Public may leave local press for 'BBC' or 'CNN'
Public may leave local press for 'BBC' or 'CNN'
SURAKARTA, Central Java (JP): The Indonesian press has failed to act as a guardian of the conscience of the people, "the silent majority", or protect their interests, an observer warned here yesterday.
Christianto Wibisono, an expert on economics and the press, blamed this on the fact that the media market is controlled by people with vested interests, who campaign for the political status quo, and who disregard pluralism and the competitive nature of the market.
"It this situation is not righted, it is eminently possible that the Indonesian public will prefer watching global multimedia networks such as BBC World Service TV or CNN, or going to the Internet for information, rather than reading local newspapers," he told The Jakarta Post.
He said the trend has begun, as shown by the current stagnation in the circulations of local publications, despite robust overall economic growth. "Indonesians are becoming more prosperous, but also lazier. Their buying power is increasing, but their reading habits are in decline," he said.
"Indonesians want to be better educated and are turning to foreign media," he said. "They know that the national press is vulnerable to corruption, and can't satisfy them."
The stinging remark Christianto made was but one among many. The National Press Day, commemorated here yesterday, saw an onslaught of criticism of the press, originally started by President Soeharto who criticized it for violating rules and codes of ethics.
In his speech yesterday, President Soeharto also said that while the Indonesian press must adapt to globalization, it must retain its identity as a "fighting press" and not become a commercial press.
"The press industry must not be transformed into an arena of battle between the various parties, such as the journalists, publishers, and owners," he said. "Such a press would no longer reflect the character of Indonesia."
Observers were quick to support this particular call. Maemun Zubaer, a United Development Party (PPP) legislator, and communication expert Alwi Dahlan said there were indeed members of the press which seem to have become the mouthpiece of certain social-political groups.
"Under such conditions, it is difficult for the press to uphold justice and honesty," he said. "The press should, instead, act as an institution which calls on people to do good deeds, and to refrain from violations."
Counter
Sociologist Ariel Heryanto, on the other hand, said he did not see anything wrong with members of the press becoming the mouthpiece of certain groups. "Just let them be, as long as there are other members of the press which act as a counter force," he told the Post.
"The important thing is for the public to have options, a choice, access to other mass media," he said. "What's not right is if the public is exposed only to information from one point of view."
Ariel said there was nothing wrong with press members affiliating with or supporting certain social or political groups. "Provided the government allows other press members to counter the first groups," he said.
He called on the government not to arbitrarily ban critical or alternative media. "The government should, instead, be grateful for a press which helps educate the nation," he said.
Ana Nadhya Abrar, a communication expert at the Gadjah Mada University, agreed with Ariel's ideas. He added that the government ought to allow the press the freedom to fulfil the public's demands for, and indeed right to, knowledge.
Christianto yesterday also spoke of the need for deregulation for the press industry, that will allow it the breathing room to meet the public's demands.
Otherwise, he said, the "information era" that Indonesia wishes to enter will remain nothing more than an empty buzzword. (har/swe)