Press urged to set up rules for campaigns coverage<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Experts agreed on Friday that the press must set
\nup its own rules to ensure fair coverage of the multi-party
\nelections on June 7.<\/p>\n
Communications expert Ade Armando of the University of
\nIndonesia said it would not be possible to expect the government,
\nwhich is thought to still represent an obstacle to the
\ndemocratization, to establish the rules. Election contenders
\nwould certainly be angered by such a notion, he reasoned.<\/p>\n
Newly formed political parties, numbering around 200, are in
\nthe process of registering for the poll. There are so far no
\nestimates as to how many of them will be qualified to contest the
\nelections.<\/p>\n
"All of the parties will certainly see the media as one of the
\nmost effective means for campaigning, (even more effective) than
\nmass rallies," Ade told The Jakarta Post on the sidelines of a
\nworkshop on mass communication held by the Justice Party.<\/p>\n
"If the government now tried to set 'the game rules' for
\nparties campaigning in media ... people will condemn it as anti-
\ndemocratic, anti-freedom.<\/p>\n
"Why? Because we are in a stage of democratic transition. The
\ncurrent of 'freedom' is still very strong here," Ade noted.<\/p>\n
The media, through journalistic organizations such as the
\nIndonesian Television Journalists Association, the Union of Press
\nPublishers, and the Association of Indonesian Commercial Radio
\nBroadcasters, must agree on a system of ethics for parties
\ncampaigning through their media.<\/p>\n
He cited the possibility of the financially strong Golkar
\nrunning full page advertisements in print publications.<\/p>\n
"It is the media proponents who must find a balance to the
\nsituation. Proportional coverage is important."<\/p>\n
Interviewed separately, political observer A.S. Hikam
\nconcurred, citing the importance for the press to have a sense of
\nfairness.<\/p>\n
"They themselves have to set a fair coverage rule. After all,
\nnobody could tell you (the press) what to report," Hikam told the
\nPost.<\/p>\n
"Except for party-affiliated papers such as Amanat, the
\nindependent media has to avoid politically biased reporting," he
\nsaid, adding there is no need for the government to interfere in
\nthe process.<\/p>\n
"The public will naturally censor publications which present
\ntoo much campaign material for certain parties," he said.<\/p>\n
Amien Rais' National Mandate Party (PAN) owns a tabloid called
\nAmanat, while Taufik Kiemas, the husband of PDI Perjuangan
\nchairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri publishes the Demokrat daily.<\/p>\n
However, "They will not be effective as a means of
\ncampaigning. Who's going to read it? Such publications only have
\na small segment of readers," Ade noted.<\/p>\n
Parties would still aim at the media establishment, he said.
\n"The public will only read media with credibility... there is no
\nchoice for the parties but to conduct their campaigns through
\nwell known media," Ade said.<\/p>\n
He acknowledged the media, too, had its political leanings.<\/p>\n
"Kompas daily, for instance, tends to support Megawati and
\n(chairman of Nahdlatul Ulama) Abdurrahman Wahid. It's normal...
\nbut the paper does not sacrifice its objectivity." (edt)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/press-urged-to-set-up-rules-for-campaigns-coverage-1447893297",
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