'Press must not abandon idealism'<\/p>\n
By Santi WE Soekanto<\/p>\n
MANADO, North Sulawesi (JP): Indonesian journalists received a
\nrap over their knuckles on National Press Day yesterday, when
\nPresident Soeharto reprimanded them for letting commercial
\ninterests overrun idealism.<\/p>\n
In his address marking National Press Day, Soeharto deplored
\nthe members of the press who even sacrifice the nation's
\ninterests for the sake of business.<\/p>\n
He noted that newspapers and magazines often expose and
\npackage stories in such a way to increase readership.<\/p>\n
Sometimes they do it in a way \"that is not in agreement with
\nwhat the nation considers its priorities,\" he said at the meeting
\nattended by the country's senior journalists and press
\nexecutives.<\/p>\n
He reminded the journalists of the delicate line which
\nseparates news reporting from activities which may harm the
\nnation. The press often goes too far and \"approaches, or
\noversteps, the line, creating unrest in this diverse nation\".<\/p>\n
Soeharto acknowledged the pressure of business competition
\nthat drives the press to publish news and pictures which may
\noffend the public's sense of propriety.<\/p>\n
\"Business competition has driven publishers to make
\ncirculation increases their most important goal,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"News and pictures are presented to help sales, neglecting
\naccuracy and the sense of propriety,\" he said. \"This is an
\nunhealthy development, and may threaten our nation. We should
\nguard against it.\"<\/p>\n
The commemoration of National Press Day was also attended by
\nMrs. Tien Soeharto, Minister of Information Harmoko, several
\nother cabinet ministers, and North Sulawesi Governor C.J.
\nRantung.<\/p>\n
A series of activities, including a press exhibition, are
\nbeing carried out concurrently to mark the annual event.<\/p>\n
Soeharto acknowledged that sometimes there are differences of
\nopinion among the press, the public and the government.<\/p>\n
\"Such differences are normal in a democratic country,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
He reminded the national press that it shoulders the even
\ngreater responsibility of safeguarding the nation from
\npotentially unsuitable information from outside sources, he said.<\/p>\n
He said the press should be sensitive enough to understand the
\ndiversity of the Indonesian society, and to cater to its unique
\nneeds. \"The press should realize the importance of catching the
\nunspoken message in society,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"Our public has become increasingly critical ... and they
\ndemand comprehensive, fast, accurate and reliable information.<\/p>\n
\"If the national media fails to provide fast, comprehensive,
\naccurate and reliable information, the public will turn to
\nforeign sources of information, whose products may not be
\nsuitable,\" he warned.<\/p>\n
Some of the foreign information sources \"have missions and
\nvisions which may not be in agreement with our nation's
\ninterests,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Soeharto justified these expectations of the Indonesian press
\non the grounds that the domestic press is an important and
\ninseparable part of the nation, which has gone through a lot to
\nreach its current stage of development.<\/p>\n
\"We have gone through a half century since our
\nindependence ... we have had invaluable experiences, some moments
\nwhich bring hope ... we have experienced some upheavals which
\nalmost brought our country to the pit of destruction,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The country has spent some of the 50 years after the
\ndeclaration of independence in 1945 \"to handle upheavals ... in a
\nprocess of nation building\".<\/p>\n
\"The national press has gone through the ups and downs along
\nthe same road that the nation has traveled,\" he said. \"The press
\nis an aspect, which has grown and developed together with the
\nnation.\"<\/p>\n
\"The press has played an important role in the country's
\nprogress,\" he said, adding that Indonesia intends to accelerate
\nits forward momentum for the sake of keeping up with other
\nnations.<\/p>\n
\"We should prepare ourselves ... we must not be left behind,\"
\nhe said. Therefore, \"the national press should develop and become
\na force which encourages healthy development ... and the press
\nshould improve its quality.\"<\/p>\n
Minister Harmoko described in his speech how the national
\npress is squeezed between internal and external pressures and
\nchallenges.<\/p>\n
One of the features of a \"healthy press\" is its ability to
\ncarry out its functions \"freely and responsibly\", he said.<\/p>\n
He also reminded journalists that freedom of the press is not
\nabsolute.<\/p>",
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