A veteran Cambodian radio journalist is visiting the United States to share his experiences overcoming adversity to cover news in his country. Sok Ratha will be a panelist at the first regional conference organized by Young American Broadcasters, scheduled for April 29 at Fordham University in New York.
Ratha is known for his coverage of Vietnamese refugees, coverage for which he was harassed and detained by Cambodian authorities. He also was run down by a Land Rover while reporting on illegal logging operations last year.
“I am going to speak to the American journalists about my practical experience as a journalist in the Third World country like Cambodia," Ratha told IJNet, before he boarded a plane to New York. “Courage and faith in the craft are what every journalist needs to do the job."
Ratha is a reporter for U.S.-funded Radio Free Asia (RFA). He was the first reporter to expose the plight of refugees in northern Cambodia, helping to bring international attention to the situation. This led to the eventual involvement of the UN High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) and the U.S. government.
His reporting struck a nerve with the Cambodian government, which had denied the existence of new refugees. But as Ratha documented more men, women and children living in desperate circumstances, his interviews and photos became impossible to ignore. Finally, the Cambodian government allowed UNHCR to come and provide humanitarian aid to the refugees.
More recently, Ratha has turned his reporting to other pressing issues, such as illegal logging, judicial corruption, and land grabs. In September 2005, a military official driving a Land Rover full of illegal logs struck Ratha and dragged him about 100 meters. He was not seriously injured.
Ratha is known for his coverage of Vietnamese refugees, coverage for which he was harassed and detained by Cambodian authorities. He also was run down by a Land Rover while reporting on illegal logging operations last year.
“I am going to speak to the American journalists about my practical experience as a journalist in the Third World country like Cambodia," Ratha told IJNet, before he boarded a plane to New York. “Courage and faith in the craft are what every journalist needs to do the job."
Ratha is a reporter for U.S.-funded Radio Free Asia (RFA). He was the first reporter to expose the plight of refugees in northern Cambodia, helping to bring international attention to the situation. This led to the eventual involvement of the UN High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) and the U.S. government.
His reporting struck a nerve with the Cambodian government, which had denied the existence of new refugees. But as Ratha documented more men, women and children living in desperate circumstances, his interviews and photos became impossible to ignore. Finally, the Cambodian government allowed UNHCR to come and provide humanitarian aid to the refugees.
More recently, Ratha has turned his reporting to other pressing issues, such as illegal logging, judicial corruption, and land grabs. In September 2005, a military official driving a Land Rover full of illegal logs struck Ratha and dragged him about 100 meters. He was not seriously injured.
Young American Broadcasters: http://www.youngamericanbroadcasters.org/.
Radio Free Asia: http://www.rfa.org/english/news/2005/10/03/cambodia_reporter/.
International Federation of Journalists: http://www.ifj.org/default.asp?Index=2626&Language=EN.
Radio Free Asia: http://www.rfa.org/english/news/2005/10/03/cambodia_reporter/.
International Federation of Journalists: http://www.ifj.org/default.asp?Index=2626&Language=EN.
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