License to report
One could not agree more with President B.J. Habibie's desire to see a higher standard of professionalism among Indonesian journalists. In this era of globalization, professionalism in any field is crucial. Without it, people in any walk of life will not be able to survive the fierce global competition that now exists. If professionalism is equated with striving for higher journalistic standards, Habibie's concern is valid. Indonesian journalists are just rediscovering freedom of the press after it was suppressed by Habibie's predecessor Soeharto for more than two decades. Journalists could hardly be expected to enhance their professionalism in an authoritarian regime. As journalists adjust to the more open environment, they have the chance to develop and strengthen their professionalism. Any support and thoughts on how they should go about this from any quarter, including the President, is therefore welcome.
During a meeting with representatives of newspaper publishers last week, Habibie suggested the use of a licensing mechanism for journalists. The President likened journalism to the medical profession, in which doctors are licensed to practice. A license is issued after one has demonstrated the possession of certain minimum skills by passing professional examinations. The system is intended to ensure high standards and any doctor guilty of malpractice, unprofessional conduct, or failing to meet the minimum standards can have his license revoked.
Habibie's suggestion, as related by Secretary-General of the Association of Indonesian Journalists Parni Hadi, calls for the formation of a body to issue journalists with annually renewable licenses. On the surface of it, the argument for licensing journalists appears to be strong. There is definitely a need to strengthen the skills of the people working in the media. Given the influence that the press and the broadcasting media have over public opinion, there is certainly a need to ensure that journalists do not abuse their power.
While we can think of many good reasons why licensing is good, we can think of only one reason, but a very good one at that, why this system should never be adopted: Journalism by licensing threatens democracy. The proposal cuts at the essence of a free press, and therefore free speech and freedom of expression.
The comparison with the medical profession is valid only to the point where both doctors and journalists perform crucial services that have a wide impact on the public. But journalism, in the sense of writing for the press, should never become a closed-shop profession where entry is restricted. That would violate Article 28 of the 1945 Constitution that guarantees the freedom of expression, whether orally or in writing. Any person of any background should be entitled to write their opinions, and whether or not their articles get published in newspapers or magazines is up to the discretion of editors. Habibie's proposal would preclude non-licensed journalists from having their say in the press, and this could deprive the nation of the healthy discourse which is so essential to democracy.
The plan appears to be the latest government attempt to slow down the process of reform. In the information sector, we have not seen any progress since the partial liberalization of the press by Minister of Information Muhammad Yunus early last month. Yunus rolled back the bureaucratic procedures required to start up press publications and allowed more than one professional organizations to represent journalists. However, he retained the requirement that all journalists have to be accredited to a professional organization on the pretext of maintaining standards. Yunus also underscored the government's reliance on the court of law to deal with abuses of press freedom by newspaper publishers rather than revoking licenses as in the past.
No one would dispute the need to strengthen professionalism and stamp out abuses of power in the Indonesian press. But there are many ways of doing this that will not kill democracy. While we cannot tolerate quack doctors, we can probably live with some quack journalists.
Market forces are not perfect, but they are still the best way to determine the existence of press publications. The public are mature enough to judge what they read in newspapers, irrespective of whether it has been written by licensed journalists or not. Habibie's proposal may sound good, but society stands to lose a lot more than it gains from licensing journalists.