PWI condemns individual 'journalists' for extortion

JAKARTA (JP): Chairman of the Indonesian Journalists Association (PWI) Sofyan Lubis strongly condemned individuals posing as journalists with the aim of extorting government officials.

Lubis said the bogus journalists often intimidate officials by threatening to publicize their wrongdoings unless given money.

Their irresponsible actions have badly damaged the reputation of PWI, he added.

"I hope government officials or other news sources check their ID cards before talking with them," Lubis said when inducting the executive board of PWI's East Nusa Tenggara chapter on Sunday.

As reported by Antara, Lubis called for the 7,000-strong PWI members to respect their honorable position by acting professionally, because only by acting correctly could they win public trust.

"We must identify ourselves as professional journalists. Unfortunately phony journalists have affected the public's respect for us," said Lubis who is also chief editor of Pos Kota daily.

Lubis was in Kupang to install the chief editor of Pos Kupang, Damyan Godho, as head of the PWI regional office.

It has been said that phony journalists claim to be reporters and fake press cards of publications. Sometimes they claim to be representatives of small regional publications.

But bogus journalists are not the only problem affecting PWI.

Last year's murder of Bernas daily reporter Fuad Muhammad Syafruddin in Yogyakarta has also been on the mind of the organization.

PWI established an independent fact-finding team on the case. It is believed that Fuad was killed because of his critical reporting on local government policies and alleged corruption in the Bantul administration.

In creating a more harmonious relationship between the press and the government, Lubis said both parties should avoid arrogant attitudes and adopt a more cooperative stance.

"I hope there won't be any more arrogance from either party, because it would create a nonconducive atmosphere in society," Lubis asserted. (prb)