Media body calls local news 'vulgar'

JAKARTA: The violence shown in crime reports aired by local TV channels has reached a horrifying level as the program is watched by the general public, a media watchdog said on Friday.

Media Watch and Consumer Center coordinator Afdal Makkuraga Putra said the news had gone too far in reconstructing the crimes and quite frequently showed the victims.

"We urge local media to be wiser when broadcasting crime news. Instead of warning people, the news has inspired people to emulate the crime," he said in a statement.

Graphic scenes of violence in news is banned under Law No. 24/1997 on broadcasting, he said.

Crime news programs are broadcast by Indosiar titled Patroli, SCTV with Buser, RCTI with Sergap and ANteve with Fakta. Most shows are aired during the day. --JP