Exhibition explores journalistic flaws, hardships

Exhibition explores journalistic flaws, hardships

I Wayan Juniartha, The Jakarta Post/Denpasar, Bali

The Bali Independent Journalists Alliance (AJI Bali) has a unique
way of celebrating its 10th anniversary -- organizing a cartoon
exhibition, where most of the work deals with the dark side of
journalism, from news-spinning and insinuation to the prevailing
culture of bribery among local journalists.

Titled "Journalists in the Eyes of Cartoonists", the exhibition
features 32 works of 17 local cartoonists, including some of
the island's most respected cartoonists such as Ida Bagus Marti
naya, Kadek Jango Pramartha, Wayan Gunasta and Cece Riberu. Held
in the Bali Museum in downtown Denpasar, the exhibition runs
through Aug. 28.

The chairman of AJI Bali, Anton Muhajir, pointed out that the
exhibition was a necessary step to maintain the psychological
health of journalists. According to Anton, to gain public trust
journalists should prove their trustworthiness and independence
from time to time. To be able to act as a true pillar of democra
cy, to function as a social control, the media corps must be able
to embrace criticism with the same level of fervor it shows when
criticizing other elements of society.

"We believe that introspection and self-examination should be
an integral part of our lives and work as journalists. The exhi
bition is a good way to gauge the public's opinion of journalists
and to find out whether we, as journalists, are mature enough to
accept criticism," he said.

Separately, cultural observer Hartanto Yudhoprasetyo praised
the exhibition as a critical step toward the advancement of
democratic values on the island.

"The cartoonists and journalists are giving a great lesson in
democracy, that is that criticism is not taboo. They also have
showed that criticism should not necessarily lead to hostility or
enmity between their respective communities. Criticism and the
ability to hold a healthy and honest public debate on certain
issues are the necessary foundations for the establishment of an
open society," he concluded.

Some of the displayed works do indeed mock irresponsible
journalists, who, instead of informing and enlightening their
communities, succumbed to various temptations, such as bribery,
political influence and more bribery, and end up polluting the
minds of their readers with lies, fear and hate through fabricat
ed news and unsound journalistic practices.

In this sense, journalists have became spin-doctors for var
ious interest groups and are no longer independent seekers of
truth.

Veteran cartoonist Ida Bagus Martinaya, alias Gus Martin,
addressed this subject in a cartoon, which could easily be said
to be the best cartoon in the exhibition. The cartoon portrays a
smiling journalist who is removing his spectacles to apparently
replace them with a new set of glasses presented by a woman's
manicured hand. The new glasses, it turns out, are not made of
glass at all, but of two envelopes.

Envelope, or amplop in Indonesian, refers to the unethical
conduct of a large number of journalists who accept cash from
their sources, usually high-ranking government officials and
wealthy entrepreneurs. A source usually gives cash enclosed in an
envelope, thus, the reference. This practice is so widespread
that it is ceasing to be a practice and instead is becoming a way
of life.

"It's a powerful piece of work because Gus Martin does not
employ a single word or any dialog in the sketch, yet the message
is loud and clear. That's what a cartoon is supposed to be, isn't
it," journalist Rofiqi Hasan said.

Not all of the cartoons deal with the shortcomings of journal
ists. Several pieces, particularly by another veteran cartoonist,
Cece Riberu, deal with the hazards and hardships journalists
encounter in their work.

Cece's most striking work features a man, who is wearing a
dark suit that has Perusahaan (company) emblazoned across it, is
sporting a wide, greedy grin while furiously milking a cow. It is
an interesting cow for she is smoking a cigarette and a camera
hangs around her neck.

If the cow is carrying a camera and smoking a cigarette she
must therefore be a journalist-cow, mustn't she?

The cow utters only one word, the Balinese exclamation badah,
which is usually used to convey a sense of frustration, disap
pointment, bewilderment and helplessness.

"That's exactly the response of the majority of Indonesian
journalists when they are being exploited by their employers. All
they can say is badah, a silent protest," another spectator
quipped.