KPI plans to introduce broadcasting standards<\/p>\n
Muninggar Sri Saraswati and Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post\/Jakarta<\/p>\n
The Indonesian Broadcasting Commission (KPI) is planning to issue
\ncontent guidelines to serve as program standards for the
\ncountry's television industry, a commission member says.<\/p>\n
KPI member Amelia Hezkasari said on Wednesday that the
\ncommission would release the draft guidelines later this month.<\/p>\n
\"We will allow a public discussion period of three months for
\nthe draft guidelines, and we hope that they will go into effect
\nthis year,\" she told reporters after a discussion on television
\norganized by the Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI).<\/p>\n
The guidelines, according to Amelia, would, among other
\nthings, allow viewers to file complaints about television
\nprograms with the commission.<\/p>\n
Separately, a number of legislators raised their concerns
\nduring a meeting with State Minister for Communications and
\nInformation Syamsul Mu'arif over some television programs that
\nthey claimed could \"damage the nation\".<\/p>\n
Permadi of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP)
\nsuggested that the government appeal to television stations to
\nstop airing violence, mysticism and racy material.<\/p>\n
Nadier Muhammad of the United Development Party (PPP)
\nconcurred with Permadi, arguing that the government must protect
\nthe \"morals of the nation\".<\/p>\n
Responding to their concerns, Syamsul said the government was
\nnot in a position to take action against the television stations.<\/p>\n
He said that the government had set up a task force to address
\nthe question of program content and to draft guidelines.<\/p>\n
The minister added that the KPI could warn television stations
\ntwice before the police brought criminal charges against them for
\nairing racy or suggestive material.<\/p>\n
Amelia, meanwhile, said that her office would be required to
\nrespond to viewer complaints and examine whether a television
\nprogram had violated the guidelines.<\/p>\n
\"If it is found to have done so, the KPI will be required to
\nreprimand the station in question,\" she said.<\/p>\n
Law No. 32\/2002 on the broadcasting industry allows the KPI as
\nthe country's broadcasting regulator to order television stations
\nto pull shows that the commission considers inappropriate.<\/p>\n
The harshest sanction that can be imposed by the KPI is to
\ncurtail the permitted broadcasting hours of a television station.<\/p>\n
Currently, Amelia said, the KPI could only warn television
\nstations not to air too many programs devoted to mysticism,
\ngossip, crime or sex.<\/p>\n
\"We have warned them, and some of them have started to improve
\nthe content of these programs,\" she said.<\/p>\n
Adolf Posumah, a spokesperson for Lativi television, and
\nartist Ratna Sarumpaet agreed with Amelia and suggested that the
\nKPI issue the guidelines soon.<\/p>\n
\"To some extent, television stations do make mistakes, so I
\nsupport the drafting of guidelines,\" Adolf told the discussion.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/kpi-plans-to-introduce-broadcasting-standards-1447893297",
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