Radio stations pledge to remain neutral in polls<\/p>\n
Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
As the general election draws near, radio stations have drawn up
\na manual to help their employees remain neutral while covering
\nthe elections.<\/p>\n
Zainal A. Suryokusumo from the Election Monitoring Radio
\nNetwork (JRPP) said radio practitioners drew up the manual to
\nexpand on and clarify existing regulations.<\/p>\n
\"This manual is aimed at reducing the level of partisanship
\namong radio people during the elections,\" he told The Jakarta
\nPost on Monday.<\/p>\n
The country will hold a legislative election on April 5, which
\nwill be contested by 24 political parties.<\/p>\n
Parties and coalitions garnering 3 percent of the seats in the
\nHouse of Representatives or 5 percent of the total vote will be
\nallowed to take part in the country's first ever direct
\npresidential election on July 5, with a second round on Sept. 20
\nif necessary.<\/p>\n
Earlier, Smita Notosusanto from the Center for Electoral
\nReform (Cetro) expressed fear that radio stations would be
\ncontrolled by political parties during the election campaign.<\/p>\n
Unlike the print media, according to Smita, radio stations
\noffer a more personal relationship with listeners, which could
\nencourage politicians to control as many radio stations as
\npossible.<\/p>\n
Smita, who has been actively campaigning for free and fair
\nelections across the country, regretted that some presenters at
\nradio stations had not given up their positions despite being
\nnominated as legislative candidates by various parties.<\/p>\n
She made these comments during the launch here of a book
\ntitled Radio and the 2004 Elections. The book was jointly written
\nby the JRPP, CETRO and Friedrich-Naumann-Stiftung.<\/p>\n
Zainal said radio stations had recommended that presenters or
\nreporters who had been nominated as legislative candidates keep
\ntheir positions as presenters or reporters.<\/p>\n
JRPP activist Cahaya Sinaga said the group had facilitated
\ntraining for radio journalists to enable them to provide the
\npublic with useful information during the elections.<\/p>\n
\"We radio people are prepared to cover election activities,\"
\nshe said.<\/p>\n
Cahaya said radio people understood their role and function in
\nthe elections, as well as the principle of neutrality.<\/p>\n
According to her, radio stations had agreed to ban presenters
\nfrom campaigning for any political party, in an attempt to avoid
\npartisanship.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/radio-stations-pledge-to-remain-neutral-in-polls-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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