The press and Megawati

The press and Megawati

It is by now a well known fact that President Megawati Soekarnoputri -- as evidenced by her incessant complaints -- has been very upset with the nation's press. The situation between Megawati and the press seems to be heating up instead of cooling off.

Nonetheless, State Minister of Communications and Information Syamsul Muarif claimed that Megawati's presence at the commemoration of National Press Day in Bali on Sunday would be a time for reconciliation.

But, what would we say if there was something in the press which made the President uneasy? Shall we blame the media alone?

Megawati said in her address in Bali that the media must be able to use its freedom in a professional way. Only with professionalism could the press develop mutual respect and maintain balanced reports. "We all hope that the press can develop its role and function based on its conscience, wisdom and politeness," the President said.

Conscience, wisdom and politeness could be the barometer used by the President to judge the media.

Press reports, people say, reflect what is going on in the society. So if the press reports are said to abandon conscience, wisdom and politeness, it means that our people are lacking conscience, wisdom and politeness.

Frankly, not only the President is uneasy with what is going on in our society. The people and the professional press have also been deeply worried by what has been going on among us.

What kind of conscience do we have when we let corruption continue? What kind of conscience do we have when we retain our leadership position while we are a convicted criminal?

We must acknowledge that some of us in the media have published 'excessive reports'. The materials for publication must be properly selected before being served to the public. In this way, there will be nothing to worry about.

-- Harian Ekonomi Neraca, Jakarta