United drive against RI's bad image urged<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): A senior journalist suggests that the government
\nlaunch a concerted effort to counter foreign news discrediting
\nIndonesia by, among other measures, hiring international public
\nrelations companies.<\/p>\n
The chief editor of the state news agency Antara, Handjojo
\nNitimihardjo, told members of House Commission I visiting his
\noffice at Jl. Medan Merdeka Selatan, Central Jakarta, yesterday
\nthat government agencies sometimes use the services of such
\ncompanies to present a more favorable image of Indonesia abroad.<\/p>\n
He cited the 18-month long Festival of the Indonesian Arts and
\nCulture held in the United States in 1991 and 1992 as an example
\nof campaigns to counter bad press about Indonesia.<\/p>\n
Former foreign minister Mochtar Kusumaatmadja organized the
\nevent to introduce the diversity of Indonesia's traditional and
\ncontemporary arts and culture.<\/p>\n
Those type of events were incidental, however, Handjojo
\npointed out. \"We need a project exclusively dedicated to do the
\njob,\" he told Commission members, who oversee information,
\nsecurity and political affairs.<\/p>\n
He suggested that the project involve a number of
\ninstitutions, including the ministries of foreign affairs and
\ninformation.<\/p>\n
\"Hire an international public relations company, if
\nnecessary,\" he said, adding that the project, however, would be
\ncostly.<\/p>\n
Handjojo pointed out that Antara has also been waging a
\ncampaign against foreign \"bad news\", but added, however, that its
\nwritings alone are inadequate.<\/p>\n
\"We cannot depend on such measures alone,\" Handjojo said.<\/p>\n
Aminullah Ibrahim from the Armed Forces faction suggested that
\nAntara send its news reports to Indonesia's embassies abroad to
\nhelp them neutralize discrediting stories about Indonesia. He
\npointed out that many stories about East Timor, Indonesia's 27th
\nprovince, are fabricated.<\/p>\n
\"Measures should be taken not only to provide correction, but
\nalso more information for the foreign press, which may be
\nmisinformed about -- or misunderstand -- Indonesia,\" Aminullah
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Handjojo said that Antara cannot take up the campaign alone.
\n\"So far, we have done it, but it's still not enough,\" he said.<\/p>\n
During the meeting, Handjojo said that Antara has also been
\nfighting bad press on Indonesia at home by carefully selecting
\nand editing foreign news which it distributes to its customers
\nhere.<\/p>\n
From 1,600 foreign news reports and 250 stories produced by
\nits own journalists every day, Antara selects and distributes up
\nto 80 pieces only, Handjojo said.<\/p>\n
Indonesia has two other news agencies: the state-owned Kantor
\nBerita Nasional Indonesia (KNI) and Pers Angkatan Bersenjata
\n(PAB), which is owned by the Armed Forces (ABRI). The KNI and PAB
\nalso select foreign news to sell to their customers.<\/p>\n
Handjojo said that sometimes their customers demand to use
\nunedited foreign news. However, \"they cannot quote the foreign
\npress using a Jakarta dateline,\" he added.<\/p>\n
Antara, established in 1937, is currently the biggest news
\nagency in Indonesia, with 13 bureaus abroad and 27 bureau offices
\nin every province.<\/p>\n
Minister\/State Secretary Moerdiono, the Information Ministry's
\nDirector General for Press and Graphics Soebrata and the State
\nCoordinating Intelligence Board's secretary, Nurhadi
\nPurwosaputro, are members of Antara's board of patrons. (01)<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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