Big media firms still focus on major national issues

Tertiani ZB Simanjuntak, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Leading national media agencies are of the opinion that the media should pay more attention to the major issues facing the nation rather than focusing on temporary sensational controversies and publishing excessive reports about the U.S. military attacks against Afghanistan.

Editors of the Jakarta-based Kompas and Koran Tempo dailies, private television station RCTI and state-owned television station TVRI said that, despite the importance of the issues, coverage on the attacks should not be counterproductive to the nation's agenda.

Kompas chief editor Suryopratomo said over the weekend that the U.S. bombings on Afghanistan and the tragedy to humankind after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in the U.S. deserved significant attention as international affairs.

"But for our daily's national issues, we focus on economic recovery to remind that we face various problems, ranging from immense levels of unemployment, poverty, to the economic crisis. Those are the issues we find crucial today," he told The Jakarta Post.

Suryopratomo argued that excessive coverage of anti-U.S. sentiment expressed by certain Indonesian Muslim groups could be counterproductive to the government's and the nation's efforts to survive the current economic crisis. It is the media's duty to actively remind people of the issues, he said.

"I agree with a media campaign aimed at all parties outlining that there are bigger problems regarding the nation's welfare, including that we are facing the threat of losing a generation due to the recent crisis, rather than the struggle to achieve universally ideal norms."

He admitted that there was an insignificant increase in his daily's sales, but pointed that it was not necessarily due to its East-West subject coverage, because there had been a gradual sale increase before the Sept. 11 attacks.

Meanwhile, Koran Tempo deputy managing editor Ivan Haris claimed an increase in sales after the Sept. 11 attack was not the only motivation for his daily to explore more issues concerning East-West issues.

He argued that there had not been any progress or activities on the part of the government regarding its agenda to pull Indonesia out of the economic crisis worthy of publication because President Megawati Soekarnoputri and her Cabinet remained silent.

"I'm not sure whether the executives and political leaders have been working prudently recently or just don't know what to do because, up to now, there have not been any policies regarding the aims and starting-point of an economic recovery.

"The U.S. bombing of Afghanistan is sexy news. This is the biggest attack of the decade. We're lucky to have such news because, if we only cover the national agenda, we don't have anything to publish," he told the Post.

RCTI deputy chief editor Atmadji Sumarkidjo believes that the current level of coverage in the national media is still acceptable, especially in the mass media, where all agencies agree that interest outweighs profit.

"Our editorial policy focuses on how the government deals with the expected impacts of the global economic crisis following the Sept. 11 World Trade Center destruction. We try to keep the issue on the surface through our daily news, talk shows or discourses," he said.

Atmadji explained that the station aired Muslim groups' rallies protesting the U.S. because it was a fact.

"But we are selective and cover both sides because we realize how the news affects our people. We don't exploit the protesters' emotions or endlessly quote those who blast Americans, and try to open a discourse so that people can see the problems clearly," he said.

Tribowo Kriswinarso, news managing editor at TVRI, said his station was still consistent with its agenda focusing on the economic recovery, political stability, law enforcement, environmental sustainability and the enhancement of regional potential.

"The country is strangled with too many problems already, so why should we fight over something which is not even ours and sacrifice our own interests," he said.

"The press should be objective and take a stand because we are responsible for helping the public have a better understanding. It's time to enlighten the people, especially those in the regions who are vulnerable to the nation's disintegration -- a problem we also face now," he remarked.