Radio and TV crews get awards

JAKARTA (JP): A number of television and radio crews have received recognition for the public service they provided during clashes in Jakarta on Nov. 12 and Nov. 13 in which 16 people died.

The Institute of Information Flow Studies (ISAI) presented the crews with trophies in a simple ceremony on Saturday. The institute's director, Goenawan Mohamad, who is also chief editor of Tempo weekly, said the awards were a "spontaneous" idea, Antara reported.

Television and radio provided essential coverage of the clashes that went on long after midnight. "Without TV and radio coverage, the public would not have been well informed about what was happening," Goenawan said, noting the limited funds on which the crews had to operate.

Awards were given to all television stations -- the state TVRI, and the private TPI, RCTI, SCTV, Indosiar, and ANTeve.

The radio stations awarded were Radio Sonora, Pelita Kasih, Delta FM, RRI Pro2FM, Ramaco, Trijaya FM, Pesona, Elshinta and Radio Bahana.

Nine journalists, photographers and other members of media crews who were among those injured during the clashes were also presented with awards. They were Saptono (Antara), Kosnar G. (Indosiar), Tatan Rispandi (Gatra), Edi Hasbi and Bambang W. (Kompas), Robinson Viktor (Sinar), Teguh Indra (Tekad), Wawan Setiawan (Indonesian Observer), and Hari S. (Pikiran Rakyat). (anr)