Top ASEAN journalists pledge cooperation<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jimbaran, Bali<\/p>\n
A number of prominent editors of leading media institutions of
\nthe Southeast Asian member countries have pledged to set up a
\njoint force and to formulate a concept of cooperation among
\njournalists in the region to promote freedom of the press and to
\nhelp build a more open and democratic civil society.<\/p>\n
In a recommendation presented to President Megawati
\nSoekarnoputri on the sidelines of the 9th ASEAN Leaders Summit in
\nNusa Dua on Monday, the editors said that it was urgent to
\nestablish a forum through which journalists throughout the region
\ncan better interact with each other to further develop a sense of
\nregional community and provide support for each other when faced
\nwith challenges to their freedom as journalists.<\/p>\n
The recommendation addressed two crucial issues. The first
\nconcern is the lack of a true sense of an ASEAN community. In an
\nintegrated world, it is imperative that the people of ASEAN forge
\na stronger sense of community in order to better be able to work
\ntogether to promote common interests in dealing with the rest of
\nthe world.<\/p>\n
The second concern is the need to preserve and enhance the
\nright of journalists to practice their profession, as too often
\nin certain countries of the region, journalists have been
\nsubjected to harassment, coercion and death threats in the
\npractice of their profession.<\/p>\n
Before meeting with the President, around 60 senior editors
\nfrom leading media institutions from the 10-member ASEAN
\ngathered in Kuta.<\/p>\n
Initiated by the Jakarta's Editors Club, it is hoped that the
\ngathering could establish a strong network and provide sources
\nfor any party eager to learn any subject related to the ASEAN
\nregion.<\/p>\n
During the welcome dinner at Jimbaran on Sunday night, Santo
\nPudjomartono, one of the Club's founders, shared his view that it
\nwas necessary at this crucial juncture for the media to play a
\nstronger role in every meeting or summit of the ASEAN member
\ncountries and their partners.<\/p>\n
\"At present, the media plays a passive role, only covering and
\nreporting the meetings and events,\" maintained Soesanto.<\/p>\n
Yuli Ismartono, senior editor of Tempo magazine, added that in
\nthe past media in each country worked alone, separated from its
\ncounterparts in the neighboring countries.<\/p>\n
\"And therefore, there is a wide gap between most of us in
\nterms of gathering information, press freedoms and other aspects
\nof the media and its relationship with government and society,\"
\nYuli explained.<\/p>\n
The level of press freedom, for example, is different in every
\ncountry.<\/p>\n
In order to eliminate or at least narrow the wide gap, she
\nsuggested that the media in the region stand together and
\nregularly hold meetings to keep up with the development in each
\nmember country.<\/p>\n
\"We are trying to establish a basis for building a civil
\nsociety. Any decision should not come from just one source like
\nthe government or the business community,\" Soesanto said<\/p>\n
The media should strive to serve as a source of information
\nthat can provide the necessary input for all decision makers, he
\nconcluded.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/top-asean-journalists-pledge-cooperation-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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