Can the Indonesian press be impartial?<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The ideal press is impartial. However, many
\nfactors prevent the Indonesian press from exercising this
\nimportant quality. How neutral and objective is the Indonesian
\npress? The Jakarta Post interviewed readers of news publications
\nand journalists about the subject.<\/p>\n
Andre Hehanusa, singer: The press should be balanced, which
\nmeans that they have to give equal coverage to both arguing
\nparties.<\/p>\n
When the press corners some parties, it is obliged to give
\nthem a chance to defend themselves or rehabilitate their names
\nthrough the concerned publication.<\/p>\n
I have noticed that some Indonesian press publications have
\nfollowed this rule, but others break it for various reasons.<\/p>\n
Sometimes the press doesn't care about the rule and exposes a
\ncase for commercial reason only. The press profits from the case,
\nbut doesn't help educate the public in the right way.<\/p>\n
As a matter of fact, this does not only happen in Indonesia
\nbut also elsewhere in the world. Anyway, the press consists of
\nhuman beings, who can make mistakes or become partial.<\/p>\n
Actually, most people never avoid the press. They are just not
\nsure that the reporters will quote them correctly or whether they
\nwill get the same coverage other parties do.<\/p>\n
Aisyah Amini, legislator: The Indonesian press is the fighting
\npress. That does not mean it has to start a revolution, because
\nit is already over. What it has to do now is taking part in
\npromoting people's welfare, law and order and the unity of the
\npeople.<\/p>\n
The Indonesian press should also follow the Pancasila values,
\ninstead of imitating the foreign press, which often intrudes into
\nthe privacy of the public -- even peeps into their toilets.<\/p>\n
The number of Indonesian publications has increased, but they
\nshould always upgrade the quality of their human resources so
\nthere is no such thing as trial by the press.<\/p>\n
Norman Meoko, 31-year-old reporter at the Angkatan Bersenjata
\ndaily: Journalists face obstacles in being impartial.<\/p>\n
In the first place, there is the time constraint. Reporters
\nface a deadline everyday. Before the deadline, good reporters
\nalways try to cover both sides, but they often fail to get to
\ntheir sources before the deadline. In such a situation, they
\nshould deliver the unbalanced stories to the editors, promising
\nto cover the other side on the following day.<\/p>\n
Secondly, the sources. Sometimes, reporters can get to the
\nsources but they refuse to comment. That causes unbalanced
\nstories.<\/p>\n
Thirdly, the dishonesty of sources. Some sources do not speak
\nthe truth, making the stories flawed.<\/p>\n
Fourthly, the dishonesty of reporters. Many reporters
\nintentionally, for many reasons, cover only one party, giving no
\nchance to other parties to make statements.<\/p>\n
But I believe there are still many reporters who are committed
\nto impartiality.<\/p>\n
Each publication has its own policy or mission. The policy of
\nPos Kota, for example, is different from the paper I work for
\n(Angkatan Bersenjata) or Republika. The policy to some extent
\neffects the newswriting. Each reporter must adjust themselves to
\nthe policy. By doing so, however, they don't abandon impartiality
\nbecause before they join a paper they know its policy and are
\nwilling to play by the rule.<\/p>\n
Parni Hadi, chief editor of Republika, Secretary General of
\nthe Indonesian Journalists Association: The press should be
\nintellectually intensive, capital intensive, labor intensive and
\nemotionally intensive. A perfect press has these elements.
\nEmotion has much to do with the press, especially if you believe
\nthat journalism is the combination of art and science.<\/p>\n
Can the press be impartial?<\/p>\n
Well, that is just a theory. No. Anyhow, our ideology, our
\npolitical inclination, our environment and our background will
\ndictate us. The reports will be bias. We can try to minimize the
\nbias, but there is no report which is totally free from bias. You
\ncan't avoid it. Because you know me, you won't be objective. This
\nwill influence you, no matter how little.<\/p>\n
The advent of business in the press world is not without
\ninfluence. But that does not mean that we should reject this.
\nWithout capital and technology, the press can't develop. But as I
\nsaid earlier, that is not enough.<\/p>\n
Professionalism is essential to diminish any bias.<\/p>\n
A transparent environment is also required to reduce any bias.
\nThis is important so that people will not wonder if this officer
\nis like this and that officer is like that. Because things are
\nnot transparent, people can have a wrong idea about what really
\nhappens.<\/p>\n
August Parengkuan, Kompas' deputy chief editor and director of
\nthe Jakarta chapter of the Confederation of ASEAN Journalists:<\/p>\n
It is difficult to be impartial. It is impossible to become
\nabsolutely objective. What we can do is ask for the opinions of
\nall parties when it comes to controversial topics.<\/p>\n
But, somehow, the press is subjective.<\/p>\n
The readers also expect the opinion of the publications. Facts
\nalone are not enough. They will not be satisfied if we just
\npresent the facts. They want to know what your opinion is.<\/p>\n
The 4W plus 1H (What, Where, When, Why and How) theory is
\nobsolete. They want more comprehensive reporting, in-depth
\nreporting. (jsk\/sim)<\/p>",
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