Observers consider Indonesian press weak
Observers consider Indonesian press weak
SEMARANG (JP): The Indonesian contemporary press is in a bind: it has been made so weak by the government that it is unable to function as a social control, while poor solidarity erodes its strength from within.
This observation has been made by four experts. Although they come from different fields of expertise, all were consistent in their opinions about the press' inability to make objective reports and, therefore, exert control.
Communication expert Darmanto Jatman at Diponegoro University told The Jakarta Post that despite its significant influence on society, the press is subservient to the state.
He pointed out that almost no one is exempted from the influence of the mass media, so much so that people's priorities are affected by everything the press dishes out. "What the media deems important, becomes important to the public as well," he said.
However, "the press' ability to function as a social control is poor," Darmanto said. "It's the state that runs the press."
Sociology expert Arief Budiman, a former lecturer at the Satya Wacana Christian University in Salatiga, Central Java, focused his criticism on how unhealthy competition and poor solidarity erodes the press' strength.
He cited the glee of certain members of the press when a publication was banned. Rather than uniting and defending the unfortunate member of the press, the others "happily" and readily took over the vacant place left by the banning.
Arief did not give examples, but following the 1994 banning of three major newsweeklies, Tempo, Editor and DeTik, several magazines emerged which resembled the banned publications.
Ridwan Widyadarma, whose commentaries relatively sided with the press, was more compassionate. He said the press fails to probe deeper and, subsequently, gives "more" in coverage in fear for its very survival.
"This condition is certainly not ideal for the campaign for justice and democratization," the legal expert at Diponegoro University said.
Slamet Rahardjo, an expert at the school of letters at the same university, named freedom of expression as the condition for the press to function as a social control.
Democratization
He said the press can help democratization only when it can be free of pressure from any political power or the government.
Arief agreed, saying that the only way Indonesia can establish a "good, ideal press" is by abolishing the government's authority to either issue publication licenses or bannings.
The alternative to banning, he said, is the establishment of a court to try press offenses. "Set up a court to try irresponsible press members. We need to establish a culture of law here, not a culture of power."
This year's National Press Day, which falls on Feb. 9, will be celebrated in Surakarta, Central Java. President Soeharto is scheduled to attend the commemoration which will also be marked with exhibitions, discussions and seminars.
Yesterday, Arief Budiman elaborated his comments on the press' inability to stand up to the government. He blamed the government for wielding its authority to ban publications as a means to make the press toe the line.
"What's unfortunate is the power that the press has to contend with is not a legal power, but a bureaucratic one," Arief said. "The government can arbitrarily ban the press...no wonder the press is so weak and defeated."
Under such a condition, sometimes the press finds it easier to just yield and be a voice of the government. Arief said it was why the press tends to give undue attention to the government's side of any story, and neglect the aspiration of oppressed people.
"The government is campaigning hard to turn the press into its trumpet. If this happens, the readers who have increasingly become critical will soon abandon the press," he said.
The public is now able to identify empty promises that the government announces through the press, he said.
Arief admitted that some members of the press sincerely attempt to function as a social gauge for the government. However, "they do so only with lower level officials," he said. "The press doesn't dare (to control) higher level officials."
After the criticism, Ridwan still had something good to say about the press. He said that when the press failed to report violations committed by power holders, such as manipulations during general elections, it's the "external condition" that should be blamed.
"The failure is not because reporters lack quality," he said. "They are placed in an uncomfortable situation (which creates a fear of reporting objectively)."
He said everybody, including the government, should realize that the press should be placed on an equal level with other social forces. (har/swe)