'Journalists' hit up regency for money

BOGOR: The Bogor regency administration is angry about the demand for Idul Fitri "bonuses" it received from about 360 so- called journalists.

The "journalists", who claimed to be assigned to cover activities in the regency, made their monetary demands at each of the administration's agencies, Sony Abdusyukur, regency spokesman, said last Friday.

He said most of the publications the journalists claimed to work for were defunct.

Sony said he believed there were only about 40 real journalists covering the activities of the regency administration.

To ensure positive news coverage, many government officials and private companies pay off journalists. People often take advantage of this practice by posing as journalists and demanding money from officials.--JP