Press freedom will need 'brains, sweat and tears'

By Wirasti Wiryono

JAKARTA (JP): Mass communications expert M. Budyatna praised the Indonesian press yesterday for continuing to produce objective reports despite the tight regulations of the 1982 Press Law.

The dean of the University of Indonesia's School of Social and Political Sciences described how the press still needed to work hard in order to overcome social, economic and political challenges.

"The press needs brains, sweat and tears to remain independent," he told The Jakarta Post .

Indonesia commemorates National Press Day on Feb. 9. This year the date coincided with the Moslem holiday of Idul Fitri so it is being marked today.

Budyatna said the press has prospered economically over the last ten years, but acknowledged that "the freedom of the press" remained restricted by the law.

He also said the print media had been coping with stiff competition from rival publications, television and radio -- including the overseas networks CNN, Star TV, ABC -- and the Internet. The print media remains able to offer objective news sought after by an increasingly educated, knowledgeable and critical public in search of facts and solutions.

There is also the added challenge for the press to stay within the guidelines of the national ideology Pancasila in order to survive, he said. Pancasila consists of five principles: belief in God, humanity, national unity, consensus through deliberation and social justice.

"In these ever-changing times, the idea of patriotism is no longer measured by fiery slogans but rather by the ability to facilitate development that will create real prosperity for many," he said.

He cited the benefits of greater media exposure to rural areas, a segment of the population that must not be overlooked as it too has a voice in the country's development.

The rural population, more educated but still comparatively poor, comprises 65 percent of the country's population of 200 million. The needs of this "silent majority," according to Budyatna, must be taken into account in order to prevent unrest.

Budyatna's colleague Harsono Soewardi discussed the question of an independent versus a partisan press. He said that first and foremost it is the press' responsibility to determine whether it was objective and to understand the consequences of being partisan.

"The media and public figures have the responsibility of guiding people, many of whom have a minimum education and ability to sift information and comprehend how development is affecting them," he said.

Both Budyatna and Harsono used the recent fatal rioting in Tasikmalaya, West Java, as an example of the need for the press to help educate rural people about development, as well voice their aspirations about the programs.

The ability to present responsible, in-depth coverage in accordance with both the journalistic code of ethics and Pancasila is important, as is the added responsibility to exercise some degree of self-censorship, Harsono said.

"News must not be written for the sake of increasing circulation only," he said, suggesting that the media raise issues without sparking controversy.

Above all, Harsono stressed, the press must also present solutions in addition to problems.

From the business sector, Harvey Goldstein of Harvest International, an investment management consulting firm, said executives would seek news affecting their businesses regardless of whether it was local or from overseas.

Goldstein called for more factual reporting to serve investors, and for a balanced view of Indonesia.

Wisaksono Noeradi, a public relations executive at Matari advertising company, said the so-called objective news in Indonesia was "relative."

He said the prospects for the print media, totaling 200 newspapers and magazines nationwide, remained bright as it served as a valuable reference for the public's information needs and complemented television and radio.

The future of community newspapers is bright, he said. Although initially unprofitable, they can be informative and have the potential to be among the country's top 10 newspapers.

He cited Riau Pos daily, part of the Jawa Pos group of publications, which had done well and catered to the local population. Available on the Internet, Riau Pos is a member of the Jawa Pos News Network, with its news pooled under a syndicated arrangement, which reduces the need for correspondents.

Wisaksono also called for less of a "herding" mentality among the press, citing the excessive coverage of the mass exodus of Idul Fitri holiday-makers from Jakarta.