Background

The talkback program titled 'Our Life, Our Society' is currently aired three times per week on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 10am to 11am. 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 Wednesday, Friday and Saturday at 6:10 AM.

The program receives almost nation wide coverage – the largest share in the country. The talkback team is largely self-sufficient and has been professionally trained in the delivery of talkback radio by RA staff. The format has been popular with approximately 55 calls received from across the country during each 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.

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).