'SCTV' management sacks debate producer<\/p>\n
SURABAYA (JP): The producer who brought together two rival
\npoliticians in a highly controversial television debate last
\nmonth has lost his job at SCTV.<\/p>\n
Supandi Syahrul, the producer of the debate between Latief
\nPudjosakti and Sutjipto of the Indonesian Democratic Party, said
\nhe was arbitrarily sacked and would sue SCTV management.<\/p>\n
\"The management's letter (on his dismissal) is vague and there
\nis a lot of injustices in their argument,\" Supandi told The
\nJakarta Post yesterday.<\/p>\n
The dismissal letter stated that Supandi was fired because he
\nhad criticized SCTV's talk show Behind the News that aired the
\ndebate.<\/p>\n
It specifically referred to an article written by Supandi for
\nthe Surabaya-based Surya daily. The article, published on March
\n30, stated that the talk show rated very low in a recent survey.<\/p>\n
The SCTV management says Supandi presented misleading analysis
\nto the public about an internal matter of the mass media company.<\/p>\n
Supandi, who has worked at the private station for five years,
\nsaid he believed his dismissal had to do with the interview. The
\ndebate was almost canceled after some officials reportedly
\nobjected to it because Sutjipto was critical of the government.<\/p>\n
A reliable source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity,
\ntold the Post that a director and a shareholder of SCTV were
\nangered by the Latief-Sutjipto debate because it could sour
\nrelations between the company and the government.<\/p>\n
SCTV spokesperson Dini S. Rahim declined to comment on the
\nproducer's dismissal.<\/p>\n
Supandi's lawyer, Trimoelja D. Soerjadi, said he would file
\nthe lawsuit soon. He described his client's firing as \"one sided\"
\nbecause Supandi was never given a chance to defend himself.<\/p>\n
\"He had been asked on several occasions to resign. Of course
\nhe refused,\" the lawyer said. (15\/pan)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/sctv-management-sacks-debate-producer-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}