Press needs help

Press needs help

From Merdeka

The price increase of newsprint from Rp 1,300 to Rp 7,000 per kilogram is a cause of great concern for the national press, especially considering that it is not easy to obtain a publishing license. Therefore, the national press must be helped.

Besides, the meritorious contribution of the national press in our fight for independence deserves proper attention. The contribution of people like Adinegoro, Adam Malik, BM Diah, Rosihan Anwar and many others to the state and the nation is indeed great.

Journalists are often dubbed as "kings of the world" because they can determine the pattern of a country. They write reports on world events which speedily get to the readers. Journalists are the government's closest partners in disseminating the government's goals/programs to the people.

Be the country in a critical condition or peaceful, the national press continues to play its role. It is also public knowledge that journalists do not live in luxury. They are just like any other common people. Journalists are nameless heroes struggling in defense of the fate of people on the lower rung of the social ladder.

Sans the press, the government cannot do more to support the running of the government, a government official once said. It is only proper, therefore, if the government, through the Ministry of Information, provides assistance to the national press. Otherwise, many companies publishing newspapers, magazines and tabloids will go bankrupt and many people will become jobless.

MUH. SADALIAH

Ujungpandang, South Sulawesi