Claims by Bakom and INMF Regarding the Homeless Media Names Mentioned
The Indonesian government’s Communication Agency (Bakom) has stated that there is no cooperation agreement with homeless media affiliated with the Indonesia New Media Forum (INMF). Acting Deputy III for Partnerships and Media Relations at Bakom, Kurnia Ramadhana, emphasised that the government fully respects the independence of new media as well as conventional media in carrying out their duties and functions.
“There is no contract, editorial directive, or binding partnership form that ties specific media to support the government,” said Kurnia in a written statement, quoted on Friday, 8 May 2026.
Kurnia’s statement responds to several denials from managers of new media—often called homeless media—against claims by Bakom Head Muhammad Qodari. They collectively issued statements after Qodari mentioned their social media account names as government partners during a press conference on Wednesday, 6 May 2026.
Kurnia explained that the mention of homeless media names in the press conference was based on a document provided by INMF during a meeting on Tuesday, 5 May 2026. According to Kurnia, on that day Bakom received an “audience request” from INMF.
At the start of the meeting, said Kurnia, Bakom and INMF members introduced themselves. INMF explained about new media as well as the INMF community.
Kurnia mentioned that during the audience, INMF provided a document titled New Media Forum 2026. “The document lists names of new media players (new media industry actors),” said Kurnia.
Kurnia claimed that Bakom respects the independence of new media as well as conventional media. Meetings with various new media actors, said Kurnia, are solely intended to open communication channels and expand public information access.
Kurnia emphasised that Bakom is open to criticism, corrections, and the cover both sides mechanism as part of healthy democracy. Bakom also views new media as an important part of the public information ecosystem that retains its respective independence. “If there is any mention or framing that causes misunderstanding in the public space, it is a concern to be improved,” he said.
A different claim comes from the Indonesia New Media Forum community. Qodari is said to have invited seven homeless media owners who are actively pioneering INMF to meet. The meeting took place at a restaurant in Jakarta on Tuesday afternoon, 5 May 2026.
According to the INMF Committee representative, Timothy Marbun, of the seven invited, only six attended. They came representing their respective media, not the INMF community. “We were given information by the Bakom Head who wanted to get acquainted and know what homeless media is because it is new,” said Timothy when confirmed, on Thursday, 7 May 2026.
In an open statement released on the same day, the INMF Committee revealed that in the meeting they discussed the phenomenon of the emergence of homeless media and how they carry out the information production process. INMF claimed there was no discussion leading to editorial realms, media coordination forms, or any formal cooperation.
In addition, INMF emphasised that the media names mentioned by Bakom are not a list of INMF members, but rather a mapping of the digital and social media industry ecosystem that was once used in internal discussion processes. INMF has not yet opened formal membership because it is still in the formation process. Therefore, INMF did not expect Bakom to announce those names. “That list was also never given by INMF to Bakom,” said Timothy.