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)