News on Indonesia

News on Indonesia

From Kompas

It has gradually dawned on me that the foreign media's method
and style of reporting on Indonesia still reflect the prejudices
and superiority of the old days vis-a-vis a developing nation.
Exaggeration also characterizes those foreign reports.

In their analysis of recent happenings, they focus on riots
taking place in several places, with one-sided comments blaming
the government. The impression is that they have not tried to
obtain countercomments from their objects of derision.

Comments on Indonesia generally come from foreign "experts".
Evaluations by Indonesian experts are rarely included.

Foreign television stations are wont to repeatedly broadcast
the less pleasant aspects of events, thus creating an overall
negative impression, to the detriment of Indonesia.

If such reports were questioned, the reply would probably be
that the lack of credible sources in Indonesia was the cause of
the one-sided reports.

The control of the contents and the method of reporting on
Indonesia, mainly by the foreign media, is perhaps more than
difficult, in other words, just impossible. However, accurate
reporting and use of background data of events by local and
foreign media could at least renege the excuse that "there is no
data/information from authorized sources".

I am convinced that our side has taken those steps, perhaps by
measuring their effectiveness, detecting weaknesses and other
aspects. The analysis of reports on Indonesia will, at least,
lead to steps taken to maximize the endeavors toward balanced
reporting.

RIZAL MARIS

Jakarta