Public relations officers annoyed by bogus journalists

Bambang Nurbianto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Several public relations officers have lodged complaints with the Press Council over the unrestrained activities of hundreds of bogus journalists, who attempt to intimidate professionals for money.

The complaints were raised in a meeting attended by journalists and representatives of press organizations, public relations companies and other public groups on Thursday.

"Their acts have become increasingly annoying. Like ordinary journalists, the bogus reporters also interview their targets, including legislators, and conclude by asking for money," said Edi Siregar, a spokesman for the secretariat of the House of Representatives/People's Consultative Assembly.

Edi explained that it was not very difficult to differentiate between real journalists and false ones, commonly referred to as WTS (journalists without newspapers), as the latters' actions were primarily aimed at intimidating the legislators.

Edi said the group of bogus journalists once accused him of corruption involving funds valued at Rp 5 billion (US$500,000) because he refused to 'cooperate' with them.

"I therefore advise our fellow public relations officers not to be afraid of their threats. If we are, we can easily fall victim to them," he said.

Similar complaints on blackmailing were raised by public relations officers from the National Police Headquarters and the Ministry of Industry and Trade.

Hartono, head of the publication and mass media section at the Ministry of Industry and Trade, said that when his minister attended a hearing with the legislators, his team was forced to ask a security officer to accompany them in order to get rid of the bogus journalists.

"Because they frequently use a physical approach, we also have had to respond physically with the help of a security officer," Hartono told The Jakarta Post.

Leo Batubara, the deputy head of the Press Council's public complaints commission, admitted that, in addition to reports about the bogus journalists, his council had also received a number of complaints from the public regarding the behavior of ordinary journalists.

As an example, he referred to the cancellation of a press conference by a publicly listed company in Surabaya on July 26, after 75 journalists, who were not invited to the event, flocked to the meeting.

They intimidated the company's public relations officers, accusing the company of violating the press laws.

"The freedom of the press and journalists' credibility have long been a public concern because of the operation of illegal publications and abuses within the journalism profession," the Press Council said in a statement.