"The study finds that environmental journalism in Cambodia is primarily carried out by field-based reporters and freelancers working largely through digital and multimedia news platforms. Environmental journalists are distributed across 23 locations nationwide, with a significant number based in provinces rich in natural resources, including Ratanakiri, Stung Treng, Mondulkiri, Kratie, Kampong Thom, and Preah Vihear. The profession remains male-dominated, with survey results indicating that men account for approximately 77% of respondents, while women represent 23%. Qualitative findings suggest that cultural norms and newsroom practices may influence field assignments and mobility, sometimes limiting opportunities for women journalists to participate in environmental reporting in remote areas.Environmental reporting is concentrated on issues such as deforestation, land disputes, pollution, and climate-related challenges. Journalists rely heavily on local communities (89%) and civil society organizations (55%) as sources of information, while fewer rely on official sources or experts.
The study highlights that environmental journalists frequently face significant risks and structural barriers in the course of their work. Survey findings show that many journalists perceive environmental reporting as unsafe. Approximately 62% of 74 respondents reported feeling unsafe, while 11% (8 respondents) reported feeling very unsafe when covering environmental issues. Monitoring data collected by CamboJA also shows that journalists continue to face violations linked to their reporting activities. In 2025, CamboJA documented 61 human rights violations affecting 57 journalists, including five women journalists. Among these cases, seven were related to journalists covering environmental issues, making environmental reporting one of the topics most associated with violations against journalists. The study also identifies several barriers that limit environmental reporting, including pressure from local authorities (66%), legal restrictions (54%), and lack of access to reliable data or official information (47%). Limited time and resources, as well as gaps in technical knowledge related to environmental reporting, also affect journalists’ ability to conduct in-depth reporting." (Key findings, pages 2-3)