Background

Radio National of Kampuchea's (RNK) 'Our Life, Our Society' talkback program is currently aired four times per week on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 11am to 12pm. Programming may eventually be extended to five sessions per week. It is broadcast on RNK's AM 918 station and a live relay is provided by four provincial FM stations in Battambang, Pursat, Kampong Cham and Kampong Thom. The program is re-broadcast on RNK's AM 918 station on the following morning. Re-broadcasts of the talkback program can also be heard on the Provincial FM stations of Koh Kong and Pailin.

The program receives almost nation wide coverage through its AM band – the largest share in the country. The talkback team has been professionally trained in the delivery of talkback radio by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) staff. The format is very popular with up to 130 calls received from across the nation during a one hour program.

The introduction of talk back programs to state radio is unique in Cambodia. Talkback provides a medium for the exchange of ideas, opinions and information. 'Our Life Our Society' provides a voice to all sectors of society including those in rural and remote areas. Government officials, opposition parties and representatives from civil society organizations have all been included as experts on programs.

The RNK talkback program has received strong support from the Minister of Information, H.E. Khieu Kanharith. The Minister stated that the talkback program is 'part of the democratisation in Cambodia society as well as part of decentralisation policies because the most important point of the decentralisation process is to make people the masters of the government's policies which are implemented throughout the country' (Interview, 6th December, 2005).