RSF: Journalism is the antidote to disinformation in the digital era
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) Asia-Pacific Bureau Advocacy Manager Aleksandra Bielakowska has said journalism plays a vital role in maintaining democratic accountability amid the torrent of digital information and challenges to public trust in the media.
Reporters Without Borders is an international non-governmental, non-profit organisation dedicated to protecting and promoting press freedom and freedom of information worldwide.
Aleksandra said journalism ensures that information conveyed to the public has undergone a process of verification and fact-checking.
“Journalists work not only based on specific journalistic ethics, but also strict standards of information verification and re-checking of facts. They do not simply spread whatever is circulating online just like that,” Aleksandra said during a media delegation visit under the framework of Taiwan’s New Southbound Policy in Taipei on Tuesday.
According to her, the discipline of verification distinguishes journalistic work from digital information that has not undergone adequate examination, including disinformation.
She assessed that this process greatly helps the public determine which information can be trusted amid the torrent of information.
Aleksandra also highlighted the emergence of narratives questioning the credibility of the media amid various challenges in the information ecosystem.
“In fact, the reality is that the media is the antidote,” she said.
According to her, journalism continues to have an important function in democracy by providing the information the public needs while also carrying out a watchdog function.
“As long as democracy still exists, we need you (journalists) to help maintain it. This is the only way to preserve the system we have built over many years and ensure accountability,” she said.
Aleksandra assessed that support for journalists and press freedom is necessary so that they can carry out their duties professionally, especially when the space for press freedom faces restrictions.
She acknowledged that there is no definitive answer to overcoming the challenge of public trust in the media. However, consistency in carrying out journalistic duties and maintaining professional standards is an important part of maintaining that trust.
Aleksandra’s views are in line with the emphasis on the importance of verification in professional journalism in Indonesia.
Indonesian Deputy Minister of Communication and Digital Affairs Nezar Patria previously said that verification is the key to professional journalism in the digital era.
According to him, the discipline of verification is the main characteristic that distinguishes journalism from social media content amid the prevalence of disinformation.
Meanwhile, President Director of LKBN ANTARA Benny Siga Butarbutar emphasised the increasingly important role of the media in maintaining the accuracy of public information amid the torrent of information on social media.