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.