Big media firms still focus on major national issues<\/p>\n
Tertiani ZB Simanjuntak, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Leading national media agencies are of the opinion that
\nthe media should pay more attention to the major issues facing
\nthe nation rather than focusing on temporary sensational
\ncontroversies and publishing excessive reports about the U.S.
\nmilitary attacks against Afghanistan.<\/p>\n
Editors of the Jakarta-based Kompas and Koran Tempo dailies,
\nprivate television station RCTI and state-owned television
\nstation TVRI said that, despite the importance of the issues,
\ncoverage on the attacks should not be counterproductive to the
\nnation's agenda.<\/p>\n
Kompas chief editor Suryopratomo said over the weekend that
\nthe U.S. bombings on Afghanistan and the tragedy to humankind
\nafter the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in the U.S. deserved
\nsignificant attention as international affairs.<\/p>\n
\"But for our daily's national issues, we focus on economic
\nrecovery to remind that we face various problems, ranging from
\nimmense levels of unemployment, poverty, to the economic crisis.
\nThose are the issues we find crucial today,\" he told The Jakarta
\nPost.<\/p>\n
Suryopratomo argued that excessive coverage of anti-U.S.
\nsentiment expressed by certain Indonesian Muslim groups could be
\ncounterproductive to the government's and the nation's efforts to
\nsurvive the current economic crisis. It is the media's duty to
\nactively remind people of the issues, he said.<\/p>\n
\"I agree with a media campaign aimed at all parties outlining
\nthat there are bigger problems regarding the nation's welfare,
\nincluding that we are facing the threat of losing a generation
\ndue to the recent crisis, rather than the struggle to achieve
\nuniversally ideal norms.\"<\/p>\n
He admitted that there was an insignificant increase in his
\ndaily's sales, but pointed that it was not necessarily due to its
\nEast-West subject coverage, because there had been a gradual sale
\nincrease before the Sept. 11 attacks.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Koran Tempo deputy managing editor Ivan Haris
\nclaimed an increase in sales after the Sept. 11 attack was not
\nthe only motivation for his daily to explore more issues
\nconcerning East-West issues.<\/p>\n
He argued that there had not been any progress or activities
\non the part of the government regarding its agenda to pull
\nIndonesia out of the economic crisis worthy of publication
\nbecause President Megawati Soekarnoputri and her Cabinet remained
\nsilent.<\/p>\n
\"I'm not sure whether the executives and political leaders
\nhave been working prudently recently or just don't know what to
\ndo because, up to now, there have not been any policies regarding
\nthe aims and starting-point of an economic recovery.<\/p>\n
\"The U.S. bombing of Afghanistan is sexy news. This is the
\nbiggest attack of the decade. We're lucky to have such news
\nbecause, if we only cover the national agenda, we don't have
\nanything to publish,\" he told the Post.<\/p>\n
RCTI deputy chief editor Atmadji Sumarkidjo believes that the
\ncurrent level of coverage in the national media is still
\nacceptable, especially in the mass media, where all agencies
\nagree that interest outweighs profit.<\/p>\n
\"Our editorial policy focuses on how the government deals with
\nthe expected impacts of the global economic crisis following the
\nSept. 11 World Trade Center destruction. We try to keep the issue
\non the surface through our daily news, talk shows or discourses,\"
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
Atmadji explained that the station aired Muslim groups'
\nrallies protesting the U.S. because it was a fact.<\/p>\n
\"But we are selective and cover both sides because we realize
\nhow the news affects our people. We don't exploit the protesters'
\nemotions or endlessly quote those who blast Americans, and try to
\nopen a discourse so that people can see the problems clearly,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Tribowo Kriswinarso, news managing editor at TVRI, said his
\nstation was still consistent with its agenda focusing on the
\neconomic recovery, political stability, law enforcement,
\nenvironmental sustainability and the enhancement of regional
\npotential.<\/p>\n
\"The country is strangled with too many problems already, so
\nwhy should we fight over something which is not even ours and
\nsacrifice our own interests,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"The press should be objective and take a stand because we are
\nresponsible for helping the public have a better understanding.
\nIt's time to enlighten the people, especially those in the
\nregions who are vulnerable to the nation's disintegration -- a
\nproblem we also face now,\" he remarked.<\/p>",
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