The Overseas Press Club of Cambodia (OPCC) elected a new board on Jan. 11, 2024 with many board members from 2023 returning for another year of serving the journalism community in Cambodia.
Seven candidates ran for seven open positions on the board this year. Government crackdowns have had a chilling effect on media freedoms in Cambodia, and the closure of several key outlets over the course of 2023 has led to a decline in both independent reporting and journalists in the country. The new board is committed to expanding membership and hopes to have a larger pool of candidates in future elections.
The 2024 board was elected on the promise of doing all that’s possible to support remaining independent journalists — both local and international — within this increasingly challenging environment.
The new board for 2024 includes:
President: Gerald Flynn, Southeast Asia staff writer for Mongabay
Vice-president: Quinn Libson, editor & op-ed writing trainer for Future Forum
Treasurer: Jack Brook, freelance reporter & editor
Secretary: Fiona Kelliher, freelance reporter & editor
Board member: Ananth Baliga, freelance reporter & editor
Board member: Leila Goldstein, associate editor for CamboJA News & freelance reporter
Board member: Name withheld for security purposes, freelance reporter & photojournalist
Journalism has become a more precarious profession as restrictions to press freedoms, access to information and basic rights render the work of journalists more difficult in Cambodia. Over the course of 2023, the OPCC helped to facilitate a range of events to support, encourage and develop what remains of the independent media.
The new OPCC board hopes to continue finding new and innovative ways to help reporters to continue serving their communities and audiences.
To become a member of the OPCC, email opccambodia@gmail.com. Membership is open to all foreign journalists and members of the media community in Cambodia. The OPCC asks for a US$15 annual contribution from international members or US$7.50 from Cambodian members.
