Tata interview: a PR exercise?

I'm really tired of the way the media, especially the television stations, are treating the case of Tommy Soeharto.

Though its legal process is important, the coverage is out of proportion, making it low quality journalism.

I was most irritated by the way SCTV and Metro TV interviewed Tata, Tommy's wife. In my opinion it was a lengthy interview on a trivial subject matter, which should not have been covered in a special interview.

This is an insult to the viewers' intellect and a dent in the said stations' reputations. Furthermore the content of the interview tended to empathize with Tata and indirectly also Tommy Soeharto.

I feel suspicious that this is a "made-to-order" public relations program prior to his trial. I hope this is not true, because otherwise the public will lose faith in the media, which is supposed to be independent.

SMITA NOTOSUSANTO

Jakarta