Crooked journos slammed

Crooked journos slammed

Nana Rukmana, The Jakarta Post, Cirebon, West Java

Dozens of media representatives, students and activists held a
rally against crooked journalists in Cirebon on Wednesday.

Held amid a nationwide campaign against crooked politicians,
the rally was organized by journalist groups, students and other
non-governmental organizations.

Dahono Fitrianto, the coordinator of the Cirebon Journalist
Discussion Forum, said the rally was staged to remind the news
media it had to stay independent in the upcoming elections.

"Journalists must stay neutral and they must be able to
position themselves as representatives of the public," said
Dahono, a journalist at Kompas daily.

The rally was timely as the image of journalists had been
tarnished, he said.

"Envelope journalists", bogus freelancers with no regard for
the truth, who were willing to write up any angle for a price,
were widespread in the country, he said.

"There are many journalists who will write stories in line
with certain interests in order to get financial compensation.
This will cost the public dearly."

If there were crooked politicians, then these people were
crooked journalists, Dahono said.

Cirebon Journalist Solidarity movement member Dedy Musashi
said the rally was held to create balanced reporting in the
elections.

"During the elections, there will be many politicians trying
to manipulate journalists. We should be aware of this and take
steps to avoid it," said Dedy, a journalist with the Republika
daily.

SCTV journalist Ridwan Pamungkas called on public to help
control the attitude of crooked journalists.

Many employed journalists and freelancers visited government
offices and asked for money from government officials, he said.

He urged officials not to comply with their requests and
report them to journalist organizations. In Cirebon alone there
were about 400 people who listed themselves as journalists, he
said.

Suryana, the speaker of the Cirebon Council, supported the
rally, saying it could help improve the media's credibility with
the public.