Public may leave local press for 'BBC' or 'CNN'<\/p>\n
SURAKARTA, Central Java (JP): The Indonesian press has failed
\nto act as a guardian of the conscience of the people, \"the silent
\nmajority\", or protect their interests, an observer warned here
\nyesterday.<\/p>\n
Christianto Wibisono, an expert on economics and the press,
\nblamed this on the fact that the media market is controlled by
\npeople with vested interests, who campaign for the political
\nstatus quo, and who disregard pluralism and the competitive
\nnature of the market.<\/p>\n
\"It this situation is not righted, it is eminently possible
\nthat the Indonesian public will prefer watching global multimedia
\nnetworks such as BBC World Service TV or CNN, or going to the
\nInternet for information, rather than reading local newspapers,\"
\nhe told The Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
He said the trend has begun, as shown by the current
\nstagnation in the circulations of local publications, despite
\nrobust overall economic growth. \"Indonesians are becoming more
\nprosperous, but also lazier. Their buying power is increasing,
\nbut their reading habits are in decline,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"Indonesians want to be better educated and are turning to
\nforeign media,\" he said. \"They know that the national press is
\nvulnerable to corruption, and can't satisfy them.\"<\/p>\n
The stinging remark Christianto made was but one among many.
\nThe National Press Day, commemorated here yesterday, saw an
\nonslaught of criticism of the press, originally started by
\nPresident Soeharto who criticized it for violating rules and
\ncodes of ethics.<\/p>\n
In his speech yesterday, President Soeharto also said that
\nwhile the Indonesian press must adapt to globalization, it must
\nretain its identity as a \"fighting press\" and not become a
\ncommercial press.<\/p>\n
\"The press industry must not be transformed into an arena of
\nbattle between the various parties, such as the journalists,
\npublishers, and owners,\" he said. \"Such a press would no longer
\nreflect the character of Indonesia.\"<\/p>\n
Observers were quick to support this particular call. Maemun
\nZubaer, a United Development Party (PPP) legislator, and
\ncommunication expert Alwi Dahlan said there were indeed members
\nof the press which seem to have become the mouthpiece of certain
\nsocial-political groups.<\/p>\n
\"Under such conditions, it is difficult for the press to
\nuphold justice and honesty,\" he said. \"The press should, instead,
\nact as an institution which calls on people to do good deeds, and
\nto refrain from violations.\"<\/p>\n
Counter<\/p>\n
Sociologist Ariel Heryanto, on the other hand, said he did not
\nsee anything wrong with members of the press becoming the
\nmouthpiece of certain groups. \"Just let them be, as long as there
\nare other members of the press which act as a counter force,\" he
\ntold the Post.<\/p>\n
\"The important thing is for the public to have options, a
\nchoice, access to other mass media,\" he said. \"What's not right
\nis if the public is exposed only to information from one point of
\nview.\"<\/p>\n
Ariel said there was nothing wrong with press members
\naffiliating with or supporting certain social or political
\ngroups. \"Provided the government allows other press members to
\ncounter the first groups,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He called on the government not to arbitrarily ban critical or
\nalternative media. \"The government should, instead, be grateful
\nfor a press which helps educate the nation,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Ana Nadhya Abrar, a communication expert at the Gadjah Mada
\nUniversity, agreed with Ariel's ideas. He added that the
\ngovernment ought to allow the press the freedom to fulfil the
\npublic's demands for, and indeed right to, knowledge.<\/p>\n
Christianto yesterday also spoke of the need for deregulation
\nfor the press industry, that will allow it the breathing room to
\nmeet the public's demands.<\/p>\n
Otherwise, he said, the \"information era\" that Indonesia
\nwishes to enter will remain nothing more than an empty buzzword.
\n(har\/swe)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/public-may-leave-local-press-for-bbc-or-cnn-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}