The Cambodia Daily

The Cambodia Daily is an independent Cambodian news organization that began as an English-language daily newspaper in Phnom Penh in 1993 and later developed into a digital publication based in Washington, D.C. It was founded by American journalist and philanthropist Bernard Krisher, who intended the newspaper to serve as an independent record of Cambodian public life while also training a new generation of Cambodian journalists. Its founding motto was “All the news without fear or favor.” The first print issue appeared on August 20, 1993. For most of its print existence, the publication appeared six days a week and reported on Cambodian politics, government, courts, business, society, human rights, land disputes, forced evictions, environmental damage, and illegal logging. It also carried regional and international material obtained from or donated by major news organizations and wire services. A Khmer-language section translated or adapted material from the principal English-language edition, while a weekend magazine and an English-learning insert broadened the newspaper’s readership. The paper became one of Cambodia’s most respected English-language news outlets and was frequently treated as a newspaper of record, particularly for reporting that scrutinized government institutions and politically connected business interests. Its investigative work examined corruption, land grabs, forced displacement, environmental exploitation, and alleged abuses by security forces and other powerful actors. The organization also became known internationally for its reporting on Somaly Mam, a prominent anti-trafficking advocate. Beginning in 2012, its journalists investigated inconsistencies in Mam’s public biography and autobiography; a detailed 2013 Cambodia Daily investigation helped prompt wider international scrutiny and was later followed by a Newsweek exposé. Mam resigned from the foundation bearing her name shortly after the Newsweek report. The Cambodia Daily’s print operation ended abruptly in September 2017. The last issue was published on September 4, with a front-page headline describing Cambodia’s political environment as a “Descent into Outright Dictatorship.” The closure followed a dispute with Cambodia’s tax authorities over a tax assessment reported as approximately US$6.3 million. The government said the assessment represented taxes owed after the organization’s change from nonprofit to for-profit status and rejected claims that the demand was politically motivated. The newspaper’s owners disputed the assessment and argued that it was intended to pressure an independent outlet during a period of deteriorating political freedoms. After the print edition stopped, the organization re-established itself as an online-only service from outside Cambodia. It resumed digital publishing in October 2017 and expanded distribution through its website, social networks, messaging services, video, and podcast platforms. The publication has increasingly emphasized Khmer-language journalism; reference material describes its output as approximately 90 percent Khmer and 10 percent English as of 2023. Its digital model allows it to continue serving readers in Cambodia and abroad despite restrictions on access inside Cambodia. The Cambodian authorities subsequently instructed internet service providers to block The Cambodia Daily’s website and sought restrictions on associated social-media accounts. The organization has continued reporting on corruption, human rights, governance, and political developments. In 2023, chief correspondent Sarada Taing faced threats linked to his reporting, including threats attributed to a pro-government Cambodian figure. The incident underscored the security risks faced by journalists covering sensitive subjects involving Cambodian officials and politically connected actors. The Cambodia Daily’s present identity combines the institutional memory of a long-running newspaper with the reach and flexibility of a digital newsroom. Its core positioning remains independent, public-interest reporting about Cambodia, delivered in Khmer and English to audiences that include residents, expatriates, international institutions, researchers, and the Cambodian diaspora.

The Cambodia Daily was established in Phnom Penh in 1993 by Bernard Krisher, an American journalist and philanthropist. Krisher described the project as having two linked purposes: creating an independent newspaper of record for Cambodia and providing practical training for Cambodian journalists. Barton Biggs and Robin McDowell served as the first editors, and the inaugural issue was published on August 20, 1993. At the time, it was Cambodia’s only English-language daily newspaper. The publication built its reputation through detailed coverage of Cambodia’s post-conflict political and social development. Its newsroom reported on elections, government policy, courts, business, civil society, land concessions, forced evictions, illegal logging, corruption, and human-rights abuses. The print newspaper generally appeared from Monday through Saturday, with local reporting supplemented by international and regional material from wire services and partner publications. The paper also published a Khmer-language section, a weekend magazine, and an English-learning insert. During the 1990s and 2000s, The Cambodia Daily became an important source for diplomats, researchers, aid organizations, businesses, and Cambodian readers seeking independent reporting. The newspaper’s journalists produced both daily news and longer investigations. Among its most consequential projects was its examination of Somaly Mam’s public biography and claims in her autobiography. The paper began raising questions in 2012, published further investigative findings in 2013, and helped bring the matter to the attention of a wider international audience. Later reporting by other outlets led to Mam’s departure from the foundation she had led. The newspaper also received recognition for its journalism. In 2016, its journalists received a Society of Publishers in Asia award for feature writing for an investigation into Cambodia’s commercial dirt trade and its effects on communities. In 2017, Aun Pheap and Zsombor Peter received a SOPA award for investigative reporting for “Still Taking a Cut,” a report concerning alleged military involvement in illegal logging. The print edition ended on September 4, 2017. The immediate cause was a dispute with Cambodia’s tax authorities over a reported US$6.3 million assessment. Authorities maintained that taxes were payable retroactively after the organization changed from nonprofit to for-profit status. The newspaper rejected the assessment and said it was politically motivated. The closure occurred after a period of increasing pressure on independent Cambodian media and political opposition. The final front page prominently covered the arrest of Cambodia National Rescue Party leader Kem Sokha and characterized the broader political trajectory as a descent into dictatorship. The closure prompted support from journalists and civil-society groups, including the social-media campaign commonly identified by the hashtag #SaveTheDaily. Within weeks, the organization began preparing a digital continuation. In October 2017, it relaunched from Washington, D.C., as an online-only news service. The digital publication broadened its distribution through Facebook, YouTube, Telegram, podcast platforms, Instagram, and X, in addition to its own website. Reference material describes the post-relaunch output as predominantly Khmer-language, with a smaller English-language component. The digital service has faced access and security challenges. In early 2018, Cambodian authorities reportedly directed internet service providers to block the website and sought to restrict access to its social-media accounts. The organization nevertheless continued publishing for readers inside and outside Cambodia. By 2023, reference material described the service as reaching nearly two million viewers and listeners across Cambodia, although no independently verified financial or audience audit is specified here. In June 2023, chief correspondent Sarada Taing faced threats connected to his reporting on corruption and human-rights matters. The incident illustrated the continuing risks for journalists and media organizations covering politically sensitive subjects in Cambodia. The Cambodia Daily remains active as a digital, bilingual news organization whose editorial identity is rooted in independent reporting and accountability journalism.

• 2023

  Threats against chief correspondent

  [1]The Cambodia Dailyen.wikipedia.org

  Chief correspondent Sarada Taing faced threats following reporting on corruption and human-rights issues.

• 2018

  Website blocking ordered

  [1]The Cambodia Dailyen.wikipedia.org

  Cambodian telecommunications authorities reportedly ordered internet providers to block the publication’s website and related social accounts.

• 2017

  Investigative-reporting award

  [1]The Cambodia Dailyen.wikipedia.org

  Aun Pheap and Zsombor Peter received a SOPA award for reporting on alleged military involvement in illegal logging.

• 2017

  Final print issue

  [1]The Cambodia Dailyen.wikipedia.org

  The last print issue appeared on September 4 after the organization disputed a major tax assessment from Cambodian authorities.

• 2017

  Digital relaunch from Washington, D.C.

  [1]The Cambodia Dailyen.wikipedia.org

  The Cambodia Daily resumed as an online-only publication in October after moving its headquarters outside Cambodia.

• 2016

  SOPA feature-writing award

  [1]The Cambodia Dailyen.wikipedia.org

  The publication received a Society of Publishers in Asia award for feature reporting on Cambodia’s dirt trade and its effects on local communities.

• 2012

  Somaly Mam investigation begins

  [1]The Cambodia Dailyen.wikipedia.org

  The newsroom began publishing reporting that questioned inconsistencies in Somaly Mam’s public account of her childhood and trafficking experiences.

• 1995

  James Kanter becomes editor in chief

  [1]The Cambodia Dailyen.wikipedia.org

  James Kanter served as editor in chief during the newspaper’s early development.

• 1993

  Founding and first issue

  [1]The Cambodia Dailyen.wikipedia.org

  Bernard Krisher founded The Cambodia Daily in Phnom Penh, and the first issue was published on August 20 as an English-language daily.

Independent, public-interest news media focused on Cambodia, with particular emphasis on investigative reporting, governance, human rights, corruption, land and environmental issues, and political accountability.

• Newspaper · 1993

  Print newspaper

  The original product was a Phnom Penh-based English-language daily newspaper published from 1993 until September 2017. It generally appeared six days per week, carried extensive local reporting, and included international and regional news. A Khmer-language section, a weekend magazine, and an English-learning insert complemented the main edition.

• Online news · 2017

  Digital news service

  Since its October 2017 relaunch, The Cambodia Daily has operated primarily as a digital newsroom based in Washington, D.C. It publishes current-affairs reporting, investigations, analysis, and feature material about Cambodia, distributing content through its website and external digital platforms.

• Digital news · 1993

  Khmer-language coverage

  The post-print service places major emphasis on Khmer-language journalism for readers in Cambodia. Reference material describes the organization’s output as predominantly Khmer-language, supplemented by English reporting and translations.

• Digital media · 2017

  Multimedia distribution

  The digital organization extends its reporting through Facebook, YouTube, Telegram, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Instagram, and X, enabling text, video, audio, and social distribution beyond the main website.

• 2018

  Government-ordered website blocking

  Cambodian telecommunications authorities reportedly directed internet service providers to block The Cambodia Daily’s website and requested restrictions on its Facebook and Twitter accounts.

  Source

• 2017

  Tax dispute and closure of the print newspaper

  Cambodian authorities pursued a reported US$6.3 million tax assessment against the newspaper. The organization disputed the assessment and said it was politically motivated, while the government said the taxes were due after the organization’s change in legal status. The dispute culminated in the end of print publication.

  Source

Read more

• 2017#SaveTheDaily

  Cambodia · International

  Journalists, civil-society groups, and supporters used the #SaveTheDaily social-media campaign to express solidarity with The Cambodia Daily after the print newspaper closed during the tax dispute.

  Outcome. The print edition did not resume, but the organization subsequently relaunched as an online-only publication from Washington, D.C.

  Source

• 2017

  End print publicationStrategy

  Background

  The newspaper faced a disputed tax assessment of approximately US$6.3 million amid growing pressure on independent media in Cambodia.

  Action taken

  The organization stopped publishing its daily print edition, with the final issue appearing on September 4, 2017.

  Aftermath

  The Cambodia Daily preserved its editorial operation by shifting to an online-only model outside Cambodia.

  Disputed tax assessment. US$6.3 million assessed (2017)

  Source

• 2017

  Relaunch as a digital-only news serviceProduct launch

  Background

  The print operation had closed in Cambodia, but the organization sought to continue its journalism for Cambodian and international audiences.

  Action taken

  The Cambodia Daily moved its headquarters to Washington, D.C. and resumed publication online in October 2017.

  Aftermath

  The organization expanded its use of social, video, messaging, and podcast channels while continuing bilingual coverage.

  Source

• 2023

  Chief correspondent Sarada Taing faces threats[1]The Cambodia Dailyen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The organization reported threats against chief correspondent Sarada Taing after coverage of Cambodian corruption and human-rights issues.

• 2017

  The Cambodia Daily relaunches as an online-only publication[1]The Cambodia Dailyen.wikipedia.org

  Product launch

  After closing its Cambodian print operation, the organization resumed publishing digitally from Washington, D.C., using its website and a broader set of online distribution channels.

1. 1The Cambodia Dailyen.wikipedia.org
2. 2The Cambodia Daily official websitecambodiadaily.com