JAKARTA \u2014 Indonesia\u2019s Minister for Human Rights Natalius Pigai has\nstated that the press must maintain its independence when developing\nrelationships with government.<\/p>\n
He made the remarks whilst launching a media collaboration programme\nat the Kick Off Launch event for the Media Press and Human Rights\nCivilisation Development Programme on Wednesday, 11 March 2026.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have a mutually dependent relationship where we maintain\nindependence but collaborate with one another,\u201d Pigai said.<\/p>\n
The collaboration is seen as important in driving civilisational\ndevelopment, particularly in advancing human rights in Indonesia.\nAccording to Pigai, the press is a powerful force capable of driving\ncivilisational development and strengthening human rights values in\nIndonesia.<\/p>\n
For this reason, he hopes the media will contribute by communicating\nvarious developments in national development, particularly those related\nto advancing human rights in the civil, political, economic, social, and\ncultural spheres.<\/p>\n
Nevertheless, he emphasised that media must continue to expose\nvarious social problems occurring in society, such as poverty,\nunemployment, and high maternal and child mortality rates.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere is no problem in exposing all these social pathologies.\nHowever, the media also needs to campaign for solutions and prevention\nmeasures so that development can proceed more effectively,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Consequently, the Ministry of Human Rights plans to invite the Press\nCouncil to discuss various challenges currently facing conventional\nmedia.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe want to hear what problems the media is actually facing. Why\nmainstream media seems to be losing out to social media,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Pigai stated that these discussions could lead to the formulation of\nregulations to ensure the sustainability of conventional media so it is\nnot eroded by the penetration of social media.<\/p>\n
Among these initiatives is the establishment of specialised human\nrights training classes for journalists throughout Indonesia.<\/p>\n
Other programmes include facilitating the production of human\nrights-themed journalistic work, conducting human rights journalism\ncompetitions, and awarding the Human Rights Journalism Award to\njournalists.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/pigai-press-and-government-must-maintain-independence-whilst-collaborating-1773248063", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }