Journalists association supports press licensing<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Journalists Association (PWI)
\nsaid yesterday it fully supports the present licensing system as
\na way of regulating the press industry.<\/p>\n
The House Commission I in a hearing with PWI executives said
\nthe press licensing system has virtually taken the sting out of
\nthe country's newspapers and magazines.<\/p>\n
Aisyah Amini, chairperson of the commission which oversees the
\nflow of information as well as security and foreign affairs,
\nsuspected newspapers now are opting for safety, printing \"safe
\nstories\", Antara reported yesterday.<\/p>\n
Other commission members said journalists only touch the
\nsurface without delving into the depths of the issues in their
\nnews.<\/p>\n
The licensing system empowers the minister of information to
\nrevoke the publishing licenses of newspapers and magazines, an
\nirreversible move that virtually kills them.<\/p>\n
PWI chairman Sofyan Lubis said the system is actually for the
\nprotection of journalists, the news agency said. He did not
\nelaborate.<\/p>\n
Sofyan, chief editor of Pos Kota daily newspaper, said the
\nassociation is empowered to withdraw a recommendation for a chief
\neditor of a newspaper, one of the main requirements in press
\nlicensing.<\/p>\n
The association would exercise this power, if, in its view,
\nthe chief editor of a publication failed to control his
\njournalists or the content of the newspaper, he said.<\/p>\n
Sofyan stressed however that the association would try to
\nprevent the government from revoking press licenses.<\/p>\n
He emphasized that PWI is not a subordinate of the
\nbureaucracy. \"We will strive for our independence, but we also
\nhave to preserve our partnership with the government. Without
\ncooperation, we cannot run the organization,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Aisyah argued that any revocation of the license should be
\ndetermined by a court of law, rather than carried out by the
\nminister of information.<\/p>\n
This is important to avoid the impression that PWI is
\ndepriving people of the right to conduct business, she said.<\/p>\n
Sofyan said the PWI does not revoke the press licenses.<\/p>\n
PWI Secretary General Parni Hadi, agreed with suggestions that
\nthe press industry should strive for more diversity.<\/p>\n
\"God willing, we're getting there. Maybe not overnight, but we
\nare working on it,\" Parni, chief editor of the Republika daily,
\ntold the hearing.<\/p>\n
He conceded that spineless journalism, ceremonial journalism
\nand ritual journalism can still be found in the Indonesian media.
\n\"But I think that kind of journalism would be abandoned by the
\naudience eventually.\" (emb)<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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