The consequences of press freedom: Thug journalism
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.