'Paid', bogus press mar free press' integrity<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Bogus journalists cause a headache for many people. Some people
\nhowever deliberately maintain a relationship with them as they
\nbenefit from their existence. The Jakarta Post's cover story team
\nanalyze the cause of the phenomenon (page 1, 3) and how some real
\njournalists, like bogus journalists, also expect cash from news
\nsources (page 3)<\/p>\n
They pose as journalists, but represent no media
\norganizations. People here call them bodrex. At press
\nconferences, like real journalists, they are always busy asking
\nquestions, But, their main interest is not in the news but the
\ncash or presents that will be distributed by the organizer at the
\nend of the press conference.<\/p>\n
Bogus journalism has been growing in the country due to
\nchronic corruption in society and the ignorance of most of the
\npublic over the importance of press integrity.<\/p>\n
Many people are willing to provide bribes for journalists to
\nensure that the press will cover or blow up good stories about
\nthem or stop publishing bad news about them.<\/p>\n
The bribe is usually placed in envelopes distributed after the
\npress conference or during the lebaran holiday. The amount ranges
\nfrom Rp 50,000 in a press conference to Rp 1.5 million during
\nlebaran.<\/p>\n
This is a common practice for almost all private and state
\norganizations, including ministries, police, public prosecutor's
\noffice, sport associations, multinational firms and local firms.<\/p>\n
Thus, anyone can pose as a journalist and come to a press
\nconference. They will almost certainly get an envelope as most of
\nthe above-mentioned organizations would not bother checking the
\nidentity of those in attendance.<\/p>\n
It is no wonder then that on some occasions it is hard for
\nreal journalists to cover a firm's shareholders meeting as the
\nevent is packed with bogus reporters.<\/p>\n
Envelopes distributed during a press conference contain
\nbetween Rp 50,000 and Rp 300,000 in cash. Thus, a bogus
\njournalist could get millions of rupiah a month if there are many
\npress conferences in the month. Normally, a bogus journalist
\ncould \"earn\" at least Rp 1.3 million a month, well above the
\nhighest minimum wage of Rp 800,000 set by the government.<\/p>\n
Nor only bogus reporters, some real journalists also take
\nenvelopes from news sources to compensate for their low salaries.<\/p>\n
Nezar Partia, secretary-general of the Alliance of Independent
\nJournalists (AJI), explained bogus journalism and the \"envelope
\nphenomenon\" as a result of supply and demand. There are supplies
\nof funds from news sources for journalists and some of the media
\npeople also need that.<\/p>\n
Thus, he told The Jakarta Post that it was unfair to only
\nblame the \"supply side\" for the phenomenon.<\/p>\n
\"The media should also be self-introspective. The problem is
\nthat not all media organizations pay their journalists well.
\nEconomic hardship is often the reason why journalists accept
\nenvelopes,\" Nezar said.<\/p>\n
Nezar urged government institutions and the private sector to
\nstop giving envelopes to reporters to cut the number of bogus
\njournalists, which has now reached hundreds in Jakarta alone.<\/p>\n
Nezar noted that some groups of bogus journalists were so well
\norganized, they know the schedule of press conferences held by
\nthe private sector and the government.<\/p>\n
Some groups even have a close relationship with press officers
\nand public relation managers.<\/p>\n
However, several press and public relation officials told the
\nPost that they deliberately maintained a relationship with bogus
\njournalists so that they could steal some funds from their
\noffice.<\/p>\n
Ryan, not his real name, a press officer at a medium-size
\nprivate bank, said he and his colleagues never gave reporters as
\nmuch as the amount set by their company. They usually take a
\nlarge portion of the funds for themselves and give a small chunk
\nto the reporters.<\/p>\n
He and his friends could take millions in stolen funds from
\neach press conference.<\/p>\n
Bogus journalism and envelope journalism has tainted the
\nreputation of Indonesia's press. Since the phenomenon is closely
\nconnected to the rampant corruption in the society, it will stay
\nand even thrive as long as people are not willing to change.<\/p>\n
More stories and photos Page 1, 3<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/paid-bogus-press-mar-free-press-integrity-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }