Media musings: dead tree edition

The Cambodia Daily goes color

In response to growing competitiveness in the English daily newspaper market, the Cambodia Daily for a second day printed its front page photograph in color. Additionally, today’s edition of the Daily carries eight full pages of Cambodia news, including the recently introduced business page, an enlightening opinion piece on current graft allegations hammering the ECCC (a story the Daily broke, by the way), and an in-depth look at allegations made by Sam Rainsy concerning the now infamous 1018 forms. 32 pages; 1,200r.

Good times, bad times, the Mekong Times

Meanwhile, The Mekong Times today looks and reads a lot like a retread of the old Phnom Penh Post:  a few rehashed press releases, one fluffy interview, and 1,600 desultory words about “rusty iron shackles, dried bloodstains and horrified eyes peering at you from black and white snapshots of the netherworld…” Shut. Up. 16 pages; 1,500r.

Phnom Penh Post: Help Wanted

On Page 1 of today’s Phnom Penh Post the house advertises 50% discounts on advertising: “Online and print makes us the clearest choice.” Considering the printing quality so far — and today looks extra bad — that’s a pretty unfortunate choice of words. As for actual news, there’s one page of business and five pages of local, including the end of Boeung Kak lake, flash flood warnings, and a half-hearted denial from the NRP that their leader did not, in fact, sell his soul to the Hunster. 24 page; 2,500r.

You’re only as good as your last issue. Come Monday, all three papers will get a new crack at it. Some need it more than others.