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)