Viewers divided over value of television campaigns
JAKARTA (JP): Everyone would agree that campaigning on TV is very useful in that it doesn't cause problems like fear of street violence and traffic snarls. However, due to time constraints its effectiveness to convey the campaigners' party programs is questionable.
The Jakarta Post asked people from a variety of backgrounds for their viewpoints on the electronic media election campaigns.
Bambang Setiawan, a communications specialist from Gadjah Mada University, Yogyakarta: "Media campaigns are surely less effective than the face-to-face approach.
But from the political education point of view, campaigning through the media is more effective because campaigners use their brains in the "wrestling". Its coverage is wider. People viewing the debate on TV do not have to worry about possible physical clashes that may happen like in street rallies.
People watching the TV campaign at home are relaxing and they can learn the educational values of the program. The audience will learn more from the campaigning.
New information one obtains from watching a TV campaign or reading the newspaper will not necessarily change one's political belief if the audience already holds strong political convictions. Someone with strong political beliefs will usually be reluctant to listen to a campaigner from a political party he or she does not like.
Campaigning through the media is most affective for audiences who are undecided about which political party they will support."
Sunarto, 45, a civil servant: "I often watch political campaigns on TV. I like watching the program because it gives me an insight into which parties offer the best programs.
Frankly speaking, the programs have an effect on me. I'm considering shifting my political allegiance to another party. Now, I watch only the campaigns of the political parties I like. I won't tell you which parties they are."
Sari, 31, a parking attendant: "I rarely watch the TV campaigns. I watch them only when my relatives at home want to see them. I don't think I need to waste my time watching the campaigns on TV because I already have a party I strongly support. I have always supported the United Development Party (PPP). At the moment I don't have the slightest intention of shifting my allegiance."
Wurdianti, a housewife: "I don't watch the campaigns on a regular basis. I do watch them sometimes while taking care of the kids.
The program is very informative. It allows people to learn what a political party will do to overcome the economic crisis and other problems. Now I know which parties are reform-minded and which ones are not.
It is a good way to learn more about politics and thus it broadens my horizon. Although all political parties are offering their programs, I will not abandon my old party."
Danang Nugroho, 23, a student: "I often watch the campaign programs on TV. What bothers me most is that the parties' programs are mostly hypothetical. I have no idea how they will translate their theories into action when they win the elections.
I think media campaigns are effective for parties which have strong support from the masses. Who will listen to the small parties' programs?
I have not decided which party I will vote for next month because I want to follow closely what each party has to offer through the mass media.
The alliance that several parties recently formed has disproved my conviction about a party I thought was anti-Islam."
Sutoyo D., a communications expert from Airlangga University, Surabaya: "The TV campaign is not effective. The presentation is dull and the campaigners are obscure. Only figures like Megawati, Amien Rais and Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid are worth seeing.
I observe that not many people are interested in watching the debate on TV. People have a lot of alternative channels to choose from now. It they don't like the program, they will switch to another channel. Most of the viewers are supporters of the campaigning political parties. This is not good because the objective is to win new supporters.
TV stations in Indonesia allocate 75 percent of their airtime for entertainment, 15 percent to education and 10 percent for information. Viewers in general will opt for entertainment, not campaigns. I think few people in rural areas are interested in watching the TV campaign."
Asri Indriani, 45, a housewife: "I'm more interested in watching sinetron (teleseries) than campaigns because there are just too many contesting political parties and the campaigners are not well-known.
No politics interests me because political activities are synonymous with violence. Political activists are often seen clashing in the streets. I will watch if the campaigner is a film star."
Subur Adrianto, 40, an employee of state-owned electricity company, PLN: "The TV campaign is not useful. The other day I watched the chairman of Abul Yatama Party campaign on TV. It was very funny. He didn't know how to deliver a speech and I can't imagine how he can lead the party.
I don't care who will campaign on TV today. Even though I'm a National Mandate Party (PAN) supporter, I'm not interested in watching PAN campaign on TV.
I liked the recent debate of presidential hopefuls. It was great. I prefer to watch music clips or news broadcasts than campaigns."
Fifi Aprilia, 19, a law student at Airlangga University in Surabaya:
"Political campaigning on TV is boring. Campaigners are all acting up. Questions and answers revolve around trivialities. I know those asking the questions are mostly supporters of the campaigning parties. In short, campaigns bore me to death."
Rosalina da Silva, a housewife in the East Timor capital of Dili:
"Many of us here didn't even want to register for the elections, but we did because we are still citizens of Indonesia. The television campaigns are boring. Besides, we have been focusing more on the direct balloting (planned for August, when East Timorese will vote on whether to remain part of Indonesia and receive wide-ranging autonomy, or become an independent state).
We really don't want to be bothered by election activities in Dili, because in the end it will be the politicians in the legislative bodies who benefit, the people will continue to suffer.
What do we need politicians for? They are the ones who made things unsafe in East Timor. They only care about their own interests, not the interests of the people.
So many East Timorese have been killed, terrorized, intimidated. No legislators ever come to defend us."
A 30-year-old street vendor in Dili who refused to be named:
"We don't want to be bothered by campaigning. Let's just have it done with as soon as possible so we can continue concentrating on direct balloting, and on waiting for the United Nations police team to come here to prepare the balloting."
Isa Anshary, 46, a government official in Jakarta:
"I am still undecided over which political party to vote for. Earlier, I was expecting much from the presidential debate organized by University of Indonesia students. But the featured figures did not satisfy me.
I wish there was a party with a good presidential candidate which I could vote for.
I am still open to persuasion, including from TV shows featuring presidential candidates. Like it or not, I now see Habibie as a more capable candidate than the others.
Other presidential candidates like Megawati, she is only thought highly of by her supporters, but she has not done enough to convince other people. A presidential candidate must be able to convince the people, including Golkar (supporters).
Personally, I have great empathy for former Jakarta governor Ali Sadikin. Unfortunately, no parties have nominated him. Ali is a courageous and consistent political figure."
Hamdan, 37, a Blue Bird Taxi driver in Jakarta:
"No, I am not influenced by the campaigns of other political parties on TV. My mind is made up, I'll vote for the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan). I admire Megawati. Of course, I also empathize with Amien Rais, but PDI Perjuangan is my choice.
If people say a native of South Sulawesi would certainly vote for Habibie, that's nonsense. I am a Bugis (native of South Sulawesi). Yes, I definitely expected Habibie to perform when he succeeded Soeharto, but he has disappointed me with his one year in office. "
Titien Rahayu, 26, an employee of a foreign company in Jakarta:
"My preference is PAN. I don't have to watch televised campaigns because I have made up my mind. It's because I knew of Amien Rais long before PAN was established, from his articles in the Republika daily and his outspokenness on Freeport (environmental destruction) issues.
No, TV campaigning no longer has an effect on me."
Fathi Rahmatullah, head of the United Development Party (PPP)'s Kebon Jeruk chapter, West Jakarta:
"I often watch election campaigns on television. For me, it's interesting to learn of other parties' programs and their campaigners.
But for people of the grassroots, or most of PPP's supporters, campaign programs on television are not interesting. Supporters appear to be more interested in street rallies.
Many supporters leave the fields where campaign speeches are held in order to join street rallies. They prefer putting on a show of force since most of them are youths."
Siti, a rice stall owner in Palmerah, West Jakarta:
"I rarely watch parties' campaign programs broadcast by television stations. Either I or my children usually change the channel if a station airs campaigns.
Instead, I watch people participate in noisy street rallies from my stall."
Rusdi Muchtar, a communications researcher at the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI) in Jakarta:
"Some of the campaigning programs on TV are good, some are not. To be effective in reaching out to influence voters, the politicians featured must be creative in communicating their messages to the audience.
The fact that the programs are so limited in time may be a major hindrance, but creativity could help sell parties.
Look at Gus Dur (Abdurrahman Wahid, leading politician of the National Awakening Party) when he appeared on Partai-Partai (Parties) program on TPI television station. It was a bad appearance, not empathetic at all, in fact he stirred up antipathy."
Ana Nadya Abrar. a communications expert at Gadjah Mada University, Yogyakarta:
"First, many people are already suspicious that because state- owned TVRI organized them, the campaigning sessions were deliberately made to be ineffective. At the very least people doubt that TVRI could be capable of organizing the programs.
Second, the campaigners featured should be top politicians, or even the parties' presidential candidates. That is the way it is done in developed countries, so viewers are enthusiastic enough to watch and to listen to what is being said in the sessions.
As it turns out, most of the campaigners have not even prepared well for their appearances on television. They should have paid better attention to detail, such as facial expressions, body language.
Now, there are parties whose campaigners are poor and their answers stupid.
They could learn from former American president Ronald Reagan, who was so good at acting before television cameras that he was called The Great Communicator. He admitted that his appearance counted as number one, while his programs were of lesser importance.
Rather than continuing the televised campaigns, parties would be better off holding debates on campuses.
The most important thing in a television program is that it has to entertain. It therefore makes sense that televised campaigns should be entertaining, too. This should be both a challenge and an opportunity for political parties."
Priyo, 46, a pedicab driver in Bantul, Yogyakarta:
"Have I watched televised campaigns? Yes, I have. I forget how many times, but it hasn't been too often. Mostly, I've left every time such a program is aired. I watch television at my neighbor's house or at rice stalls.
I don't understand what the people are saying.
Besides, I have made up my mind about which party to vote for."
Suwarso, 51, a bottled-tea vendor in Sleman, Yogyakarta:
"I rarely watch the television campaigns. My kids usually switch the channel every time a campaign goes on air. I watch TV only for wayang (leather puppet) shows or TV series.
Television campaigns all look the same, don't they? They are all people making speeches. It's different when campaigns are held on fields, then I can take part while taking care of my kids. Especially if there are dangdut performances.
No, I have not yet decided on which party to vote for. I am so confused, there are simply too many parties."
Rara, 27, a hotel clerk in Yogyakarta:
"I watch campaigns on television only if there are no other good programs on. So I can get to know other parties (other than my preference). But I never watch any of them until the end. It's boring. They are all the same.
What interested me once was when a speaker discussed women's rights. I just don't get it. Most of the parties say they will fight for women. I just don't believe they'll really do it." (swa/nur/44/aan/jun/33/)