which “saw the production of a report with a political agenda”, does not reflect the reality on the ground in Cambodia.

Meanwhile, dozens of media associations and NGOs in Cambodia celebrated World Press Freedom Day, themed Protecting Cambodia’s Independent Media, on May 2 in Phnom Penh, a day before the global event on May 3.

In conjunction with the celebration, 17 local and regional press groups, media rights advocates, and international civil organizations released a joint statement, expressing their “deep concern” about rising restrictions and threats to independent media.

They cited a myriad of challenges faced by journalists and independent media outlets, such as legal harassment, intimidation, arrest, revocation of media license, and censorship, brought by the government and “powerful actors”.

“We call on Cambodians to join us in demanding an end to these restrictions,” the joint statement read, urging the government to ensure a free and safe environment — both online and offline — for journalists and media outlets to carry out their work without restriction or fear.

The United Nations and Cambodian Center for Human Rights (CCHR) also published an annual report stating that press freedom and freedom of expression remain “under attack” in Cambodia.

During the press freedom day event, French Ambassador to Cambodia Jacques Pellet said France considers freedom of expression and freedom of the press a priority in its policy, and that the Cambodian “context requires renewed caution”. 

He cited Cambodian Journalists Alliance Association (CamboJA)’s report in 2024 which recorded over 40 cases of harassment, detention and other legal matters.

The report mentioned that legal harassment was the most common, with five journalists placed under pretrial detention, and one murdered while covering a forest crime. This marks a 28% increase in total reported cases compared to 2023.

Early 2025, three journalists were detained on charges of incitement, while a British environmental investigative journalist was banned from reentering Cambodia, it said.

CamboJA board of directors‘ member Prak Chan Thul, said the path to free press in Cambodia is, “without a doubt, hard and difficult to navigate”.

“We, who strive to bring unbiased information to the public, often find ourselves navigating a complex web of pressure,” he said, adding that financial sustainability remains a significant hurdle, as it “threatens the very existence of independent voices striving to hold power accountable”.

Hang Samphors, team leader of the Cambodian Female Journalist Network (CFJ), said restrictions on independent media makes it difficult for women journalists, who risk “losing” their jobs, particularly due to lack of funding to support their work.

Meas Da, a  former VOA Khmer reporter stringer, said she is facing challenges after VOA suspended its operation in Cambodia. “I think it is too early to close the VOA operation, plus it is difficult to find a job,” she said. However, she is determined to continue her career in journalism.

Seng Sovanthana, executive director of CCHR, observed that press freedom and freedom of expression have declined in the last 10 years, stressing that independent media plays a vital role in building democratic processes and ensuring accountability.

“When we lose independent media, we lose diverse news coverage which reflects the real situation. Due to that, public needs are overlooked, and policymaking becomes less comprehensive,” he said.

On April 30, the Ministry of Information released a state of press freedom report, which described Cambodia’s situation as “very good” in 2025, based on a survey with 467 journalists. The data showed that 81.4% rated press freedom positively, while more than 86% of the respondents said they had “full freedom” and “felt safe” carrying out their work.

During a press conference, Information Minister Neth Pheaktra said the “real” state of press freedom in Cambodia was assessed by Cambodians themselves and “not by foreigners, who claimed to speak on their behalf”.

“I’m aware that some foreign organizations may soon release their evaluations and assign a ranking to Cambodia. That is their right but the space for press freedom in Cambodia is clearly understood by Cambodian people and journalists.

“The truth in Cambodia is not the truth of those who sit outside the country and make predictions or estimations, or just listen to reports of some people who need to make reports to receive funds.

“What is evaluated by some groups according to their own bias or personal opinion is their own business,” Pheaktra said.

Separately, CamboJA executive director Nop Vy lamented that press freedom in Cambodia has severely declined, pointing to the death of the Siem Reap journalist, and Mech Dara’s arrest.

“Do we have diversity in our media sector where different perspectives are published, including those by the opposition party and the government?” he asked, adding that Cambodians could no longer access Radio Free Asia and Cambodia Daily, as well as Kamnotra, a database managed by the Cambodian Center for Independent Media, as they have been blocked.

He said press restrictions increased following political incidents which occurred during the previous elections, and the use of Articles 494 and 495 of the Criminal Code to charge journalists for incitement.

“Our civic rights and political rights have declined,” Vy remarked, sharing that the termination of USAID to the US Agency for Global Media affected the broadcast of VOA and RFA. “Independent media does not serve individual interest.”