Press freedom and the miracle of RI journalism

Press freedom and the miracle of RI journalism

The 19th National Press Day falls on Feb. 9 following vast
changes in society and in the media itself. The Jakarta Post's
Soeryo Winoto interviews Chairman of the Indonesian Press Council
Atmakusumah Astraatmadja on the issue.

Question: The Indonesian press was dominated by printed media
until the 1980s when electronic media, including television and
radio, started to cut into print media businesses. How should the
print and electronic media companies position themselves amid the
unavoidable business competition?

Not all television and radio "consumers" were print media
readers. People need all kinds of media, and consumers could be
from different levels of people.

A certain level of intelligence and energy is needed to
consume the instant information offered by electronic media.

There has been a demand to gradually bring television and
radio consumers to also refer to print media, which offers in
depth and detailed information. This is an international
phenomenon, which indicates a positive change in the ratio
between the population and the circulation of the printed media.

In Indonesia the change has been very slow and even stagnant.
About 10 or 15 years ago the entire print media in the country
produced a total average of 15 million copies each printing time,
while the population was more than 100 million. Now, judging from
the increase in the population, the consumption of printed media
has dropped by 2.5 percent -- one newspaper, for example, is read
by 10 people. Since the "reform era" print media circulation has
increased by only between one million to two million copies.

Is the media still expected to uphold "unity" and "the unitary
state" as in the old days?

The media should have its own vision and mission. We're
talking about an industry (which) doesn't only offer information
and entertainment, but also shares views. Some of them do educate
the people, but commercial pressure has been getting tighter.

In the 1950s or 1960s the ratio between idealism (to provide
updated, adequate and reliable information) and commercialism was
about 70 percent and 30 percent. Later on the ratio was almost
50:50, and now some media focus on commercial gains more than
their previous idealism. But let the market decide.

The media should not be burdened with heavy (political)
messages or propaganda, which it cannot convey to the public
properly. It's not the media's duty to do that.

It's enough if the media can present good quality of analysis
and review meeting professional standards. However, some media
are indeed not professional and they could create problems.

If the media was exploited for certain interests, would it be
the print or electronic media which had the stronger influence?

Many say that television's influence is stronger than that of
newspaper and other printed media, because television offers
information quickly with various pictures. That's why in most
countries television and radio are regulated due to their
stronger influence on the public.

However, print media must also be cautious. Let's learn from
various tragedies in Nigeria and the latest riot in Cambodia,
following newspaper reports over Angkor Wat.

That's why those who feel hurt by media reports must use their
right to reply. They could also consult the Press Council before
taking any action to counter a report.

Are the old jargons of "the press of struggle" (pers
perjuangan) and "a free and responsible press" still relevant?

During the fight for independence the role of the press was to
invoke the spirit of independence; after that it was to promote
development. But such terminologies are no longer relevant.

However "a free and responsible press" is still relevant. The
press is not responsible to the government, but to their readers
and listeners or viewers.

Is controlling the press still relevant? What is press freedom
to you?

There is no way to control the press. Just let the management
of the media companies control themselves.

Press freedom is the right to give as much information as
possible to the public -- we won't say "the press has gone
overboard" (as mentioned earlier by critics). The press must work
as professionally as possible within the parameters of ethics and
law.

Does criticism of the press by officials who realize their
statements are controversial, reflect the search for scapegoats?

I can understand (such criticism)... Sources must be more
careful in making statements. And the press must be more careful
in quoting sources, especially those who are inexperienced in
facing the press, because they could be unaware of making
impolite or nasty statements.

How would you judge the level of academic skill, sensitivity
and conscience required of journalists?

The quality of human resources has been a complex problem for
years. For instance, Indonesia has between 15,000 and 20,000
journalists, while Germany (with a much smaller population) has a
total of 90,000, including 40,000 freelancers.

Let's compare Kompas and the Los Angeles Times. Kompas (among
the largest nationwide dailies) has 300 reporters and its daily
circulation reaches about 400,000 to 500,000, while the Los
Angeles Times has some 1,500 reporters and its circulation
reaches 1.5 million per day.

Once there were 200 applicants for a Jakarta-based daily which
only needed 20, but only 16 met the minimum requirements; five of
them had been to the Dr. Sutomo Journalism Training Institute
(LPDS) in Jakarta. This indicates that intensive training is a
must for reporters, especially in language skills.

Taufik Ismail (a noted poet) ... when traveling to Canada,
Switzerland and Russia (some years ago), questioned school
children of between five and 12 years old on how many books of
literature they had read.

School children in Switzerland are obliged to read at least
five books of literature within five or six years, while American
students averaged some 32 books, the Russians 12 ... The students
must review the books and discuss them with teachers and
classmates. Here, students of the same ages read an average of
zero literature books within a six-year span.

So, in that context Indonesian reporters are miraculous. They
read very little at school but they can write long, long
articles.

No wonder there has been so much criticism against our
reporters. But I don't see intentional mistakes; most of the
mistakes are because of lack of professionalism and lack of
knowledge of press ethics.