Poor info breeds rumors: Consultant

Poor info breeds rumors: Consultant

JAKARTA (JP): A lack of honest information is sure to breed
rumors, a management consultant from the University of Indonesia,
Rhenald Kasali, said yesterday at a seminar on economics.

"Since people need information to plan their actions, the lack
of reliable information compels people to seek alternatives --
regardless of their merit," he said.

Defining rumors as unverified information, Rhenald explained
that rumors' intensities depended on their themes and importance
to individuals; combined with ambiguous information on their
themes such as business jargon, symbolism and media self-
censorship.

"Everyone can fall victim to rumors regardless of their
educational, cultural or economic backgrounds. Every rumor has
its own audience," Rhenald told reporters after his presentation
at the one-day seminar entitled Why Are Our Businesses Easily
Shaken by Rumors?.

Rhenald, a former journalist now pursuing a doctorate degree
in the U.S., said the changing roles of the press, from defending
the interests of the weak to developing themselves as businesses,
have caused more rumors because the press have their own
interests to defend.

Rhenald, who has written several books on public relations,
said that rumors thrive when there are disturbances and
instability; such as in wartime, in suppression of minority
groups, in economic and political crises and in natural
disasters.

He cited an example of the pork fat rumors in 1988, which were
started by a food scientist at the Brawijaya University in
Malang, East Java. The scientist, Dr. Susanto, found 34 food
brand categories that contained pork fat according to their list
of ingredients.

"Dr. Susanto thought that shortening, gelatin, and lard were
made of pork fat. He was unable to control the whole process
because in the collective transaction rumors got shaped and
reshaped," Rhenald said.

Moslems were angered by the findings because the Koran
prohibits them from consuming pork related products. Within a
year, the list had increased to 63, and the Moslems' anger only
dissipated after the government announced that its laboratory
tests disproved Susanto's findings.

Rhenald said that sources of information should give only true
information.

Rhenald also advised the public to develop the habit of
verifying any information which they wanted to use.

"In this era of information, many Indonesians read only
headlines and hastily decide actions, thinking that they have
understood the matter," Rhenald said. (14)