Whatever happened to damage control?
Whatever happened to damage control?
Indonesia's image and reputation both abroad and within the
country has been severely damaged by many events and factors
including: forest fires, huge foreign debts, monetary crisis,
deaths due to famine, sporadic riots, corruption, collusion, lack
of transparency, questions of security and stability,
inconsistent and slow government responses, political blunders,
soaring basic food staple prices etc.
The consequences are very serious. People are beginning to
doubt the government's ability and commitment to handle our
current crisis. Tourism has declined significantly. Tourists are
choosing to spend their time and money in our neighboring
countries for fear of environmental and security risks and
contracting diseases.
Pictures of people queuing for food, pictures of famine,
contagious diseases, forest fires, demonstrations, riots, and
other negative events dominate the foreign media including
foreign TV and newspapers.
Foreign investment has declined significantly, if not to
practically nothing, and many small Indonesian companies have
closed down due to lack of capital, poor liquidity and stiff
competition.
Yet nobody seems to be attempting damage control in regard to
the image and reputation of our nation as a way of preventing
further decline of our economic status.
Damage control is a very important in reshaping a tarnished
public image. It is frequently restored to by companies and
governments when their public image takes a battering due to
critical events. I am suggesting the government should begin
damage control activities both abroad and within the country as
follows:
* Weekly radio talk by the President to address the nation
regarding constructive activities undertaken by the government to
deal with the current crisis. We would like to see that our
President is in charge, strong, healthy and responsive to public
needs.
* Weekly meeting with the media by the Minister of Information
or his designee to inform the media about government activities
and to conduct a dialog with the media.
* Public activities by diplomats abroad to correct public
misperceptions about our current affairs and to improve our image
abroad.
* Conducting dialogs with important and eminent figures in
society to exchange ideas and thoughts regarding our current
economic and political situation.
* Using the media such as TV and the newspapers to project better
images of the government and the country.
K. PRIBADI
Cimahi, West Java