'Antara' lashes out at subscribers

'Antara' lashes out at subscribers

JAKARTA: Most subscribers to state-owned news agency Antara
use the agency's news reports as raw material only, Antara chief
editor Mohammad Sobary said on Monday.

"Thus our soul has been murdered by our subscribers," Sobary
said during a hearing with House of Representatives Commission I
for media and defense affairs.

Sobary made the statement in response to questions from
legislators on the commitment of the state news agency to
maintaining the country's territorial integrity, as reflected in
its stories.

Legislators questioned why stories on the Aceh conflict mostly
dwelled on civilian casualties and suffering, instead of
humanitarian activities in the province.

Sobary said that because most subscribers used Antara's
reports only as their raw material, it was difficult to judge the
agency's commitment to national unity based on Antara articles
used by both the print and electronic media.

Sobary, who was appointed Antara's chief editor by former
president Abdurrahman Wahid, emphasized on Monday that the news
agency was committed to maintaining the country's integrity. --JP