Phnom Penh (VNA) ꧙– CNC Television, a private Cambodian broadcaster owned by CBS under Royal Group, h♉as rolled out a series of in-depth commentary programmes focusing on Vietnam’s current affairs. The 15-minute talk shows, led by journalist Khieu Kola – a producer, presenter, and senior editor at CNC, frequently draw on reports from the Vietnam News Agency (VNA).

Talking with the VNA’s reporters on the eve of its 80th anniversary (September 15), Khieu Kola, who is also Assistant to the President of the Cambodian Club of Journalists (CCJ), shared behind-the-scenes details on how CNC selects sources and why its team places such trust in VNA reporting. As head of CNC’s commentary programming, Khieu Kola explained that he pulls from all sorts of global outlets for world news. But when it’s about Vietnam, the VNA’s the go-to, supplemented by insights from global wire services. He said he prefers citing the VNA because of its role as Vietnam’s national news agency, entrusted for decades with delivering official information on the Vietnamese Party, State, and Government’s policies, guidelines and laws during wartime or peacetime. The journalist highlighted the VNA’s role as a vital bridge linking Vietnam with the world, amplifying the country’s socio-economic progress amid deepening globalisation. He cited the enthusiastic feedback from CNC colleagues and viewers via messages and emails as the biggest reward for his decision to anchor commentary in the VNA’s reports. A CCJ executive committee member and seasoned journalist, Khieu Kola has covered major global events and visited newsrooms worldwide, including the VNA’s Hanoi headquarters. In 2024, he joined a CCJ delegation to learn about the VNA’s operations and multimedia system. Most recently, in August, he returned to cover Vietnam’s 80th National Day celebrations and also visit the VNA headquarters. He reflected on the VNA’s humble beginnings: founded 80 years ago with a modest staff of 50, it published in Vietnamese, French, and English. Today, it delivers news in 10 languages, employs roughly 1,000 reporters, and maintains 34 domestic and 30 overseas bureaus across five continents, including one in Cambodia. He stressed the VNA’s hefty investments in technology, including artificial intelligence, to stay competitive in the digital era. During his latest Hanoi visit, he was struck by the Vietnamese Government’s investment to upgrade the VNA’s infrastructure to keep pace with global media trends. Throughout its history, the VNA remains a trusted news source of the Vietnamese Party, State and people, he asserted. In an era plagued by fake news, a challenge Vietnam is not immune from, the journalist cautioned that the VNA faces the daunting task of delivering accurate and credible information swiftly to combat misinformation at home while teaming up with regional media./.