The practice of paying \u201cuang rilis\u201d for news in North Tapanuli\nRegency, North Sumatra, is increasingly coming under the spotlight.\nBehind the pretext of publication cooperation, this scheme is suspected\nof potentially eroding journalists\u2019 independence and opening the door to\nconflicts of interest in news production.<\/p>\n
Field investigations show that each published news release is valued\nat around Rp25,000. The payment mechanism is carried out via direct\ntransfers to journalists\u2019 accounts and disbursed periodically every\nquarter. This pattern indicates the presence of a quantity-based\nincentive system, rather than one focused on journalistic quality.<\/p>\n
Several journalists in the area, who declined to be named, admitted\nto the pressure to increase the number of release publications to chase\naccumulated payments.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf it\u2019s not picked up, then there\u2019s no payment. Like it or not, we\nchase the quantity,\u201d said one source.<\/p>\n
This situation is seen as vulnerable to shifting the press\u2019s role\nfrom social control to merely an extension of government information\ndissemination. In the long term, the public risks being fed information\nthat lacks verification and tends to be one-sided.<\/p>\n
Efforts to confirm with the Head of the Communications and\nInformatics Office (Kominfo) of North Tapanuli, Donna Situmeang, have\nyet to yield results. Messages sent via WhatsApp on Wednesday (25\/3) at\n13:58 WIB received no response.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the Head of News Division at the North Tapanuli Kominfo\nOffice, Volmer Silalahi, when confirmed regarding the budget aspects and\nlegal basis of the activity, has not provided adequate explanation.<\/p>\n
Questions posed included the total \u201cuang rilis\u201d budget for the 2026\nFiscal Year, its inclusion in the Regional Budget (APBD), and the\nnomenclature of the programme or activity that covers it.<\/p>\n
Instead of addressing the substance, the individual only asked for\ntime. \u201cBe patient, brother\u2026 (Brother, be patient waiting),\u201d he wrote in\na reply message on Friday (27\/3) at 11:17 WIB.<\/p>\n
This lack of openness further strengthens suspicions of issues in the\nmanagement of publication budgets. In accountable government practices,\nevery use of regional budgets should have a clear legal basis, be\nincluded in APBD documents, and be accessible to the public.<\/p>\n
From an ethical perspective, the \u201cuang rilis\u201d scheme also directly\nintersects with the Journalistic Code of Ethics, which requires\njournalists to act independently, free from interference, and not accept\nrewards that could influence reporting content.<\/p>\n
The Press Council firmly reminds that all forms of \u201cenvelopes\u201d or\nrewards have the potential to damage professional integrity.<\/p>\n
Media observers assess that if this pattern is allowed to continue\nwithout oversight, the boundary between media cooperation and\ntransactional practices will become increasingly blurred. \u201cThe press\ncould lose its critical function. This is not just about money, but\nabout public trust,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
As of the publication of this news, there has been no official\nexplanation from the North Tapanuli Kominfo Office regarding\ntransparency, legal basis, or oversight mechanisms for the\nprogramme.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/release-funds-in-taput-publication-scheme-or-covert-practice-1774716647", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }