RI press can balance and empower society

JAKARTA (JP): The national press must address urgent issues at home and help the quest for social and political empowerment, a senior journalist said yesterday.

Jacob Oetama, chief editor and co-founder of the leading daily Kompas, said the media industry should adapt to changing values "intelligently" and assist various social groups and organizations to find independence and empowerment.

Jacob was addressing a discussion on the contribution of the influential Indonesian Association of Moslem Intellectuals (ICMI) to press freedom. He was accompanied by Parni Hadi, the editor in chief at Republika, the ICMI-established daily.

"Freedom of the press (shouldn't be) a luxury. It's a necessity, without which the press cannot carry out its function," Jacob said.

According to Jacob, the other task of the domestic press today is to serve as a bridge between a relatively stable political life and a growing demand for change.

Alienation, dissatisfaction and a "feeling of emptiness" are fostered by the domination of certain values in society, including consumerism, he said.

"In addition, there's also a growing feeling of helplessness on the part of the people," Jacob told an audience consisting of students, Moslem leaders and journalists.

Jacob attributed the sense of helplessness to "blocked communication".

"People are feeling (frustration) with their inability to adequately voice their aspirations," he explained.

The numerous religious and racial conflicts among social groups that have been occurring recently might have resulted from a lack of "communication channels", he said.

Indonesians refer to sensitive issues of religion, race and social groups by the acronym SARA.

"If the 'non-SARA' channels are not functioning, what can people do? They then resort to channels of communication which contain elements of racial and religious (tension), whatever the consequence," Jacob said.

The senior journalist also said that the press is expected to help society's quest for greater openness and democratization.

"There's a need for the press to help society find relief...hopefully, the quest will end in dialog," he said.

Jacob also reminded the press that the effects of a market economy should be balanced with a respect for social values.

The press should not help form a society that revolves around the interests of one group, but "a citizenship which eventually will develop into a civil society," he said.

Parni spoke about the contribution of ICMI and the daily Republika to greater amicability between Moslems and other groups in society.

"The wish of ICMI is to establish a participatory, progressive society in the whole meaning, not just economically," he said. (swe)