Whatever happened to damage control?<\/p>\n
Indonesia's image and reputation both abroad and within the
\ncountry has been severely damaged by many events and factors
\nincluding: forest fires, huge foreign debts, monetary crisis,
\ndeaths due to famine, sporadic riots, corruption, collusion, lack
\nof transparency, questions of security and stability,
\ninconsistent and slow government responses, political blunders,
\nsoaring basic food staple prices etc.<\/p>\n
The consequences are very serious. People are beginning to
\ndoubt the government's ability and commitment to handle our
\ncurrent crisis. Tourism has declined significantly. Tourists are
\nchoosing to spend their time and money in our neighboring
\ncountries for fear of environmental and security risks and
\ncontracting diseases.<\/p>\n
Pictures of people queuing for food, pictures of famine,
\ncontagious diseases, forest fires, demonstrations, riots, and
\nother negative events dominate the foreign media including
\nforeign TV and newspapers.<\/p>\n
Foreign investment has declined significantly, if not to
\npractically nothing, and many small Indonesian companies have
\nclosed down due to lack of capital, poor liquidity and stiff
\ncompetition.<\/p>\n
Yet nobody seems to be attempting damage control in regard to
\nthe image and reputation of our nation as a way of preventing
\nfurther decline of our economic status.<\/p>\n
Damage control is a very important in reshaping a tarnished
\npublic image. It is frequently restored to by companies and
\ngovernments when their public image takes a battering due to
\ncritical events. I am suggesting the government should begin
\ndamage control activities both abroad and within the country as
\nfollows:<\/p>\n
* Weekly radio talk by the President to address the nation
\nregarding constructive activities undertaken by the government to
\ndeal with the current crisis. We would like to see that our
\nPresident is in charge, strong, healthy and responsive to public
\nneeds.<\/p>\n
* Weekly meeting with the media by the Minister of Information
\nor his designee to inform the media about government activities
\nand to conduct a dialog with the media.<\/p>\n
* Public activities by diplomats abroad to correct public
\nmisperceptions about our current affairs and to improve our image
\nabroad.<\/p>\n
* Conducting dialogs with important and eminent figures in
\nsociety to exchange ideas and thoughts regarding our current
\neconomic and political situation.<\/p>\n
* Using the media such as TV and the newspapers to project better
\nimages of the government and the country.<\/p>\n
K. PRIBADI<\/p>\n
Cimahi, West Java<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/whatever-happened-to-damage-control-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }