Letter to the Editor of KI-Media

Dear KI-Media,

I’m writing today with the intention to share some of my thoughts and small suggestions I have for KI-Media's management and staff to run your news publication in a more effective, respectful, and successful way. I truly believe that KI-Media is more than capable of knowing and doing what it takes to successfully manage your organization; however, I just want to say that you will be even more professional, proficient and powerful when you can address and improve some small, yet critically important things I will mention below in the way you handle your website and go about your business.

I don’t feel easy to offer my feedbacks since I know my ideas may not always be worth sharing. I do think, however, that my constructive words are better than my meaningless silence. It feels good to be able to do something, always knowing what you do will be useful and beneficial to the world, without necessarily expecting you will be appreciated or admired.

I read your news on KI-Media so much on a daily basis that it’s almost become a main foodstuff I need for my meals that I can’t go a day without. As much as I enjoy consuming the news on your site, I would not want the taste of it to be contaminated with too much of ingredients, additives and/or other toppings that may not be necessary which when randomly and recklessly added or chopped without the right-balanced measure of a rave-reviewed recipe will only ruin the rational content of a rich and healthy meal instead. While a variety of spices can help create and contribute to a more colorful, beautiful and vibrant life, they need to be systematically crafted, specifically cut, and skillfully cooked according to the selected recipe in order to make the desired, perfect, healthy food.

Much like food contaminants consumers like me don’t want in our meals, below is something seen by many as news irritants in your postings that you may want to take into serious and proper consideration.

First, any and all issues concerning the conduct, operation, organization and management of KI-Media and its staff shall be governed and dealt with by the organization’s policies and procedures including its internal rules and other by-laws. Readers don’t need or want to see KI-Media’s team members actively and publicly engaged in unprofessional collaborations, arguments or infightings regarding technical or other work-related issues such as what to post and when, or whose postings have more priority, who does what, when, where and how, etc. I’m in no better way or position to tell you what is best you should do with respect to organizational leadership and management of your business, but I really want to see your important job in a more professional light.

Second, no changing, adding or any other modifications shall be done on the original headline and content of the original article that can be viewed as violating the intellectual property and copy rights. Highlighting, coloring, line-crossing or something of the sort may be helpful for readers to quickly scan and easily skim through long written articles for crucial main points; however, it makes your publication look less than formal or professional, especially when you overdo it. I think your myriad readers are educated and capable enough to comprehend English articles and Khmer passages that you have chosen to post. It’s ideal to leave it up to the readers to entertain and enlighten themselves as well as make their own judgment out of or based on what and how they read and understand. It’s by no accident and that’s why you have a “Post a Comment” section you purposely created and specifically designated for those wanting to express their understandings, opposing some ideas and or voicing any concerns. Isn’t it? I’m sure what readers need is a trustworthy and reliable source of news and information that is important, useful, current, up to date, well-researched, reference-checked, and most important of all facts-based.

Third, when reposting news, articles and other materials published by other news media, you shall need to cite proper references of the original pieces and give due courtesies to the original writers and owners. To post any op-ed and letters to the editor written by people unaffiliated with KI-Media, you must make sure proper verification process shall be followed of author’s background, contact information, and particularly authentication of the written piece. For editorials and any other written responses expressing opinions and notices by and belonging to KI-Media’s management and staff, they shall be clearly stated so to publicly and explicitly show your views and your stance on any particular matter.

Fourth, posting of videos, clips, songs, poems, and any other aural and visual materials is a delightful thing to do and can be viewed as crucial foods of thoughts for educational and entertaining purposes, but it needs to be done in a professional manner. The key here is moderation, supervision, content, substance, teaching, and value of the post. It’s very important to note that you are entrusted with a task of national significance and your mission is bigger and greater than yourself and your organization. You are not here to promote yourself but rule of law, human rights, justice and democracy in Cambodia.

Fifth, original source of article including author’s and publisher’s name, date, place of publication and other related information should be posted along with the article for easy verification purposes and future research references. This is very helpful for students and researchers needing to correctly quote and appropriately reference the source of their news, data or information.

Sixth, I find that KI-Media will be much better off grooming and maturing itself into a more reliable source of online publication of sensitive information professionally and academically instead of playing a less-than-formal role as just a simple news sharing website. As you now know you are larger and more important than what you thought you were when you first started your work publishing sensitive information about Cambodia. You have become not only the people's eyes, ears and mouth, but also their mind and their heart. You are the torch of knowledge and the light of justice that has brightened up the dark sky of menacing clouds that have been forging rains, winds and storms that have brought havoc on Cambodian heartland over the past three decades of social injustice, corruptions and national destructions. Cambodian people need you to expose the ills, expel the evils and shine more light on the truth in our society in their quest and fight for a genuine rule of law, respect for human rights, justice and democracy in Cambodia.

Finally, I want to appreciate everything everybody—staff and management at KI-Media, as well as general stakeholders including contributors and beneficiaries of this great website—has done in bringing to readers like me this significantly important source of valuable, sensitive information whereas all of our fellow people inside our country are usually mis-informed, mal-informed, un-informed, less-informed, and/or under-informed through Cambodian local media, mostly controlled by the ruling party, of the actual facts and overall reality of what was happening or is going on in Cambodia.

Warmest regards,

PL

USA