A matter of credibility

Yesterday could not have been a worse time to mark National Press Day given the present state of the economy. The press has been one of the first sectors to feel the pinch of the recession. Some magazines and newspapers have been forced to cease publication, some are publishing less frequently, others have cut the number of pages. TV stations are cutting back on air time and some publications have begun to lay off workers. With the crisis expected to deepen in the coming months, we can expect more drastic cost-cutting measures. The possibility of further publications closing down cannot be ruled out.

Rising newsprint prices, denominated in dollars, is only one of many factors plaguing the troubled press industry. Corporate spending on advertising, traditionally the mainstay of media funding, has fallen dramatically since the beginning of the recession. Costs in general, with the sole exception of wages, are increasing in line with rapidly rising inflation. In short, the press, like the rest of the economy, is not immune to the impact of the drastic slump in the rupiah.

Still, since it has become traditional to mark National Press Day on Feb. 9, those involved in journalism should use this occasion to contemplate rather than celebrate. It is time to reflect on the role of the press.

President Soeharto's scathing criticism of the press yesterday, over its reporting of the crisis, is certainly one of the things that should be considered. Some might want to contest his assertion that the press has a hand in the spreading of malicious rumors which have aggravated the crisis, but coming from the head of state, the complaint should be looked at seriously.

It must be admitted that this has been a particularly difficult time for the press to work through. Nobody likes to be the bearer of bad tidings, but somebody has to do it. That somebody is the nation's journalists.

Journalism may thrive on bad news, but conveying bad news at a time like this requires a special care. Handled wrongly, reporting can instill unnecessary alarm, fear, and even spread panic among the public. But ignoring bad news would be wrong for journalists, for that is tantamount to concealing the truth and depriving people of their right to information.

Indonesia's delicate political situation is also very difficult for the press to work within. Hardly a day goes by without a new rumor emerging about the state of the nation, or state of our leaders. Local newspapers have ignored these rumors, that much is a fact, but they were obliged to report the official denials, issued when hearsay began to affect the markets, as often happens now. With some politicians now searching for scapegoats, the press must be careful, lest it -- willingly, or unwillingly -- is used by ambitious politicians to manipulate the situation.

The professionalism of journalists is being severely tested. Daily they must run the gauntlet and report the crisis with integrity. Writers must take care not to be seen to unduly victimize any particular parties, or themselves become victims to the many pressures and dangers which they face. Diligence in both selection and presentation of news is more important now than ever before. Ultimately, it is this integrity which determines the credibility of a publication. Credibility, in turn, may turn out to be the one factor that ensures press survival.