Enforcing laws on decency in TV programs<\/p>\n
Ardimas Sasdi, Jakarta<\/p>\n
In a move reflecting the anger of the public against the
\nelectronic media for flooding the airwaves with indecent and
\noffensive content, the Indonesian Broadcasting Commission (KPI)
\nsays it has drafted a code of ethics for broadcasting.<\/p>\n
In a hearing with legislators, media owners, executives and
\neducators at the House of Representatives last week, the KPI said
\nthe code was needed to deal with programs featuring graphic sex
\nscenes, horrific violence, serious criminal acts and mysticism.<\/p>\n
While the House supported the KPI's initiative, the
\nlegislature did not spell out how it could regulate the
\nelectronic media.<\/p>\n
Broadcasters, carried away by the freedoms they are allowed in
\nthe new democratic environment and by the profit-making motive,
\nhave operated almost completely unimpeded by laws and regulations
\nduring the past six years. And unlike the print media, which is
\nnow entangled in costly lawsuits, television has so far been able
\nto evade the consequences of consumer outrage and the law.<\/p>\n
Knowing that people desire entertainment and information, TV
\nstations continue to exploit this situation by bombarding us day
\nand night with many programs that have been deemed useless or
\nharmful to viewers -- or that directly harm the people involved
\nin them.<\/p>\n
The programs, many of which are unsuitable for a young
\naudience, include talk shows featuring interviews with
\nprostitutes and secret lovers of wealthy people, erotic dances by
\ndangdut singers, programs promoting mystical beliefs, the use of
\nvulgar language and set-up or highly exploitative reality shows
\nthat fly in the face of journalistic ethics. Some of these
\nprograms are on air during prime time, between 6 p.m. and 8:00
\np.m.<\/p>\n
Indonesia does not have a special law on decency, but the
\nPress Law, the Broadcasting Law and the Criminal Code have
\narticles that, if followed, would outlaw this \"trash TV\". Article
\nNo. 5c of the Broadcasting Law No. 32\/2002 forbids TV stations to
\nair programs that feature excessive violence, explicit sexual
\nscenes, gambling and drug abuse, while article 37 says programs
\nshould use the Indonesian language properly and correctly.<\/p>\n
TV executives are aware of these laws and regulations, but
\nthey continue to air these programs. Their business rationale
\ndictates efficiency in order to cut costs and maximize profits,
\nand many of these shows, especially the reality ones, are cheap
\nto make. Commercial TV outlets use these programs to attract
\nviewers in order to raise their ratings and sell advertising
\nspots.<\/p>\n
Lately, the entry into the market of third-generation
\nbroadcasters -- Metro TV, TV7, Lativi and regional TV stations --
\nhas led to even tougher competition between stations for viewers
\nand advertisers.<\/p>\n
This is on top of the second generation of stations, including
\nthe privately-run RCTI, SCTV, TPI, Indosiar and ANTV. All are
\ncompeting with the state-run TVRI, which last year was allowed to
\nrun advertisements to fund its operations.<\/p>\n
These second and third-generation broadcasters are privately
\nowned outlets run by influential figures who have close links
\nwith politicians and key government officials. The companies are
\noften subsidiaries of media giants.<\/p>\n
The electronic media has turned into an industry like any
\nother, and the entry of professional management in the late 1980s
\ncreated an \"ersatz capitalist\" system. This free market
\nenvironment has made the task of regulating agencies like the
\nnow-dissolved Ministry of Information and the existing KPI more
\ndifficult.<\/p>\n
So powerful were the media barons, that at one time during the
\nSoeharto era the media successfully delayed the enforcement of
\nBroadcasting Law No. 27. Soeharto finally approved the law, but
\nthe television industry used a series of arguments to fight the
\nlaw. Until today, the attitude of TV executives has remained
\nunchanged.<\/p>\n
In light of this condition, the plan of the KPI to draft a new
\nbroadcasting code is timely. However what is most urgent is not
\nto draft a law, but to have the guts to act and regulate these
\npowerful media interests. Doing so successfully means cooperating
\nto create a successful strategy with input from the House and the
\npublic. At the same time, any attempt to deal with a rogue TV
\nindustry should not infringe upon the legitimate freedoms of the
\npress and the right to free speech.<\/p>\n
Ardimas Sasdi is a staff writer for The Jakarta Post and can
\nbe contacted at ardimas@thejakartapost.com<\/p>",
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