Media:Dunkley'sDaily

[GWR]

Australian Takeover at Phnom Penh Post

The two Australian businessmen who run the weekly Myanmar Times announced Monday that they have taken over The Phnom Penh Post, a Cambodian newspaper, said Agence France-Presse.

According to an AFP news report, Ross Dunkley, chief executive officer of Burma Consolidated Media, which publishes The Myanmar Times, said that he and Bill Clough, an Australian miner and oil and gas entrepreneur, have taken a controlling stake in the paper.

The Myanmar Times online presence:, which publishes every two weeks, was founded by American journalist Michael Hayes 17 years ago.

Hayes will continue as editor-in-chief, while the project will be managed by Michael Dauguet, a French national with extensive experience working in Vietnam in media and software development.

Bill Clough's background tends to suggest that he will view the role of his new newspaper from a heavy business perspective, and Ross Dunkley is known to have a fairly cooperative relationship with the Burmese Junta:

Phnom Penh Post online presence:
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/

Myanmar Times online presence:
http://www.mmtimes.com/
A thread on this paper's controversial past & present. It rarely publishes anything even remotely critical or revealing about the Burmese Junta. Indeed, some sources refer to it as a semi-official organ of the Myanmar state:
http://www.angkor.com/2bangkok/2bangkok/forum/showthread.php?t=2644

[GWR]

Notice to readers from the Publisher & Editor-in-Chief

For a number of years now-too many in fact-I have been looking for investors who could inject some capital in the Phnom Penh Post to help the newspaper become more competitive, expand staffing, upgrade equipment and keep me from having any more sleepless nights worrying about making monthly payroll or finding a computer repairman on a frantic Thursday deadline.

The larger goal has always been to increase the Post's ability to provide news and analysis on events in Cambodia.

In this regard, readers will be interested to learn that I have come to an agreement with a group of investors to do just that.

The three individuals who have agreed to jointly take a majority stake in the Post are: Ross Dunkley, currently chief executive officer of Myanmar Consolidated Media (MCM); Bill Clough, an Australian miner and oil and gas entrepreneur; and, Michel Dauguet, a French businessman with more than a decade's worth of experience involved in media and technology companies in Vietnam and Thailand.

For the immediate future I will remain as editor-in-chief of the Post and have been assured that editorial control of the paper will remain in my hands. In this regard, let me state for the record that I am fully committed to make every effort to retain the standards of journalism excellence that the Post has tried to maintain since its inception back in July, 1992.

For anybody with even the remotest understanding of the near manic process that surrounds the collection of information and subsequent production of a newspaper on a shoe-string budget (which includes managing the attendant cast of unique characters who participate directly in this process), it is all too painfully clear that there are regular hiccups along the road. But the overall intent has been, is and will remain clear: to produce one of the best, most readable and most reliable newspapers in the world. This is the goal and will remain so for as long as I continue to be responsible for the newspaper's content.

When we hit the mark, readers have been generous in their praise; when we miss it, the barbs usually fly rather quickly from numerous quarters. Either way, this is to be encouraged and I hope that those who rely on the Post will continue to share their thoughts with us on the quality of what we publish. Your input is welcomed and most readers know exactly how to find us.

Otherwise, let me extend my sincerest best wishes to all Post readers, advertisers, overseas subscribers, contributors and friends for the coming year. Your on-going support and constructive criticism over the past 16 years has made the continued existence of this paper a reality. And please rest assured that all of us here at the Post are extremely grateful for that.

Michael Hayes
Publisher & Editor-in-Chief
Non-specific link:
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/

[GWR]

Australians invest in media project in Phnom Penh

AUSTRALIAN interests associated with Myanmar Consolidated Media (MCM), publishers of The Myanmar Times, are investing in Cambodia’s oldest English-language publication, The Phnom Penh Post.

Ross Dunkley, chief executive officer of MCM, said the investment was in line with the corporate philosophy of his Australian-led consortium. He emphasised the Cambodia investment is a separate project and had no relation to the consortium’s Myanmar business.

“The Phnom Penh Post is currently a fortnightly newspaper and was founded by an American, Michael Hayes, in 1991. Over 17 years, The Phnom Penh Post has acquired an internationally established reputation for its independence and editorial excellence.

“While The Phnom Penh Post has built a significant standing in the region, and internationally, it is now looking to improve its product for readers and advertisers. These days the domestic economy is growing rapidly and the media market has become more aggressive, with many competitors publishing in Khmer, English, Chinese and French languages.

“An active and liberal civil society has taken root, a vibrant democratic system of government is being practiced and the distress of its past is being addressed. I sense great excitement and optimism about the country’s future,” said Mr Dunkley.

“The investment in The Phnom Penh Post, through a locally incorporated entity, is being made with complete goodwill,” he said.

“We intend to provide The Phnom Penh Post with the resources to take the newspaper onto a weekly cycle, while leveraging from its existing editorial excellence. We believe The Phnom Penh Post is a ‘must have read’ in Cambodia and we intend to back it fully and our aim is to enhance its reputation.

“Michael Hayes has been the editor in chief of the paper for 17 years and he will be continuing in that role. He is fully committed and dedicated to seeing it move into a new phase,” said Mr Dunkley.

Investing in the project with Mr Dunkley is Mr Bill Clough, an Australian miner and oil and gas entrepreneur.

Mr Clough’s Twinza Oil group are exploring the Yetagun East Block off Dawei, on Myanmar’s southern coast. Twinza also recently won the rights to explore for oil and gas in two onshore blocks in northern Thailand.

The Phnom Penh project will be managed by Mr Michel Dauguet, a French national who has more than a decade’s experience in Vietnam working in media and software development.

http://www.mmtimes.com/no400/n008.htm

A possible bolthole if things in Myanmar become too hairy!? ;)

The above said, Myanmar Times is currently having extreme difficulty with a Junta bigwig commonly known as 'Comical Ali':
http://www.angkor.com/2bangkok/2bangkok/forum/showthread.php?t=2644

[GWR]

http://www.phnompenhpost.com/

As of today, the website has a new appearance and more 'free' content and pictures. Doubtless, some effect of the Dunkley takeover.

[GWR]

See also Previous posts in this Thread on the Myanmar Times takeover of the Phnom Penh Post.

Cambodia confiscates 'Burma Daily' publication

Phnom Penh (dpa) - The Cambodian government on Monday confiscated the Cambodia Daily newspaper from newsstands over a supplement called The Burma Daily, the Information Ministry and the newspaper's publisher said.

The official ministry explanation was that the confiscation was ordered because The Burma Daily, which had appeared since last week as a four-page insert with an identical masthead as its sister publication, was not licensed.

But publisher Bernard Krisher argued that the paper did not need a license because it was a supplement and the decision to confiscate the English- and Khmer-language daily, which has a circulation of about 5,000, reflected badly on the government.

He vowed to continue to print The Burma Daily for several more days as planned even if it were confiscated. After its printing is finished, it is to become an online and mail publication for distribution in Burma.

"The Burma Daily has no political agenda," he said by telephone. "It is designed to introduce to the Burmese people what a free and responsible newspaper looks like."

Krisher said he had not spoken to the ministry about the reasons for confiscating the paper, which is viewed by expatriates as a primary source of daily news in English.

"I don't have to explain to anyone," he said. "The New York Times does not explain to President [George W] Bush."

Media analysts speculated that the government might fear that the often anti-government Cambodia Daily might embarrass it by taking a similar approach to the Burmese military junta.

Cambodia and Burma have maintained warm relations despite an international outcry over the junta's appalling human rights record.

The nation's largest journalism association, the Club of Cambodian Journalists, said it was investigating the confiscation of the newspapers.

Information Minister Khieu Kanharith was not available for comment Monday.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/breaking_news/breakingnews.php?id=127726

[GWR]

See also Previous posts in this Thread on the Myanmar Times takeover of the Phnom Penh Post.
http://www.bangkokpost.com/breaking_news/breakingnews.php?id=127726

Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Burma Daily keeps on published in Cambodia, despite police confiscation

PHNOM PENH, May 20, 2008 (Xinhua) - The Burma Daily still managed to be published here Tuesday as "a supplement" to Cambodia's leading English-Khmer language newspaper the Cambodian Daily, after the police confiscated its second issue marketed Monday.

"The Burma Daily is a supplement, also on the web at http://www.burmadaily.org/, sponsored by the Adam Lincoln Steele Foundation," said a notification on the third issue of the paper.

"The (New York-based) Adam Lincoln Steele Foundation is dedicated to developing a free and responsible press in countries that do not enjoy a free press," it added.

"The Burma Daily has no political agenda. It is designed to introduce to the Burmese people what a free and responsible newspaper looks like," another English-Khmer language newspaper the Mekong Times Tuesday quoted Bernard Krisher, publisher of the Burma Daily and the Cambodian Daily, as saying.

Earlier Monday, he vowed to keep on publishing the Burma Daily, as a supplement but not a new newspaper.

The credits on both papers showed that they were published by the same group of staff members.

The first issue of Burma Daily hit the market on Friday, without causing obvious official crackdown. The four-page black- white tabloid was folded inside the Cambodian Daily.

However, when the second issue appeared Monday, it incurred immediate ban. Police tried to confiscate all the copies within its distribution areas.

Government spokesman and Information Minister Khieu Kanharith said that the Burma Daily was published without permission, so its publication and distribution must be terminated.

"Before we confiscate the newspaper, we informed the Cambodian Daily, which (first) published the Burma Daily on Friday. Bernard Krisher looks down on Cambodian law," the Mekong Times Tuesday quoted the minister as saying.

"There is an Australian company which owns the (English-language) Phnom Penh Post, published a newspaper in Myanmar, so he wants to compete with the Phnom Penh Post," he said.

"Perhaps he wants to seek money from U.S.-based organizations which oppose the Myanmar government to guarantee his income," he added.

The Cambodian government used to adhere to the principle of freedom of expression, but publisher has to acquire permission from the Information Ministry, before starting to print any new newspaper.
http://ki-media.blogspot.com/2008/05/burma-daily-keeps-on-published-in.html

[GWR]

Tuesday, May 20, 2008
The Burma Daily: The confiscation continues

20 May 2008
By Leang Delux
Cambodge Soir Hebdo
Translated from French by Luc Sâr

The supplement [to The Cambodia Daily] continues to be pulled by police officers from vending kiosks on Tuesday 20 May. This measure started on Monday 19 May. The authorities blames the 4-page publication – which was launched on Friday 16 May by Bernard Krisher, the founder of The Cambodia Daily – of not having a proper license allowing it to be published in the kingdom. Khieu Kanharith, the minister of Information, confirmed this issue, saying: “We consider The Burma Daily to be a different publication from The Cambodia Daily. It must have an authorization beforehand prior to its publication. On Monday 19 May, instead of a request, we saw the publication of its second edition. It is an illegal edition.” These criticisms were rejected by Bernard Krisher, who was interviewed on Monday evening by the club of Cambodian journalists, saying: “The Burma Daily, financially funded by a US foundation, is not illegal. I hope that the government will respect the freedom of the press.” In an op-ed published on Friday 16 May in The Burma Daily, Bernard Krisher explained that he wanted to give “the Burmese people the possibility to express themselves, but also to be able to obtain free and independent information.” The Burma Daily publishes articles on Burma printed by the International news media.
Unspecified link:
http://ki-media.blogspot.com/

[GWR]

http://www.mmtimes.com/no400/n008.htm
A possible bolthole if things in Myanmar become too hairy!? ;)
The above said, Myanmar Times is currently having extreme difficulty with a Junta bigwig commonly known as 'Comical Ali':
http://www.angkor.com/2bangkok/2bangkok/forum/showthread.php?t=2644

Friday, August 08, 2008
Cambodian newspaper goes daily

Friday, August 08, 2008
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

The Phnom Penh Post, one of Cambodia's leading papers, launched its first daily edition on Friday, stepping up competition in the country's burgeoning media market.

"From today this paper will never be the same again,'' Post Media Ltd, the company behind the paper, said in a message published in the English-language publication.

The paper, founded by American journalist Michael Hayes 17 years ago, had published every two weeks.

The daily launch came after two Australian businessmen with stakes in Rangoon's The Myanmar Times weekly earlier this year took a controlling interest in the paper.

Cambodia now has four English-language papers and a number of glossy news magazines, as well as a large and lively Cambodian-language press.

Posted by Socheata | Permalink |
http://ki-media.blogspot.com/2008/08/cambodian-newspaper-goes-daily.html

Here's the website:
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/