"This is an exploratory study. It attempts to build on the work conducted for a series of papers which identify lessons learned from the international community’s attempts to use media as a means to consolidate democracy in Cambodia. The consensus is that, despite ten years of training programs and financial assistance, radio news broadcasts still do not meet democratic norms for political communication. A shortcoming of these papers is that they are based on theory and research traditions outside media studies. As a result, they do not take into consideration processes of media production or audience reception when making their propositions for change. This study proposes that, by using methods of research from media studies, it may be possible to address these gaps in knowledge, and therefore strengthen these propositions. It combines peacebuilding and media theory in an effort to identify the normative assumptions of the lessons learned papers, and therefore develop an appropriate strategy for evaluating media performance, and for determining if the propositions in the lessons learned papers have the potential to be successfully implemented. The use of such a strategy was explored in pilot research conducted in Phnom Penh July 2004. It combined content analysis and interviews (with radio station directors, as well as representatives from political parties, non-government organizations [NGOs], and members of the international community.) This study concludes that, while some refinements are required in the design of the proposed research strategy, its use may allow future researchers to gain new insights – insights which compliment the lessons learned papers, and which could be valuable in implementing their propositions for change." (Abstract)