Visit to TVK Channel in Phnom Penh

Phnom Penh -- DBShk. The students of the social communication section of Don Bosco Sihanoukville, leaded by Fr Albeiro Rodas, the coordinator of the program in the Don Bosco Technical School of the sea port, visited the installations of the TVK Channel in the capital last yesterday. TVK Channel, the national television channel of Cambodia leaded by the Ministry of Education, is directed by H.E. Kem Gunnawat who welcomed the boys and their coordinator. The same director leaded the Don Bosco delegation through the studio and the control room explaining the technics and ways of work in the National Channel. "This is a channel made by Cambodian for Cambodians" he said to the boys who were amazed with the installations. "If you are studying journalism you shoud know very well your country, because you will communicate for your own people." Gunnawat said also that the first thing to think in television is electricity: "With a regular system of electricity you can do little in television." The director explained also how is the coordination with the other Cambodian channels and the projects of expansion to the farest corners of the country.

TVK history is traced after the independence of Cambodia from France in 1953. It was suspended during the troublesome decade of 1970s and it was restablished after the dialogues of peace, initially with transmissions to the capital three days per day.

The studens of social communication in Don Bosco Sihanoukville are 11 boys in a new program opened last October in order to provide skills in mass media and social communication in a two years formation as the other technical sections. Television is a part of the studies and it is in the project the creationg of a pedagogical television studio in Don Bosco Sihanoukville next year thanks to the support of benefactors. H.E. Gunnawat said to the group that he wants to keep updated with the program and formation of the students in order to count in any eventual activity that could involve their participation as a kind of practice in television. With the coming national elections to be hold in 2008, maybe there is a change, said the director.

The boys were very happy to have the privilege to stay inside the Channel they use to see at home everyday. Already with three months of writing news, making interviews and studying the bases of communication technology and information, they asked many questions to Mr Gunnawat who was so kind to answer. "You should ask as much as possible... your future profession is about to ask questions and inform to the Cambodian community", he said to the 16 to 21 years old youth.