'TVRI' English news
'TVRI' English news
State-owned TVRI, one of Indonesia's television stations, used
to be my favorite. I profoundly love a number of their programs,
especially the 6:30 p.m. English news. In fact, I am a keen
listener of their Islamic programs, which I also highly
appreciate. What actually discourages me is that at the very
beginning of the English news program, a multi-pictured twinkling
globe is shown. The globe displays some very colorful events from
around the world with distinctive photos representing various
continents. For example, Asia/Indonesia is represented by a photo
of APEC leaders (The event took place in Bogor, south of Jakarta,
in 1995).
Unfortunately, TVRI found that a starving African boy is the
only thing that should represent Africa, and so the boy's photo
always appears on the twinkling globe that highlights coming news
details. This is painful, even though TVRI may not even be aware
that many Africans in Indonesia may regularly watch their news
programs. Further, they should remember that Indonesia-Africa
relations are excellent.
In recent years, we have seen more African countries opening
up diplomatic missions in Jakarta. The question an African may
probably ask is: Does this ignorance of the African continent
indicate that TVRI doesn't know any beautiful aspect of African
countries?
Or is it just the usual prejudice toward Africa, that has been
going on in other places as well? It's displeasing to tell about
the disgraceful pictures I saw on the same TVRI channel early in
April, 1997. There was soccer report that seemed international. A
bleak and gloomy African boys' soccer team was shown for a few
seconds, with some fantastic Indonesian soccer footage
immediately following. I wonder what was meant by this program.
Could this be an attempt to mold public opinion about certain
countries? Really, TVRI was way off in this instance, as far as
soccer is concerned. Africa is today an indisputable emerging
continent, whose marvelous performance is worthy of emulation by
developing countries.
BUHARI ABDU
Jakarta