Artists complain of press coverage

JAKARTA: Several movie artists complained at a hearing with House of Representatives (DPR) Commission I for media affairs on Friday that the mass media had encroached on their personal lives.

Deddy "Mi'ing" Gumelar, spokesman for the artists, said his relations with newsmen were good until the so-called reform era.

He said investigative reports by some media were an attack on his personal life and that of his family. He, however, did not give details of his accusations.

Deddy, a comedian, claimed that some journalists had no journalistic background and therefore called for an improvement in recruitment.

Also present at the hearing were actresses Ayu Azhari and Desy Ratnasari, while dangdut singer Inul Daratista could not attend the hearing and was represented by her lawyer Ruhut Sitompul.

Legislator Effendi Choirie who presided over the hearing said the artists' complaint would be taken as an input for the next hearing with the mass media.-- JP