On press law

On press law

With regard to your article Government and the House in favor
of media restriction in The Jakarta Post of May 29, I must say
that as an editor and journalist that the domestic press have
only themselves to blame for any contemplated revisions of the
press law.

Ignorance (a gross understatement) and dysfunction in the
domestic press is at the root of the government response, and it
is to be expected. I think that government has shown admirable
restraint in dealing with individuals and publications that churn
out an outlandish assortment of half-truths, innuendo and
outright lies while hiding behind the banner of freedom of the
press.

They also have to realize that they have a responsibility to
publish the unvarnished truth according to our code of ethics.
Unfortunately, when ethics are brought up the response from the
vast majority of domestic journalists is a blank stare. They
simply don't know or care that their irresponsible actions
endanger the entire press corps. This situation has to be
addressed from within -- and quickly, or the
government will do it for us.

I am not one to criticize without offering solutions, and very
basic solutions at that. They are:

* Root out corruption in our ranks, journalists who receive
bribes at "envelope" press conferences must be terminated --
immediately and with prejudice, as there can be no credibility
within our ranks until this nefarious practice is exterminated,
root and branch.

* Publishers and editors must hold their reporters accountable
for their sloppy work, and those who cannot be rehabilitated must
be terminated.

* Publishers and editors must make available to their reporters
instruction in the tenets of journalism, and make this
instruction compulsory for those that violate the code,
terminating repeat offenders.

* The next generation of journalists must be taught in college by
journalists. There is simply no viable substitute.

* The aggressive peer review must be standardized within the
domestic press. Those that violate the code must be identified
and ostracized, effectively banned from the profession. It
happens across America every day, and to be frank I fear the
condemnation of my colleagues more than any publisher or editor.

ROBERT S. FINNEGAN

English Editor

CAKRAM Magazine

Jakarta