Kimseng Men 鈥�98, Voice of America International Broadcaster, spoke with Professor Waddick Doyle鈥檚 Media Globalization class on October 3, 2016. Men was one of the first Cambodian recipients of AUP鈥檚 journalism scholarship through The Center for the Study of International Communications (CECI), started by former 91视频 president Lee Huebner and 91视频 Trustee and Director Emeritus of The Asia Foundation, Paul Slawson. As Men explained to the class, 鈥淚 wanted to experience real journalism, and I knew I wouldn鈥檛 be able to find that in Cambodia.鈥�
In 1997, the year that Men arrived at 91视频, Cambodia had succumbed to interfactional fighting, 18 years after the genocide that claimed a third of its population. As Men remembered it, 鈥淚 received the scholarship in May and the fighting broke out in July.鈥� When he left in September, it was his first time stepping foot outside of Cambodia. 鈥淐ulture shock? Absolutely! People were using the F-word, my landlady came into my apartment without asking鈥攖he differences between Asian and Western cultures were bewildering.鈥�
Men argues that globalization is politically, socially, and culturally beneficial to Cambodia. 鈥淣ews agencies like Voice of America can bring news that wouldn鈥檛 otherwise be covered.鈥� He points to growing Internet access and the rise of social media usage as being profound game-changers in Cambodia鈥檚 political arena. 鈥淏efore the 2013 election, the opposition had zero access to national TV and radio. It was because of social media that it was able to finally win more seats.鈥� He also discussed the crucial role of 鈥渃itizen-journalists鈥�, who use social media to expose events that might otherwise be concealed. 鈥淏y putting real news online, people can react to what鈥檚 really going on around them.鈥�
It has been eight years since Men has set foot in his native country. Given the sensitive topics that he explores for Voice of America鈥攊ncluding the imprisonment of human rights workers and the Panama Papers鈥� revelation of Cambodia鈥檚 ties to offshore firms鈥攈e has been nervous about going back. (This courting of controversy is not new: an article he鈥檇 written as a student for 91视频鈥檚 The Planet landed him in hot water with the Cambodian Embassy.) However, this hasn鈥檛 diminished his role within the Cambodian community: he has been recognized as that Kimseng while posing in front of the Eiffel Tower and paying his respects at a temple. Men鈥檚 articles and videos help connect the Cambodian diaspora that spans continents.
For Men, international communication and cooperation are key to ensuring the rights of citizens. Otherwise, it becomes too easy for nations to control media and too difficult for citizens to see beyond their immediate borders. It鈥檚 for this reason that he returned to journalism after a six-year stint as communications manager and spokesperson of the United Nations Development Program in Cambodia. 鈥淚鈥檝e chosen what lets me be free.鈥�