The consequences of press freedom: Thug journalism

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Not so long ago, the security guards at a five-star hotel in Central Jakarta were busy trying to control an angry group of people posing as journalists.

Their appearance and the phony press identity cards were evidence that they were not real journalists.

The bogus journalists were angry because the security guards prevented them from entering the function room of the hotel, where the public relations manager of a multinational company was hiding. The company was holding a shareholders' meeting in another room on a different floor.

While real journalists were gathering in front of the room where the shareholders' meeting was held, the bogus journalists were busy looking for the public relations manager.

They were yelling at the security officers, accusing them of violating press freedom and threatening to publish bad reports about the hotel.

The bogus journalists were also "demanding" that they receive the press kits given out for the event. However, the public relations manager knew that they wanted a press kit with an envelope inside containing cash.

Later, the security officers told The Jakarta Post that the manager had managed to sneak out of the function room through a connecting door to elude the bogus journalists.

The incident shows how bogus journalists can cause a serious problem for any company willing to invite the press to cover its event.

A bogus journalist once confided to the Post that he had to do the "dirty job" because he was jobless.

Some of them once worked for actual media organizations in some capacity, but lost their jobs due to layoffs or bankruptcy or incompetence.

"We are truly sorry for you guys for this. But we don't have any jobs. Most of us have a family back home to care for," said Khatim, 45, who is a former reporter with a Medan, North Sumatra- based newspaper.

Khatim said that bogus journalists usually work in a group of 50 to 100 people and come from various backgrounds, including housewives, taxi drivers, hoodlums, university students, street vendors, ticket scalpers and property brokers. They treat each other like brothers.

He said there were several groups of bogus journalists in town, each working in different areas. Bogus journalists operating in the House of Representatives are not allowed to operate in the police headquarters or in the Jakarta Stock Exchange, and vice versa.

"We may work in different areas, but our modus operandi is the same, We pack an event, surround our target person and ask them for money. But usually, the target person understands what we want and give us money before we ask them," said Khatim.

Khatim said he usually gets an average of Rp 100,000 (US$11) per corporate event. In one day, he usually "earns" between Rp 300,000 and Rp 500,000.

The bogus journalists usually give about Rp 50,000 to the security guards that allowed them in to an event, or the people who gave them information about the event.

Bogus journalists do not only come to corporate meetings but also dare to enter tightly secured facilities, such as military stations, police headquarters and even the State Palace.

Once, dozens of bogus reporters attended the Army's Special Forces (Kopassus) commemoration of its anniversary at its headquarters in Cijantung, East Jakarta. They came very early in the morning to obtain entry cards.

While real reporters were busy interviewing the generals, bogus journalists were busy talking with the spouses of high- and middle-ranking officers. They talked nicely to the women and asked for a little cash when they were done.

The women immediately reported the inconvenience to the on- duty military police.

The military police officers then locked them in a nearby room and released them after the ceremony was over.

Bogus journalists can sometimes create real problems. A journalist once confronted a man who had posed as a reporter from his media organization.

The bogus journalist called his friends to attack the real journalist. They later beat him, leaving him black and blue.

The assaulted journalist later filed a report to the police and had the thugs sent to jail.

Not many journalists, however, seem to be overly concerned by the bogus journalists. If they do, not many dare to confront them.